What if there was an activity that could improve your outlook, your stamina, and your effectiveness in the workplace? Actually, there is just such an activity. No, we’re not talking about the latest expensive fad diet or complicated fitness plan. It’s an art form that people throughout the world have been enjoying since ancient times: dance! There are a whole host of ways that dancing can put the extra pep in your step to make your workdays more enjoyable both mentally and physically.
Peter Lovatt, Ph.D., a dance psychologist, says that dancing on a regular basis at several intervals throughout your workday can help you to feel better, think more clearly, solve problems, get more work done, and even get along better with others in your workplace.
So let’s break down some of the ways that dance can produce these impressive results.
1. Dancing Heightens Your Problem-Solving and Thinking Abilities
Dr. Lovatt decided to conduct an experiment to determine if dancing could, in fact, improve cognitive function in the workplace. He gave two groups of workers two problems to work on solving. During their break, one group of workers was permitted to dance while the other was not. Interestingly, the workers in the dancing group significantly outperformed their non-dancing counterparts.
2. Dancing is a Real Mood Booster
Any sustained physical activity will encourage your body to release endorphins, the chemicals that are known to make people feel happier. The dancing group in Lovatt’s experiment did, unsurprisingly, remark on being in a better mood than those who didn’t dance.
3. Dancing Can Improve Teamwork
Dr. Lovatt explained how two groups of heart patients were enrolled in either a workout group or a dance group for a period of 12 weeks. After the study was complete, the dance group showed better social results overall than those who were part of the other workout group.
Social harmony goes a long way in the workplace. Because dancing in a group focuses on timing, rhythm, and movement, it can help foster attitudes of cohesiveness and unity. When this mindset permeates a work environment, better teamwork would be a logical result.
4. Dancing Provides Health Benefits
This last point should go without saying, but because it gets people moving, dance can improve a person’s physical condition. Those who sit at a desk all day long are susceptible to all sorts of health problems, such as stiff joints, weak muscle tone, obesity, and more. Getting up and dancing while you’re on your break at work may be just what you need to get your heart pumping, your muscles working, and your body in shape.
So who cares if your coworkers think you’re a little bit eccentric when you leap around the break room or twirl your way to the water cooler? You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re taking enjoyable steps toward improving your health, mental clarity, teamwork, and overall health. Maybe you can even convince some of them to join you in your quest to dance your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle?
Find more helpful dance related articles at TheStudioGuide.com.
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