We all experience a bad work day and the frustrations it can create. Most of us are also guilty of bringing these work frustrations home at one time or another. When the boss takes things out on us, we may go home and take it out on our spouse or kids.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology has shown that taking a brisk walk or long swim may prevent you from making your bad work day spill into your home life.
More Walk Equals Less Stress
The researchers recorded the sleep patterns and physical movements of employees at work. Those employees who walked an average of more than 10,900 steps per day were less likely to bring and perpetuate the work abuse to their home life, compared to those employees who walked less than 7,000 steps per day.
The participants were 118 MBA students with full-time jobs. They were surveyed and wore activity monitors for a week. Another survey was also sent to their cohabitants at their homes.
The researchers also found that burning an extra 587 calories can prevent you from carrying your work mistreatment back home. This is equivalent to a brisk 90-minute walk or an hour of swimming.
Exercise is Good for Mind and Body
We know physical exercise is good for our bodies. However, it can have a compelling effect on our psychology and emotions too.
The next time you are experiencing frustrations and mistreatment at work, make sure to go for a good, brisk walk, so you don’t take the abuse home and take it out on your poor spouse or kids. Your family will appreciate you for this.
Journal Reference:
Larissa K. Barber, Shannon G. Taylor, James P. Burton, Sarah F. Bailey. A Self-Regulatory Perspective of Work-to-Home Undermining Spillover/Crossover: Examining the Roles of Sleep and Exercise. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000196
