A stagnant pay, rising inflation and increasing home expenses are enough to send you to the gym to help you forget your money troubles. Hoping the gym membership fee isn’t as high as the money troubles you’re facing.
According to an article on Yahoo! the gym may be your key to a raise. Quoting a study published in the June issue of then Journal of Labor Research, workers who exercise regularly earn 9% higher than those who don’t.
Past studies have linked exercise with higher earnings, but the direction of cause and effect wasn’t clear. If gym-goers are more disciplined than their slothful coworkers, they might earn higher pay simply because they’re better workers, not because they exercise.
In an effort to cut through the confusion, Vasilios Kosteas of Cleveland State University, the study’s author, used a statistical technique called propensity-score matching. The idea is to score each study subject on whether they fit the profile of someone who exercises, based on factors like age, education level, and whether he or she played sports in high school.
By comparing subjects with similar scores, only some of whom exercise, Mr. Kosteas says his study indicates that exercise leads to higher earnings — although he also says follow-up studies are needed to know for sure.
Exercise has been shown in other studies to boost mental function and energy levels and improve mood. In that respect, it’s possible that it makes workers more valuable to employers.
If it’s any motivation for workers, the study suggests time at the gym pays for itself, and then some.
So hey, if you’ve been angling for that dream promotion or a pay rise, hit the gym. It may just pay off. Plus you’ll look and feel better, and the likelihood of health concerns will drop, potentially saving you money in future!