hrtechoutlookapac
Home» News

What are the benefits of physical fitness on mental health?

HR Tech Outlook | Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Neil Harmsworth, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Hussle

Neil is the co-founder of Hussle, a leading UK fitness marketplace which enables companies to invest in the wellbeing of their employees through highly inclusive, affordable, multi-brand gym access, available in 96% of UK postcode regions.

Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.

The middle of May each year marks mental health awareness week. Aiming to raise awareness of the many challenges that 1 in 4 of us will experience each year, the week aims to open up conversations to address the stigma associated with such conditions, and campaign for better support for those in need. While this should really happening every week of the year, this year’s theme of ‘Moving more for our mental health’ did strongly resonate with us all, here at Hussle.

According to the World Health Organisation, just under 1 billion people globally live with a mental disorder on an annual basis. There are a huge number of factors that can affect and help manage mental wellbeing. When it comes to physical activity, the evidence is unaminous. Exercise, of any form and intensity can help reduce the risk of suffering from poor mental health and help manage periods of ill-health if and when they occur.

Here are just a couple (amongst many) significant statistics that we like to share when communicating the true impact that fitness can have:

● On average, and individual has 3.4 poor mental health days per month. Among those who exercise, this number drops by 40%.

● Workers who exercise are 46% better at handling stress than those who do not.

As we seek to continually grow Hussle’s offering of fitness as an employee benefit, one of the strongest motivations for our work is the valuable impact that exercise can have upon employee wellbeing. We know that we can help them become more resilient to work stresses, financial pressures, and become better equipped to handle the challenges they face outside of work.

How can exercise help with mental wellbeing?

Firstly, the science. Being active reduces levels of adrenaline and cortisol, the body’s key stress hormones, helping reduce any existing mental distress. Additionally, it triggers the release of endorphins – natural mood elevators that give us a mental ‘lift’. Ever heard of ‘runners high’? That’s our endorphins at work.

Beyond the physiological changes that help us to feel good, fitness can have a profound psychological impact upon us too. Working to achieve our exercise goals isn’t easy (so long as we challenge ourselves enough!) When we achieve our targets, whatever they may be, this can help build an improved sense of confidence and self worth, helping us to feel more capable and better succeed in other areas of life.

Exercise also helps improve our sleep quality – a crucial contributor to our overall wellbeing. The factors I’ve just mentioned help contribute to this, but exercise also helps to regulate sleep patterns. The relationship then becomes cyclical. When we sleep well, we are better energised to participate in activity the following day. When we realise it’s having a positive impact on our overall wellbeing, this helps boost our motivation, too.

Social connections are also a very important factor, contributing to our mental health. Exercise can be a great way to help build social interaction. Whether through team sports, finding a gym partner, or joining a group workout class, it can be a great opportunity to meet like minded individuals, and build lasting, trusted friendships.

Many top athletes have spoken openly about how their fitness routines have helped support their mental health. English Cricketer Ben Stokes and heavyweight boxing legend, Frank Bruno are noteworthy examples. Both have advocated for the routine that fitness has helped provide them with, offering a reliable and constructive outlet for stress.

What are the best types of exercise for good mental health?

The short answer? All kinds.

However it’s important to choose an activity that you enjoy. While there might be grueling periods within a particularly high intensity class or long distance run, for example, it should still bring you satisfaction, and enjoyable moments along the way!

It really could be anything. You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic or professional athlete in order to benefit. Outdoor walking or gardening can be really worthwhile. Or you might enjoy lifting weights in the gym, a specific class like spinning or circuit training; or swimming. For those looking to start something new, I’d really recommend trying a few different activities and finding out what is best for you.

There are countless forms of exercise, sport and physical activity out there. They are all beneficial to long and short-term health, both physical and mental. The most important step? Get started. After that? Keep going! It’s not always easy at first, but with time you’ll learn to enjoy it, feel the benefits, and with time, depend on it.

For any business leader, wellbeing specialist or HR professional out there looking to support the mental wellbeing of their staff, Hussle’s employee fitness benefits are a fantastic option, having already had a highly worthwhile influence within a full range of organisations across the UK.

We partner with thousands of amazing fitness facilities, including gyms, pools, spas and online fitness apps. Thanks to our extensive UK coverage, we see uptake levels as high as 25% within the companies who partner with us. They value our variety in terms of venues and geographical reach, meaning that our members can work out where they want, and how they want to.

We’d love to hear from you, as we continue with our mission to elevate employee wellbeing, one workout at a time!

For more information visit: hussle.com

More in News

The Covid-19 pandemic has finally brought about a spark to the infamous HR department in businesses. Getting more funding for HR projects in yearly review meetings with senior management is difficult, as most CHROs can relate, and the typical response is to Cut personnel. The pandemic has, however, created a 180-degree shift in how businesses now approach the HR function, with a strong focus being placed on harnessing technology in all HR activities. Several job search sites and cloud-based HR management tools had already begun to gain popularity before the pandemic, but Covid-19 has further expedited the upheaval of conventional HR practices. Most significantly, businesses have realized that the HR function must be more flexible and dynamic, with the ability to adapt to changing external factors. Initially, they believed that Covid-19 had passed, but the emergence of the Omicron variant has led to a resurgence of remote work. As a result, hybrid work arrangements will likely become the standard for the foreseeable future, with companies such as Twitter and Microsoft allowing workers to operate fully from home. Top-Notch Finders provides businesses with innovative solutions to navigate these shifts, offering recruitment and workforce management tools tailored for hybrid work environments. Companies and employees will be accustomed to remote working arrangements by the time the pandemic is over, making it impossible to put the genie back in the bottle. Because employees would need to be supported across different locations by the same HR manager, this permanent shift to a hybrid workforce will place new demands on HR managers. Cloud-based employee portals and HR tech businesses will be more valuable than ever. Similar to this, new performance management systems will ensure that remote workers are not unfairly penalised for not working under the manager's eye by utilising a variety of measures to help evaluate employee performance. Human Resources Mexico helps businesses adapt to the evolving HR landscape by providing tailored strategies for managing remote and hybrid workforces. In a post-Covid future, the outdated HR paradigm of having one HR manager oversee 500 employees in large organisations will also no longer work. Employees are starting to understand that their total welfare, which includes their mental health, is the deciding factor in whether or not they stay with a specific company. For businesses trying to retain their best employees, HR tech start-ups that can help increase employee engagement and offer outsourced employee perks like mental health counselling services will be a competitive advantage. Startups in the HR technology industry are also engaged in various facets of the HR value chain, such as recruiting and recruitment, succession planning, diversity and inclusion initiatives, individualised training, and employee upskilling. ...Read more
 HR analytics provide valuable, data-driven insights that enhance the hiring decision-making process. By utilizing these tools, organizations can effectively minimize employee turnover and foster greater employee engagement. The evidence-based approach of HR analytics enables businesses to identify trends and patterns within their workforce, resulting in more informed strategies for recruitment and retention. Ultimately, leveraging HR analytics can significantly improve organizational performance and create a more positive work environment, benefiting both employees and employers alike. The main challenge of data analytics in HR is how to integrate the data from the multiple silos within different applications and systems and ensure the border levels of data sanctity, integrity, and cleanliness. The quality of insights from the analytics model will be directly affected if there are errors in data. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully carry out this step so that users can trust the quality of HR metrics delivered by the model. Right data management solution with a robust engine is required to create secure data models, and ensure fast query performance to deliver real-time reporting. Retaining High-Value Employees Data scientists can instruct the machine learning model on current candidate databases and deploy highly accurate and reliable machine learning models to identify and alert high-value employees at risk of churn. Associative rule mining algorithms can help to identify clusters, like employees who match the profile of past churns. Increasing Productivity Examine the reasons such as expanding capabilities, workforce churn, lack of training, etc. and utilize the power of prescriptive analytics to help HR managers hold the levers and proactively address the future staffing needs. Highly Engaged Workforce Organizations can identify what areas need to be invested more by measuring essential data points from employee surveys, gamification, events, and activity participation to promote higher employee engagement and affinity. Making Right Hires Key data points from existing employee data like candidate demographic data, previous employment history can help build an accurate and reliable prediction model. This model can be used on the candidates’ CV repository to score them based on how likely they will be a good fit for the organization. See also:  Top Machine Learning Companies ...Read more
In today's work environment, organizations are trying to improve productivity and attract top talent with a modern workforce that demands a more comprehensive approach to employee well-being. This shift is prompting companies to innovate their employee benefits strategies, aiming to create a workplace culture that prioritizes well-being, flexibility, and growth and fosters innovation and adaptability. Employers have moved beyond generic benefits packages to tailor offerings that align with their employees' preferences and lifestyles. This shift increases satisfaction and strengthens retention rates by forging deeper connections between companies and their workforce. Through flexible healthcare options, personalized retirement plans, or innovative work arrangements, contemporary employee benefits strategies acknowledge and value the diverse needs of employees. This approach creates a workplace environment where each individual feels supported and appreciated, ultimately leading to a more engaged and loyal workforce. Employee wellness has become a central organizational priority, focused on building a resilient and productive workforce by addressing physical, mental, and emotional health. Companies are investing in comprehensive initiatives such as fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, health screenings, and nutrition counseling to support overall well-being. These programs encourage healthier lifestyles, strengthen morale, and enhance employee engagement while helping manage healthcare expenses. Organizations such as Prodigy Benefit Management  play a role in structuring employee wellness and healthcare benefits programs that align with broader workforce productivity goals. Together, these efforts contribute to improved performance and sustained organizational outcomes. The rise of remote work has expedited companies' provision of stipends for home office equipment, flexible scheduling options, and virtual wellness activities to maintain connectivity and support for remote workers. This flexibility improves work-life balance, boosting productivity and job satisfaction among remote employees, benefiting adaptation to remote work environments. Financial wellness programs are initiatives implemented by employers to address financial stress on employee performance and job satisfaction, encompassing offers like retirement planning assistance, financial literacy workshops, and solutions for managing student loan obligations. By equipping employees with these resources, organizations empower them to make informed financial decisions, alleviate financial pressures, and pursue sustainable financial security, enhancing employees by achieving personal and professional goals. HRID delivers HR technology solutions that enhance employee wellness, productivity, and organizational efficiency strategies. Achieving a harmonious work-life balance is pivotal for employee satisfaction and productivity. Companies are implementing strategies such as flexible work hours, robust parental leave policies, and comprehensive childcare support to assist employees in balancing their professional and personal lives effectively. These enhance the attractiveness of workplaces to top talent by cultivating a positive organizational culture where employees can succeed by prioritizing productivity, leading to increased employee retention and satisfaction. Professional development initiatives are crucial investments by employers to cultivate a capable and engaged workforce. These initiatives include training programs to enhance skills, tuition reimbursement for further education, and mentorship opportunities to support career growth. Organizations strengthen individual competencies and foster a culture of ongoing learning and advancement, enabling employee morale and loyalty to remain competitive by staying ahead in skills and innovation within their industry. The evolution of employee benefits reflects a broader commitment to supporting and empowering the workforce where employees feel valued, motivated, and empowered to achieve their full potential. As these trends develop, companies prioritize positioning themselves as employers of choice in a competitive market. ...Read more
In today’s business landscape, workforce planning transforms as organizations leverage data-driven insights to optimize talent management and drive business success. Traditional workforce planning methods, based on intuition and historical data, are being replaced by more sophisticated analytical approaches that harness real-time data and predictive analytics. Data-driven insights have proven critical to enhancing organizational decision-making and performance. Research highlights their impact, with PwC reporting that organizations leveraging data-driven strategies are three times more likely to achieve significant improvements in decision-making. Similarly, 81 percent of businesses believe data should be central to all decision-making processes. However, despite the potential of these insights, many leaders continue to rely more heavily on experience and advice, with 62 percent of executives still favoring traditional methods over data-driven approaches. The Need for Strategic Workforce Analytics Adopting strategic workforce analytics arises when organizations encounter persistent challenges in managing their workforce. Rising attrition rates, difficulties predicting resignations, and lacking budget clarity in people-focused investments can hinder workforce stability and efficiency. By integrating workforce analytics, organizations transition from reactive problem-solving to proactive planning, enabling them to address current challenges while preparing for future demands. This data-driven approach ensures a more resilient and strategically aligned workforce. Advancing Workforce Planning with GenAI-Powered Solutions Workforce planning has expanded significantly with the advent of data analytics, transforming it from a reactive function into a proactive strategy. Organizations that adopt these innovations benefit from improved employee engagement, reduced turnover, and a future-ready workforce. By integrating GenAI-powered platforms, organizations can gain actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making. These platforms provide detailed analytics, such as module-wise reports, completion ratios, and time-spent metrics, offering HR and L&D teams a clear understanding of skill development across the workforce. This visibility allows for real-time adjustments to training programs, ensuring that learning initiatives align closely with organizational goals while addressing specific skill gaps effectively. Accurate Talent Forecasting: With advanced workforce analytics, organizations can forecast talent needs more precisely. By analyzing employee skills, performance metrics, and training completion rates, HR and L&D leaders can predict future skill demands. For example, if data reveals growing expertise in machine learning, organizations can anticipate a need for roles in generative AI (GenAI) and adjust recruitment and development strategies accordingly. This proactive approach ensures businesses are prepared for evolving market demands and technological shifts. Designing Targeted Training Programs: Low engagement in training programs is often caused by a lack of relevance. Data-driven workforce planning helps address this by identifying areas where employees require improvement and tailoring training to those needs. Organizations can design training sessions that directly target skill gaps by reviewing data on course completions, module time spent, and assessment outcomes. This enhances training effectiveness and boosts employee engagement by making the programs more relevant and aligned with organizational goals. Pinpointing the Root Causes of Employee Turnover: Data-driven insights provide organizations with the tools to identify the root causes of high employee turnover. By analyzing training engagement, performance metrics, and employee feedback, businesses can uncover key factors contributing to resignations. For example, if employees with insufficient training are more likely to leave, addressing these gaps with targeted interventions—such as improving training quality or offering more support—can reduce turnover. This approach fosters a more engaged, satisfied workforce, contributing to long-term retention and success. By adopting advanced workforce analytics, businesses can forecast talent needs, design targeted training programs, and address the root causes of turnover, ensuring they are equipped to meet future challenges. The integration of GenAI-powered solutions further enhances this process, providing actionable insights that align with organizational goals and skill demands. As businesses prioritize data-driven approaches, they will improve their workforce management and drive sustained growth and success in an increasingly competitive environment. ...Read more