It is said that business and pleasure don’t mix, but what if more pleasure meant better business? According to a new study, an active sex life can translate to more productivity and better job satisfaction among workers.
An active sex life among those who prioritized it at home led to more productivity and better engagement during the next day at work. On the contrary, those who allowed work to interfere with their home and sex life showed less happiness and job satisfaction.
The study, performed at Oregon State University, confirmed the value of a healthy work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining important relationships and leaving work problems at the workplace. Over 150 married employees took part in this study, which lasted a little over two weeks.
The participants were asked to complete surveys twice a day to gauge their sex life, mood and job satisfaction. The findings showed that among men and women who maintained an active sex life, better mood was reported the following day, leading to more engagement in work and satisfaction with their jobs.
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“We make jokes about people having a ‘spring in their step,’ but it turns out this is actually a real thing and we should pay attention to it,” said Keith Leavitt from the College of Business at Oregon State University. “Maintaining a healthy relationship that includes a healthy sex life will help employees stay happy and engaged in their work, which benefits the employees and the organizations they work for.”
The after-effects of sex include elevated mood resulting from the release of dopamine and oxytocin, which are associated with the reward center of the brain and feelings of social attachment and intimacy, respectively. The effect on mood lasts for about 24 hours after sex. Leavitt refers to it as a “natural and relatively automatic mood elevator,” saying that the benefits of the act aren’t only relegated to physical enjoyment. Instead, a healthy sex life could even be considered an important part of total wellness.
“Making a more intentional effort to maintain a healthy sex life should be considered an issue of human sustainability, and as a result, a potential career advantage,” he stated.
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The other implication of this study is that when work is brought into the home, overall life satisfaction and job engagement decrease. In married couples, this can certainly affect their sex life. The benefits of creating work-life balance and unplugging are many, regardless of a person’s sexual activity, so avoiding the temptation to check e-mails or make phone calls at home can be of greater benefit in the long run. Leavitt encourages employers to allow workers the freedom to truly unplug, and applauds the efforts of the French in barring the use of company e-mails after work hours.
Ultimately, making time for sex can have many benefits socially, emotionally and physiologically. Leavitt argues that it may be time for it to be considered on par with meditation and step tracking as a way to increase one’s productivity and happiness in the workplace.
Marissa is a health and fitness writer from the Tampa Bay area. In addition to researching the latest trending topics, she enjoys instructing kickboxing classes and posting incessantly to her Instagram account.
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