When it comes to any skill or any discipline that you acquire, that success often translates into success in other areas. Anything that you apply yourself to—whether that’s learning a language, playing an instrument, or learning a new business skill at work—anything that you learn will automatically increase your confidence and ability to take in new information, to manage projects, to better yourself, and to make better decisions.
However, there is something biologically unique in exercising that makes people better at everything they do. (Score!) People who exercise have an easier time being successful in any area of their life, especially professional success, and here’s why—exercise actually increases both the activity and the function of mind, specifically, a part of our brains called the prefrontal cortex. In the prefrontal cortex is the ability to make decisions, as well as to exert willpower. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for impulse control and decision making.
That means, that we, by very nature, when we are accustomed to exercising, we are increasing our brain activity that helps us make better decisions, helps us be more decisive, and helps us nurture that self-control that is often required when it comes to being successful in business. You can’t get to anywhere you want to be in business if you don’t have those skills.
The thing is about becoming consistent with exercise is that it’s a virtuous cycle. When you just start with a little bit every day, by nature, you’re building up that willpower; you’re building up that decision-making; and you’re building up that impulse-control. So, the more that you exercise, the more you have that ability to choose to exercise (if that makes sense), because you have a higher sense of self-control, and better decision-making skills.
The Center for Creative Leadership has done some scientific studies to show that executives who exercise on a regular basis, actually score higher in leadership performance measures than their counterparts who don’t exercise. And that’s just not for executives! People who exercise 2, 3 or 4 times a week actually show higher productivity levels on the days that they exercise, so not just in general, like in 10 years. We’re precisely better on the days we work out.
So pick up those barbells, or get on that stationary bike, and start sweating your way to success!
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