A new study out of Spain took a look at how fitness can affect your cognitive performances. While the researchers admit that many of the factors require more research, they did find that people with higher fitness levels were better able to sustain their attention.
The study examined Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in two different groups of individuals who were at different fitness levels. During the research period, these groups were tested with three different cognitive tasks to see if low-level or high-level fitness affected performance. They found that the high-level group was better able to sustain attention.
In short, the study suggests that maintaining a certain level of fitness translates into other areas of your life, like work, where individuals with higher fitness levels are better able to focus on their tasks.
“The high-fit group appeared to be less affected by the time spent performing the cognitive tasks, which can be taken again as an index of more efficient sustained attention,” the study reads.
Even for the busiest of professionals, it is important to maintain a life of balance that includes being active and getting exercise. Add a bit of cardio into your day and you might find you are less distracted during work hours.
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