How Sports Helps Improve Employee's Mental Health and Productivity?

Creator: Anita Ramesh
Keywords: Promoting mental health, Mental health at workplace, Mental health and sports, Corporate mental wellness, Role of physical activity and sports in mental health, Mental health benefits of sports, Employee wellness programs, Importance of mental health in sports

Author - Anita Ramesh

Medically Reviewed by The Medindia Medical Review Team on Apr 29, 2022

About

Mental well-being is the key to a healthy work environment. Sports can play an important role in improving mental well-being. Integrating sports into workplace can not only improve mental health but also productivity at work. Sports can include a variety of activities, such as badminton, football, table tennis, cycling, swimming and team games such as a skipping race, a wheelbarrow race and an Indian game called 'Kho-Kho.'

What is Mental Well-Being?

World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as "A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community."

Mental health is all about wellness and not illness. Having good mental health has a number of positive outcomes, such as increased productivity, reduced stress, better relationships, job satisfaction and good work-life balance.

How Does Sports Improve Employees' Mental Well-Being?

Mental health problems pose a major threat to employees' well-being. Mental health issues were on the rise during the last 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is extremely important to get the body moving to improve employee mental health.

Engaging in any physical activity or sport can improve your mental health even in the face of life stressors. Carol Welch has wisely said, "Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional and mental states"

It has been seen in many medical studies that regular participation in sports:

improves mood
reduces stress, anxiety and depression
increases happiness
encourages healthy sleep habits
boosts memory and cognitive function
improves morale and teamwork among employees
makes employees more efficient and effective at work
increases assertiveness and social skills
protects against feelings of hopelessness and suicide
reduces emotional and behavioral issues
builds psychological resilience(6^✔, 7^✔)

In fact, just participating in sports has shown to decrease feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety while increasing feelings of self-esteem and social connectedness. Also, it decreases the rates of major depressive episodes, suicidal thoughts or attempts and social isolation(3^✔).

How Do Sports at the Workplace Improve Physical Health?

Engaging in sports improves not only mental health but also physical health. Playing a sport can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and obesity. In India, about 61% of deaths have been associated with lifestyle diseases. Therefore, engaging in sports is a significant preventive method(4^✔).

With more and more desk jobs emerging, employees face a risk of health issues due to prolonged sitting and bad posture. Sport can help to reduce the negative consequences of these issues.

The effects of physical activity are long term and have far-reaching benefits even up to old age. They also play a role in psychosocial well-being and mental health. Engaging in sports can encourage socialization, improve self-worth and reduce the risk of mental disorders. Finally, sport contributes to an overall healthy lifestyle and can impact diet and sleep.

What are the 'Physiological Links' between Mental Health and Sports?

Dr. Kelly McGonical, a psychologist and author of books such as 'The Joy of Movement' and 'The Willpower Instinct' says that

"When you exercise, it increases endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabinoid � these are all brain chemicals associated with feeling happy, feeling confident, feeling capable, feeling less anxiety and stress and even less physical pain."

Hence exercise and sports act as a great stress buster for employees. Companies and organizations can incorporate various sporting activities to improve the health of their employees. Organizing an indoor or outdoor sports or an individual or group sports is a great way to build the mental and physical health of the employees.

The physiological link between mental health and sports are as follows -

Stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are reduced(1^✔)
Physiological training for the body helps employees to handle stress better in the future
Sports or any physical activity releases dopamine and serotonin that play a significant role in improving your mood
Your learning and memory is also improved due to the increased blood flow to the hippocampus in the brain
Positive effects on gray and white matter, which play a role in attention, thinking and perception(2^✔, 3^✔)

What is the Importance of Sports in Workplace Productivity?

Sports help employees contribute to better productivity at workplace. Physical activity is linked to improved team function and cohesion, reduced sickness expenses and better performance.

Sleep quality and fatigue are alleviated by physical activity. Exercise also energizes and provides momentum. Studies show that such benefits are experienced by professionals across industries.

Exercises that contribute the most to productivity are walking, low-intensity aerobic activity, yoga and strength training. Walking boosts creativity in 81% of workers. Yoga improves coping mechanisms and can be revitalizing. Strength training is associated with better brain functioning(8^✔, 9^✔).

Having healthy mental well-being is to have a healthy environment as well. Overall, it has been seen that poor mental health can negatively affect employees' job performance, health and productivity

What are all the Common Employee Wellness Programs?

Employee Wellness Programs have become increasingly popular especially in the corporate sector. Such programs have several benefits including reduced health costs, boost in productivity, higher engagement, lower absenteeism, higher employee morale and retention.

These include a variety of activities and sport-related activities as well. Some examples of programs and the ways they can be implemented are as follows:

Healthy food habits� Providing healthy snack options in the workplace can increase the likelihood of improved dietary habits. Providing a subsidy for healthy items or organizing a potluck are also innovative ways of encouraging healthy eating.
Encouraging running� This can be done by organizing a marathon for the staff or conducting a sports day.
Yoga and meditation� Planning a yoga retreat or class can encourage employees to engage in beneficial breathing techniques and relaxing exercises. A meditation time out can also be provided in between work hours.
Employee recognition program� Such programs can help motivate employees to be more committed towards work.
Providing a discounted gym membership� This will provide an incentive for employees to focus on their fitness.
Surprise holidays� This can act as a rejuvenating experience for workers.
Pet-friendly office� Allowing employees to bring in their pets to work can make the workplace livelier and engaging.
Mental health support� Offering workshops and providing counseling sessions can play a crucial role in the well-being of workers.
Indoor games and activities� These can not only boost morale but also foster team spirit and belongingness(10^✔).

Learn more about Medindia's Unique Employee Wellness Program and define your corporate health index.

https://www.medindia.net/regis/employee-wellness-portal.asp

References:

The Importance Of Sports And Wellness In Achieving Work-Life Balance - (https://blog.vantagefit.io/sports-and-wellness/#:~:text=Physical%20activity%20causes%20the%20body,mental%20health%20of%20the%20employees)
Work and Sport: Relationships Between Specific Job Stressors and Sports Participation - (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341552540_Work_and_Sport_Relationships_Between_Specific_Job_Stressors_and_Sports_Participation)
Working Out Boosts Brain Health - (https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-fitness/stress)
Lifestyle diseases the biggest killer in India today - (https://www.cseindia.org/lifestyle-diseases-the-biggest-killer-in-india-today-8228#:~:text=Tobacco%20and%20alcohol%2C%20air%20pollution,and%20medication%20remains%20extremely%20expensive.&text=Heart%20diseases%3A%2026%20per%20cent,happen%20due%20to%20cardiovascular%20diseases.)
The health benefits of sport and physical activity - (https://www.sportanddev.org/en/learn-more/health/health-benefits-sport-and-physical-activity)
The Mental Benefits Of Sport - (https://www.activenorfolk.org/2021/05/mental-benefits-of-sport/)
Impact of sports on mental health - (https://www.journalofsports.com/pdf/2019/vol4issue1S/PartA/SP-4-1-4-781.pdf)
Playing sports like football and rugby at work could not only keep you healthy but improve your productivity as well - (https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ssehs/news/2017/workplace-sport-important-for-health-and-productivity.html)
How Exercise Improves Productivity and Your Brain Function - (https://www.bbfp.com.au/latest-articles/how-exercise-improves-productivity-and-your-brain-function)
Top 36 Employee Wellness Program Ideas In 2022 - (https://www.springworks.in/blog/employee-wellness-program-ideas/

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Anita Ramesh. 2022. How Sports Helps Improve Employee's Mental Health and Productivity?. Medindia, viewed Dec 23, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/lifestyle/how-sports-helps-improve-employees-mental-health-and-productivity.htm.