How Physical Exercise Helps Small Business Owners Reap Huge Rewards

As part of Kate Underwood HR’s Wellbeing Month, we couldn’t really let the importance of physical exercise for small business owners pass by unmentioned. We all know that looking after yourself is vital, but there are many other benefits you may not know. So, who better to talk small business owners through the benefits of physical exercise than guest blogger and Personal Trainer, Greg Small:

“It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

With the above quote from the famed Roman philosopher, in mind…

• Can you afford to take sick days?
• Do you feel that you lack focus?
• Do you often struggle to focus and have a lack of mental clarity?

If you have answered ‘yes‘ to any of those questions then it’s safe to say that you need to be more physically active.

Benefits Of Physical Exercise For Small Business Owners

Regularly undertaking physical exercise can help to improve your fitness levels by putting your body under positive stress. When you put your body under this positive stress, it can provide positive adaptations such as;

• Increased lung function
• Improved muscular strength
• Improved muscular endurance

This can all help you to be able to carry out physical and mental daily tasks with more ease than before. Regular physical exercise is great for small business owners in particular because looking after your health by maintaining a healthy mind and body is important to help reduce your risk of taking unnecessary days off work due to preventable illnesses.

Wake Up & Move!

The body thrives on routine and we were made to move. Partaking in physical exercise before you begin your working day can leave you with an enormous sense of wellbeing and a positive outlook on the day ahead.

I firmly believe in ‘getting up and getting on’ being the best course of action to improve your wellbeing. So my advice is to start the day with a pre-work workout.

Hormones

Exercise helps with the production of endorphins and serotonin – our pain relief and happy hormones. Both of these hormones assist in the regulation of metabolism, sleep, concentration and motivation.

A recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that regular, aerobic exercise can boost the size of the hippocampus – the area of the brain involved in verbal memory, learning and emotions.

Relieving Stress

Exercise is a great release from the pressures of work and can help you to relax and refocus. It can provide you with valuable ‘me’ time.

The benefits of exercise are vast ranging from physical to mental health. If you are having a bad day mentally it can help you to focus, release the stress built up and to calm you down and make you feel energised. Regular exercise can help with sleep which in turn provides one with increased confidence and energy.

Physical Exercise Improves Your General Wellbeing

Wellbeing does not mean that you are happy all the time and it does not mean that you won’t experience negative or painful emotions, such as grief, loss or failure, which are part of normal life.

Regardless of your age, being physically active can help you to lead a mentally healthier life and can help improve your wellbeing. By participating regularly in physical activity;

• We can feel an increase in self-esteem
• It can help to reduce stress and anxiety
• It can also play a role in preventing the development of mental health problems
• it can help give you a more positive outlook

How To Exercise

Whether you’re a small business owner or business baron, and whether you decide to perform physical exercise on your own, with a partner or in groups, the main objective is to enjoy exercise and the benefits it brings.

A good place to start is to invest in your health and seek out the advice and services of a professional. A professional will provide you with the tools to succeed and provide you with the support to lead a healthier and more productive lifestyle.

Decide what your goal is and why you want to exercise regularly, and from there you and a fitness professional can help to map out the best route to take.

• In order to improve your wellbeing, make sure that you prioritise physical exercise as it can help with your health, fitness, and focus.
• Keeping physically active can help reduce the likelihood of developing problems with high blood pressure, mobility, cancer, obesity, and heart disease.
• To maximise your productivity and focus make physical activity part of your daily routine.

If you’re a small business owner and you’d like more information on seeking professional help with your physical exercise and fitness.