Many of us have felt job burnout before. A new study suggests that exercise can help, but only if you do it in moderation – not too much, not too little. This study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, looked at over 500 employees. Researchers wanted to see if physical activity affected how emotionally drained people felt at work and how happy they were with their jobs. They found that exercise did help, but only at moderate intensity. Interestingly, very intense workouts didn't reduce burnout any more than lighter exercise. Researchers explained that this research highlights the importance of moderate physical activity for reducing burnout. How Exercise Impacts Burnout Researchers wanted to understand if encouraging physical activity could benefit employees beyond just their physical health. They surveyed 520 full-time employees about their job stress and exercise habits. They defined "moderate physical activity" as: At least 20 minutes of vigorous activity (like running) three or more days a week.At least 30 minutes of moderate activity (like strength training, dancing, or hiking) five or more days a week.A combination of both, five or more days a week.Participants were grouped by their activity levels. The researchers also looked at three parts of burnout: emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, and depersonalization (seeing customers as less than human). Over half (about 53%) of the participants reported doing moderate exercise. The results showed that these moderately active employees felt the least emotionally exhausted and the most accomplished. Depersonalization scores were similar across all groups. Experts agree these findings make sense, as moderate exercise is known to reduce stress and improve mood, which helps prevent burnout. Why Moderate Exercise Helps You Like Your Job More Exercise might help reduce job burnout because it gives workers time away from their jobs to rest and recover. Being physically active also helps people "recharge" their bodies and minds. This can improve their mood, how they handle emotions, and their memory. Some experts also believe that people who exercise might feel more confident and in control. This feeling, whether from exercise itself or boosted by it, could lead to less burnout. But why weren't very intense workouts more helpful than moderate ones? One reason might be that the study didn't include enough people who did very intense exercise. A more likely reason is that it can simply be too hard to manage tough workouts (like training for a marathon) along with work duties. Another reason is about chemicals in the body. Very intense exercise, especially for a long time, can release more of a stress hormone called cortisol. This can make people more prone to emotional stress and mental tiredness. So, moderate activity seems to lead to better overall balance and well-being. How to Exercise to Fight Burnout An ideal weekly routine would include three to five days of "very challenging" exercise along with "other days where your heart rate is up, but you can still talk." Examples of these lighter activities include a brisk walk, biking, yoga, light swimming, and pickleball. You can also find small ways to be more active, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking further away from a building. Most experts suggest exercising for at least 45 minutes, three or four days a week. Others recommend up to 75 minutes of moderate-to-high exercise five or six days a week. It usually takes about seven weeks of regular effort for your body to show changes from exercise.