Six Jobs That Will Make You Healthier
From an increased risk of heart disease to more fat around your middle, studies show that our time at the workplace (8.8 hours per day on average) can be hazardous to our health.
"Often psychological environments have more to do with health than physical environments," says Bill Burnett, author of Advantage: Business Competition in the New Normal.
Two companies producing the same product under the same physical conditions can have a radically different effect on employees, he maintains. "The single biggest health factor in large companies is the psychological environment established by the leadership team," says Burnett.
Some stress, however, can be a good thing according vocational rehabilitation counselor Marky Charleen Stein. "Too little stress leads to boredom and inhibits the release of endorphins," otherwise known as "happy hormones," she says. As a person who helps people with on-the-job injuries, Stein suggests that jobs involving a variety of physical movements are healthier than jobs involving only a singular, repetitive movement.
We asked the experts to single out six jobs that can actually make you healthier while earning a decent paycheck. The wage information displayed below is courtesy of online salary database, PayScale.com.
1. Events coordinator
Median salary: $39,020
Just like Baby Bear in the children's fairy tale of 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears,' Stein says, "A medium stress level job might be that of an events or activity coordinator -- just right." Creating fun and memorable events for businesses or individuals is a multibillion dollar industry that's still growing. Earning certification from the International Event and Wedding Professionals organization can go a long way toward giving you the skills you'll need to feel less stressed when juggling everything it takes to pull off a successful event.
-- Find Event Coordinator Jobs
2. Chiropractor
Median salary: $60,263
Stein notes that chiropractors use a range of movements treating patients. But they're also often self-employed -- taking a demanding boss out of the stress equation. Another bonus: According to the BLS, the chiropractic approach to health care is holistic and uses natural, drugless, nonsurgical health treatments. A well-educated practitioner will certainly know a thing or two about healthy living.
3. Physical Therapist
Median salary: $67,056
Physical therapists (PTs) enjoy lots of variety, from patients ranging in age from babies to the elderly, as well as physically demanding treatments that require lots of lifting, stooping, kneeling, crouching and standing. Many PTs typically work 40-hour weeks without emergencies or overtime, according to the BLS.
-- Find Physical Therapist Jobs
4. Fitness Trainer/Exercise Instructor
Median salary: $26,744
Exercise physiologist, speaker and fitness instructor Joyce Moore says exercise lovers should consider making their favorite pastime a career. "You may need to get a certification," says Moore, but the health boost is undeniable. Moore notes she burns about 200 calories per hour teaching.
5. Gardener/Landscaper
Median Salary: $33,127
Moore says, "This is a great job because it definitely reduces stress levels and is also a great calorie burner." She estimates grass cutting, weeding, and general maintenance burns 235 calories per hour on average. Plus, the time spent outdoors boosts Vitamin D levels necessary for maintaining a healthy bone structure and supporting the immune system, Moore says.
6. Auto Detailer
Median salary: $28,660
"Who doesn't love cars?" asks Moore. Between washing and waxing, the average person can burn about 300-500 calories, she notes, not to mention reaping the rewards of meditative tasks like polishing. Remember the lesson to the Karate Kid from Mr. Miyagi? "Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important."
Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with 5-8 years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.
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