Sales is an endurance sport. It requires skill, mental acuity, psychological and emotional resilience, and without question, physical stamina. Some of the biggest challenges we face as sales professionals are mental and physical fatigue. I love my morning coffee(s) just as much as the next person but unfortunately, that cup of Joe can only take us so far on our road to better performance. There is a better way.
A study cited in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management found “workday exercise, not only improves well-being but participants noted a 72 percent improvement in time management and workload completed on days when they exercised.” What would your life look like as a salesperson if you completed 72% more work daily?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past 20 years it’s probably not news to you that consistent and moderate exercise improves just about every aspect of your health and well-being. For example:
- Exercise elevates our mood and mindset and when we look at some of the key characteristics of high-performing salespeople, those qualities are at the top of the list.
- Elevated levels of endorphins, dopamine, and endocannabinoids (yeah, the natural high stuff) released during extended physical activity gives us a greater sense of optimism and revitalized energy.
- Thanks to the Emotional Contagion Theory, when you feel more optimistic and energized, the people around you also feel that way. Remember, people like to buy from people they like and feel good around.
When you feel good, they feel good.
Other brain activity during exercise also contributes to improved overall performance. Exercise not only makes us feel better, but it assists us in thinking more clearly. One study on exercise and cognition found in the National Library of Medicine suggests that exercise may hold important benefits for both affective experiences (how we experience and regulate emotions) and cognitive performance regardless of age. Improved cognitive performance affects things like:
- Improved concentration
- Sharper memory
- Faster learning
- Prolonged mental stamina
- Enhanced creativity
- Lower stress
If improvement in these areas doesn’t kick up your performance, I don’t know what will (aside from enrolling in our NeuroSelling® program).
If you haven’t implemented some sort of regular physical activity into your day, here are 3 simple ways to help you get there:
- Go for a walk:
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- Any time you find yourself sitting for too long get up and go for a brisk walk. Too cold/hot outside— bring a warm jacket and take a tour of the building. Get creative.
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- Light aerobic exercise:
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- Hit the elliptical, treadmill, or stationary bike. Get that heart rate up for at least 20 mins 3-4 times a week
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- Drop and give me 20:
- Push-ups of any kind— on the floor, on your knees, against the wall will immediately get the blood flowing to the brain, trigger those neurotransmitters and kick up your overall energy. If you can’t do push-ups, try your basic bodyweight squat.
New habits are hard to form, so enlist a buddy to help keep you inspired and accountable. You’d be amazed at how a little friendly competition can help us to stay focused on our goals.
I’ll end with this because here’s what science is telling us:
If you’re not staying active regularly you are not performing optimally.
Common sense tells us that if you’re not performing optimally, you’re leaving a lot of opportunity and money on the table. So buddy up, get moving and watch all those good numbers go up!
