Moderate physical activity is a good way to reduce burnout and its effects, a new study finds.
- Employees who exercise moderately feel less emotionally exhausted than their less active colleagues, a new study finds.
- They also appear to be more personally satisfied at work.
- Another finding: High-intensity activity did not reduce emotional exhaustion or improve personal accomplishment any more than moderate activity.
Extreme fatigue, migraine, feeling of doubt or inadequacy, insomnia, stomach aches, anxiety, irritability, disengagement at work… if you recognize yourself in this list, you may be suffering from professional exhaustion, also called burn-out.
Moderate exercise may help you combat the disorder, according to a University of Michigan study published in the journal Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Physical activity protects against burnout
To understand the relationship between physical activity and burnout, the researchers surveyed 520 full-time employees about their physical activity and how they felt about their work and health. After completing the questionnaires, the volunteers were divided into groups based on their level of physical activity (low, moderate, and high) and burnout (emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, depersonalization). Of the participants, 23% reported low activity, 60% moderate activity, and 25% high activity levels.
The analyses showed that people with moderate activity were less emotionally exhausted than those who did not move or moved very little. In addition, the low-activity group felt less personal accomplishment than the other two.
“The results highlight the positive impact of physical activity on job prospects and personal satisfaction”explains Michele Marenus who worked on this study.
Burnout: No need to run a marathon to see benefits
However, it does not seem necessary to become a top athlete to avoid burnout: engaging in high-intensity activity did not reduce emotional exhaustion or increase feelings of accomplishment any more than moderate exercise.
“We don’t need to engage in crazy activities to see benefits,” the scientist says. “Feeling pressure to do so can actually have a negative impact.”the expert specifies in a press release. She therefore recommends walking or cycling… while recalling that moderate activity also has the advantage of being more sustainable and presenting less risk of injury.
“Moderate to vigorous physical activity (also) promotes an increase in the level of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor”adds Michel Marenus. “Also known as BDNF, it improves important things like brain health, cognitive function, and mental health. This protein remains elevated in the brain for a period of time after moderate to vigorous physical activity, which can benefit an individual’s overall health.”
