Feeling burned out at work? Get moving, researchers say

Ann Arbor, MI — Even moderate exercise can help keep workers from feeling burned out, results of a recent study show.

Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 520 full-time workers, asking about their physical activity and whether they were burned out. Respondents were divided into three activity groups based on their level of exercise: low, medium and high.

The respondents in the moderate-activity group reported less emotional exhaustion than those in the low-activity group. Results also showed that people who engaged in high-intensity activity didn’t see better benefits than moderate-activity exercisers regarding reduced emotional exhaustion or enhanced feelings of personal accomplishment.

“We don’t need to engage in crazy amounts of activity to see benefits,” study co-author Michele Marenus, a former doctoral student at U-M, said in a press release. “Feeling the pressure to do so may actually cause a negative impact.”

The researchers recommend employers take steps to promote physical exercise, such as providing workers with walking desks, onsite workout facilities, gym subsidies and flexible schedules.

The study was published online in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.