Overworked, overtired, overburdened… If you work in an executive position, chances are you just feel over it some days. Depending on the business environment, executives may be more likely to experience physical exhaustion, lack of sleep, mental health issues, and other problems that have the potential to compromise their overall health and life balance. If these issues persist, they can have long-term consequences for heart health, organ function, or physical ability. Massage and other forms of bodywork can address the concerns—physical or mental—executives are likely to face
You probably need it, whether you know it or not.
Some executives are so busy they find it difficult to even slow down long enough to take inventory of their health. It can be difficult to realize the toll a high-stress position takes on the body. A massage treatment can provide a respite from the daily grind, even for those who don’t frequently experience back pain, headaches, or insomnia. Take the opportunity to check in with yourself and notice any job-related changes or impacts to your body.
It’s an incentive to make good health decisions.
Many people who receive massage say it helps jump-start better health habits in other areas of their lives. If your body feels like it’s working better, chances are you will find ways to support it. That might mean you engage in more physical activity each week, make a change to your morning routine that helps set you up for success, or even just start flossing more. You might feel more motivated to unplug from electronics well before bedtime if your massage treatments are helping you feel more grounded. Whatever changes you make, regular massage can serve as a reminder to keep taking care of your body between sessions.
Massage is an investment in long-term good health.
Improving your physical and mental health means you are less likely to use sick days (or work while ill). You’re also more likely to be more efficient while on the job since you may be less distracted by pain, sleepiness, or general worries. As your health and productivity improves, you can expect to see changes across the board at your business. When executives experience health problems, businesses may face significant risk of financial and organizational instability. So investing in your health by getting a massage doesn’t just benefit you, it can reflect positively on your entire company.
You’ll feel less stressed and anxious.
With more authority and more responsibility comes more stress and more subjects you might worry over. Left untreated, stress and anxiety can lead to hypertension, or chronic high blood pressure, which in turn may affect blood flow to the kidneys, brain, and heart. Massage can melt away some of the day-to-day concerns and help restore calm, as well as address some of the physiological effects of ongoing stress and anxiety.
It may help address an addiction.
Addiction often co-occurs with other mental health issues. This means if executives are prone to one, they may be prone to another. Massage can be a passive way of addressing substance abuse problems and aiding the process of quitting an addiction.
It works by reintroducing the feel-good chemicals keeping a person hooked on alcohol, sex, narcotics, or another substance. During the withdrawal process, when dopamine levels are lower than ever, massage can provide a boost that helps retrain individuals not to look for that feeling from the harmful or addictive substance. It should be noted that while massage can be effective for addressing some of the facets of addiction recovery, it cannot replace psychotherapy as a way of healing from addiction.
You can afford it.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that executives in the United States make, on average, anywhere from $100,000 a year to well over $200,000. Though the value of this sum varies greatly around the U.S., and some executives may also experience greater expenses, the low end of this spectrum is still higher than the average yearly salary for working individuals in the U.S. Thus, executives may be better positioned to spend money on bodywork and other measures to protect health, when these measures are not covered by insurance.
If your company sponsors or supports health initiatives like gym memberships or regular massage appointments, you have all the more reason to take advantage of these services. Organizations that support employee health, especially at the executive level, are more likely to earn employee loyalty.
You don’t have to get a massage.
If touch therapy isn’t for you, many other types of bodywork may be more suited to your needs and comfort level. Reiki, for example, is a type of energy work that does not involve physical contact but offers benefits similar to those of massage: reduced stress, emotional balance, and relaxation.
Other bodywork modalities that have been shown to reduce stress include acupuncture, music therapy, and hypnosis. Aromatherapy has also been shown to have a positive effect on health and, specifically, job-related stress.
If you’re an executive or someone who works in management, consider reaching out to a bodywork professional to schedule an appointment. It’s never too late or too soon to take more control of your health and invest in your future wellness.
References:
- Cutler, N. (2005). Massage: The missing link in addiction treatment. Institute for Integrative Healthcare. Retrieved from http://www.integrativehealthcare.org/mt/archives/2005/05/massage_the_mis.html
- Davis, C., Cooke, M., Holzhauser, K., Jones, M., & Finucane, J. (2005). The effect of aromatherapy massage with music on the stress and anxiety levels of emergency nurses. Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal, 8(1), 43-50. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S157462670500008X
- Doyle, A. (2017). Average salary information for U.S. workers. The Balance. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/average-salary-information-for-us-workers-2060808
- Gaman, W. (2014). Executive health a top priority for stock holders. Corporate Wellness Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/focused/executive-health-a-top-priority
- Hansen, T. M., Hansen, B., & Ringdal, G. I. (2006). Does aromatherapy massage reduce job-related stress? Results from a randomised, controlled trial. International Journal of Aromatherapy, 16(2), 89-94. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0962456206000269
- Lane, D. N. (2013). Improving workplace productivity and corporate culture: perceptions and experiences of the effects of workplace massage (Doctoral dissertation, Victoria University). Retrieved from http://vuir.vu.edu.au/21896/1/Deborah%20Nicola%20Lane.pdf
- Occupational employment and wages, May 2016. (2017). Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes111011.htm
- Ornelas, S., & Kleiner, B. H. (2003). New developments in managing job related stress. Equal Opportunities International, 22(5), 64-70. Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/02610150310787504
- Pong, D. (2016). 4 common health issues faced by busy executives. Partner MD. Retrieved from http://blog.partnermd.com/blog/4-common-health-issues-faced-by-busy-executives
- Understanding executives with mental health disorders and co-occurring addiction. (2017). Bridges to Recovery. Retrieved from https://www.bridgestorecovery.com/blog/understanding-executives-with-mental-health-disorders-and-co-occuring-addiction/#sthash.3LNtLf9p.OBJfhihY.dpbs