Healthy Eating and Exercise Increases Employee Performance

My father who is close to turning 76 years old always told me that exercise and eating right directly affects your job performance.  Every day after working many hours as the Sales Manager for Kraft Foods in Chicago, he would make sure, no matter how his day went, to go to the gym and workout.  As a younger person I thought he was foolish for wasting his precious time doing that.  As I grew older, I discovered he was exactly right and I wished I would have listened to him. 

Now in my 40’s I have made many changes in my life, including correct eating habits and regular exercise.  I have personally seen an increase in productivity and an increase in happiness while at work.  My energy level is extremely high, getting sick is non-existent, and even my sleep is generally more restful requiring less sleep during the night.  This is the magic that my father spoke to me about 20 years ago.  He was absolutely right.

Research from Brigham Young University shows that employees who eat healthy all day were 25 percent more likely to have higher job performance and employees who eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables at least four times a week were 20 percent more likely to be more productive.   In addition, employees who exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times a week, were 15 percent more likely to have higher job performance.  Overweight workers experienced lower job performance and higher absenteeism, compared to those employees who suffer from depression and other chronic diseases or conditions.  The study was based on data from three geographically dispersed U.S. companies, representing 20,114 employees who completed a work-related survey each year from 2008 through 2010.  I would have never believed this to be true but I have personally seen the correlation between a healthier me and my increased job performance and increased job satisfaction.

The benefit to the company is obvious, but the benefit to the employee is even greater.  A healthier person that is more productive and happier at work will positively impact the workers family life, economic life and self-esteem. 

If you can help guide your employees to a healthier lifestyle: your business will benefit by less employee sick days, increased production, happier clients through positive customer service and an overall upbeat and optimistic workforce.