A new study published in the Journal of Management identifies a novel way to boost your satisfaction with your work: an active sex life. According to researchers from the College of Business at Oregon State University, adults who report a more active sex life are likely to also report greater satisfaction with their work.
Boost Job Satisfaction by “Getting Busy”
Study co-author Keith Leavitt and his colleagues investigated how sex impacts mood and behavior in the workplace. Their findings came from surveys completed twice daily by 159 married, employed adults for two weeks. The survey questions covered, among other things …
- Sexual engagement at home
- Mood the day after sexual activity
- Behavior at work the day after sexual activity
When considering the results, the authors accounted for other factors that could impact mood, such as marital satisfaction and sleep quality. As might be expected, participants reported better moods the day after sexual activity. They also reported higher levels of job satisfaction, however, and increased engagement with their work.
The Many Benefits of Sexual Activity
Sexual activity triggers the release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which regulates the reward and pleasure centers of the brain. It also triggers the release of oxytocin, colloquially known as the “love hormone,” which plays a key role in sexual arousal as well as social bonding. These feel-good chemicals can help stave off anxiety and depression, according to Laura Berman, Ph.D., an assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Having sex can help people handle stressful situations, such as public speaking, says Stuart Brody, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of the West of Scotland.
According to co-author Leavitt, the Oregon State University study’s results are an crucial reminder that the benefits of sex are…
- Physiological
- Emotional
- Social
“It’s important to make it a priority,” Leavitt says.
Leavitt is not the only one to suggest sex be a priority. A local government official in Sweden has even proposed that municipal employees be given an hour-long paid break each week to go home and have sex! Per-Erik Muskos, a councilman from the northern town of Overtornea, noted in his proposal that sex has “documented positive effects on well-being.” His proposal will be put to a vote in late spring of 2017.
Don’t Let Work Intrude in the Bedroom
The study also shone light on how work can interfere with an active sex life. The researchers found that adults who brought work home were far less likely to have sex. Somewhat ironically, this could then lead to poorer productivity in the workplace. The prevalence of laptops and smartphones has given rise to the expectation that employees will be available at all hours. However, it seems that responding to work demands outside of work hours can negatively impact work efficiency … quality … and satisfaction.
To do your best work, both in the bedroom and in the board room, be sure to maintain a separation between the two!
