Burnout is a common side effect to work today and its remedy is ‘moderate’ exercise: Study

When you come back home after a long day of dealing with a demanding boss and/or an annoying colleague, the last thing we are going to want to do is exercise. However, getting our behinds off the couch and dragging ourselves to the gym — or the park — might actually help us feel better.

In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure work environment, burnout is becoming a common issue. Deadlines, long hours and constant multitasking can leave us feeling emotionally exhausted and mentally drained. But there’s good news — according to research published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, moderate exercise might be the key to combating job burnout.

The study examined over 500 employees, assessing their exercise habits and how these related to their work satisfaction and emotional well-being. The results were clear: those who engaged in moderate physical activity experienced significantly less burnout and emotional exhaustion. They also reported feeling a greater sense of personal accomplishment in their jobs.
But what is “moderate exercise”? As per Michele Wolf Marenus, PhD, a research scientist at Personify Health and one of the study's authors, it’s not about pushing yourself to the extreme. Instead, it involves activities like strength training, dancing, or hiking for at least 30 minutes on five or more days a week. A combination of vigorous activities, like running, and moderate ones is also effective.

Interestingly, the study found that more intense forms of exercise didn’t necessarily lead to better results. In fact, moderate activity proved to be the sweet spot. People who exercised at this level reported the lowest levels of emotional exhaustion and the highest levels of job satisfaction. Meanwhile, those who did either very low or very high levels of physical activity didn’t see the same benefits.

As for why moderate exercise helped with burnout? It offers a valuable break from work, allowing employees to recharge mentally and physically. Exercise boosts cardiovascular health, enhances mood, and improves emotional regulation — all essential for dealing with work stress.

So, if work stress is getting you down, you might want to lace up those sneakers and take a brisk walk or dance to your favourite tunes. It could be just what you need to refresh both body and mind!