Workplace Fitness: Exercise makes you better at your job

As if you needed more reasons to get on the bandwagon and start living a healthier lifestyle, now you can count your exercise efforts towards furthering your career because exercising makes you a better worker.

According to researchers, employees who get exercise during the day feel more productive, are in better moods, are less likely to snap or yell at coworkers, and generally feel more satisfied and less frustrated with their jobs. And to make that news even better, it doesn't matter what kind or how much exercise in terms of getting positive work benefits all and any exercise is created equal.

Of course to get long-term health benefits and a fit physique from exercise you'll have to be a little more deliberate in your plan, but "anything goes" is a great place to get started because it's so not intimidating! And with the immediate results of "feeling and doing better at work," you've got an instant and regular motivation to keep it up until you start seeing results on the scale and in the doctor's office.

So what kind of exercise are you going to choose? One of my favorites is to take mini "fitness breaks" during the day, meaning instead of taking five minutes to stand around chatting at the water cooler, I'll take a few minutes to go up or down a flight of stairs or walk across the building through an empty hallway. And if you just can't do without the office gossip you can always recruit a coworker to go with you and give you the dish as you get your blood pumping. And if that doesn't do it for you, your lunch hour is always a handy time to go for a relaxing walk or jog.

A few other easy and quick ideas:

• Switch out your desk chair for an exercise ball (even if it's only for part of the day)
• Commit to a meal plan and take the stress out of remembering to bring something healthy for lunch
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Take a brisk walk during lunch
• Use a smaller water glass at your desk but commit not to drink less water (i.e. you'll have to get up more often to fill it up)
• Eat a healthy breakfast and stock your desk with healthy snacks
• Join the "America Takes it Off" challenge!
• Schedule exercise time like it was an appointment during your workday -- and make it a priority.