Did you know that the health choices you make today can impact your productivity at work?
That’s right. Routinely missing work and/or not being as productive as you’d like when at work are all indicators of your health (or lack thereof). The single biggest factor threatening the productivity of the U.S. workforce is the rise in chronic conditions. The unhealthier you are the more chronic conditions you are likely to develop which can lead to an increase in missed work days. Even if you don’t miss work, being unhealthy or having a chronic condition (like high blood pressure or heart disease) can keep you from doing your best work on the job. The result is lost productivity which affects both you and your employer.
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes alone cost the U.S. economy approximately $2.6 billion in 2007 just due to lost days of work. Furthermore, the U.S. Workplace Wellness Alliance found that nearly 80 percent of workers suffer from at least one chronic condition. The seven most common chronic health problems (heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, mental disorders, pulmonary conditions and stroke) account for approximately $1 trillion (yup, that’s trillion with a “t”) in lost economic output.
Good news though. Research shows that lifestyle interventions can help tremendously with managing – and potentially reversing – unhealthy behaviors and chronic conditions. It really does matter what you eat, each and every day. Start by actually eating breakfast, quitting smoking and eliminating sugary sodas from your diet. Get active each and every day, even if it means jogging in place while you fold laundry. Every step can help in the effort to lower blood pressure, increase your heart rate and combat stress. And it really does matter that you stop. Now. Yes, now. Take a deep breath. Feel your muscles and your mind relax. You’ll have a better day at work.
Trust me.
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