We know that exercise is good for the body, but research tells us it's also good for the brain. Physical activity can help manage depression and anxiety symptoms and reduce stress. It can also help people focus, boost their productivity, make them more creative, and enhance their problem-solving ability. Employers shouldn't underestimate the cognitive benefits of exercise in their employees' personal and professional lives. In the New York Times, Dana G Smith explains how a person's working memory and executive functions improve immediately after exercise as the body releases neurotransmitters like epinephrine and norepinephrine, 'the hormones behind your fight-or-flight response'. According to the World Health Organization, 2 hours of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week can improve thinking skills and memory. Research has been done on this topic using children as an example. The Conversation explains why it's essential for children to have regular breaks throughout the day. Those with better cardiovascular health can often concentrate harder than those with poorer cardiovascular health. Research with adults suggests something similar: exercise appears to boost focus temporarily. The article also indicates that a 20-minute walk or jog can increase concentration for up to one hour afterwards. There are also other benefits to exercising, including for employers. Exercise can reduce stress and improve mood, affecting an employee's ability to work effectively. However, the article does warn against intense exercise, as it is 'often very difficult to concentrate when exhausted'. What Does This Mean for Employees? We've all rolled our eyes at health and safety at some point. We may even have ignored safety warnings or advice to complete a task more quickly. The UK Workplace Health and Safety Act wasn't passed until 1971, providing a legal framework for the first time to protect employees. So, employers haven't always taken responsibility for the health and wellness of those working for them, but we can all now agree that it's a good thing. Protecting employees from the risk of severe physical and mental harm leads to reduced absenteeism and long-term sickness, higher staff retention, and higher productivity. It's a similar story when employers are interested in employee wellness, too. Some employers might feel that their employees' cognitive load is beyond their responsibility. Still, increasing research suggests employer intervention can benefit employee productivity and focus. One study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that workers who exercised moderately produced higher-quality work and performed better in their jobs than those who did not exercise. Interestingly, the benefits don't always have to come from high-intensity sessions either. One study found that even five minutes spent walking in nature was enough to reset and reduce mental fatigue. Bristol University asked participants in their study to answer questionnaires about their mood, workload, and performance. On the days they exercised, 79% said they performed better mentally and had better interpersonal performance, while 74% said they managed their workload better. One of the main excuses people give for quitting the gym is a lack of time. In the UK, the average employee works around 37 hours per week; in the US, it's around 40 hours. Once you factor this alongside familial responsibilities, social responsibilities, chores, obligations, etc., it's easy to see why exercise can fall by the wayside. Employers can help change this. Some companies even pay employees to exercise. Nutrition Solutions is an American company that pays employees their hourly rate if they exercise before work. Employers don't have to build an expensive gym. They could suggest walking routes near the office and hold walking meetings outside. They might offer discounted or free gym memberships for local facilities or arrange for instructors to lead classes on specific days. Health apps can be a great employee benefit, especially ones that reward employees for caring for their physical and mental health. Energym has designed and developed the ECO:POD. This self-contained fitness area uses electricity-generating fitness bikes that charge portable battery units (or hotdesking area) as the rider pedals. It's also a great way to integrate wellness into your corporate sustainability strategy. Allowing employees to step away from their desks and exercise during the day can also help. If someone feels sluggish around 3 pm, they're unlikely to be productive, but the space for a 30-minute run, walk, strength training or yoga session could help them finish the day strong. So many employers feel that workers have to be bums on seats for 8 hours to be productive, but it's more nuanced than that. Adding standing desks and walking treadmills could be helpful, too. Group exercise can also help build community spirit among colleagues, primarily if they work in different departments. Gyms have found that people attending group sessions are often more likely to stay members, so the same principle could also apply to your business. You could arrange a team sport or set up group activities like a lunchtime running club. Team activities are also a great way to encourage bonding between colleagues.