Overlooked Health Benefits of Reselling: Turning Work into Exercise

Reselling, the art of buying secondhand items and selling them for profit, has gained immense popularity in recent years, thanks to online platforms like eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy. While the focus is often on the financial rewards, the physical and mental aspect of reselling is often overlooked. However, when viewed through a different lens, reselling can offer numerous physical and mental benefits that contribute to a healthier lifestyle. Where others are often stuck at a desk job with little to no physical exercise, reselling presents a unique hybrid opportunity for your health.

Many believe that staying fit requires a gym membership, a notion fueled by the idea that exercise is confined to traditional settings and equipment. However, the truth is that physical activity can be integrated into various aspects of daily life, including the physical activity that innately comes with reselling.  The process of sourcing, packing, and shipping items for your business can be surprisingly active. From walking to find the perfect pieces for your inventory to the lifting involved in packaging, these tasks contribute to a more active lifestyle. This approach not only challenges the conventional gym-centric view of exercise but also highlights how business activities can double as an opportunity for physical movement. Want to get your steps in? Go sourcing. Struggling to lose weight due to your sedentary job? Try moving around with product photography and shipping out items.

In the fast-paced world of reselling, where every sale counts and every item matters, it's easy to overlook the physical benefits that come with the job. From scouring thrift stores for hidden gems to packaging items for shipment, every step of the reselling process can contribute to your physical well-being in ways you may not have considered. By reframing your mindset for daily reselling tasks as opportunities for exercise, you can not only boost your business but also improve your overall health. One of the best parts about being a reseller is that you have the option to work from home, however, many at-home jobs can be sedentary. However, this doesn't have to be the case with reselling. Because at the end of the day, the best work to have is one that gives back more than it takes.

Perceptions Matter, according to an NPR case study...

"[A researcher] divided 84 maids into two groups. With one group, researchers carefully went through each of the tasks they did each day, explaining how many calories those tasks burned. They were informed that the activity already met the surgeon general's definition of an active lifestyle.

The other group was given no information at all.

One month later, Langer and her team returned to take physical measurements of the women and were surprised by what they found. In the group that had been educated, there was a decrease in their systolic blood pressure, weight, and waist-to-hip ratio — and a 10 percent drop in blood pressure.

One possible explanation is that the process of learning about the amount of exercise they were already getting somehow changed the maids' behavior. But Langer says that her team surveyed both the women and their managers and found no indication that the maids had altered their routines in any way. She believes that the change can be explained only by the change in the women's mindset."

So why does this matter? Because perceptions matter. If you go into your job with a sour mood dreading your day, you're probably going to have a lousy day. On the other hand, if you begin to develop your mindset with positivity, knowing that you have an opportunity to exercise for your health in reselling, you're probably going to become healthier and enjoy your work more because you're benefiting more than you thought.

Moreover, statistics reveal compelling evidence of the physical benefits associated with incorporating movement into daily activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week to maintain good health. By integrating reselling tasks such as walking, lifting, movement in product photography, and packaging into their routine, individuals can easily meet and even exceed these recommendations, leading to improved overall fitness levels and reduced risk of chronic diseases.

Here are some key physical benefits of reselling and how it can positively impact your physical well-being:

- Getting Steps In

Walking through thrift stores, flea markets, digging through the bins, or discount stores in search of valuable items not only boosts your chances of finding unique pieces but also helps you get your daily steps in. Aim to walk briskly and explore different sections of the store to maximize your business efficiency as well as your health. Browsing through thrift stores for hidden gems as well as moving through the racks involves a considerable amount of walking, offering an opportunity to rack up steps and improve your cardiovascular system.

- Increased Physical Activity / Moving around

Product Photography.

Taking photos of items for your online listings requires you to move around, adjust angles, and find the best lighting. This constant movement can improve your flexibility, posture, and overall mobility if done properly, lending to your health. Taking clear and attractive photos of items for online listings requires moving around, bending, and stretching, which contributes to improved flexibility and mobility as well.

Muscle Engagement and Strength Building:

- Packaging and preparing items for shipment may seem like a tedious task, but it can actually provide a good workout for your arms, shoulders, and core. Lifting, bending, and reaching while packaging items can help strengthen your muscles and improve your endurance and core strength. Any movement is better than sitting at a desk staring into the interwebs. Additionally, wrapping, boxing, and shipping items sold online requires repetitive movements that engage various muscle groups, contributing to muscle strength and tone over time. Lastly, transporting inventory from one place to another involves lifting and carrying, providing a form of resistance training that enhances muscle endurance and coordination.

- Calorie Expenditure:

The physical effort exerted during the reselling process can burn a significant number of calories, especially when handling large volumes of items. Whether it's sourcing or shipping, there's opportunity to increase your health with these activities if using the proper mindset and form.

- Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being:

- Physical activity associated with reselling releases endorphins, neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators, leading to reduced stress levels and improved mental well-being.

- Improving Coordination: The process of organizing, categorizing, and listing items for sale can enhance your hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. These cognitive and physical skills are essential for overall well-being and can be sharpened through regular reselling activities.

- Boosting Energy Levels: Engaging in physical tasks throughout the day can charge you up like a superhero getting ready to save the day. Say goodbye to fatigue and hello to a vitality boost that will have you zipping around like a reselling ninja. By staying active and moving your body regularly, you can improve your overall vitality and productivity.

Understanding the Impact: Statistics and Insights

Research shows that individuals who view their daily activities, including work-related tasks, as opportunities for physical exercise tend to be healthier overall. According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, employees who engaged in physical work activities reported better physical health outcomes, including lower body mass index (BMI) and reduced risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Furthermore, a survey conducted by the American Heart Association found that individuals who incorporated physical activity into their daily routines, such as walking during work breaks or using stairs instead of elevators, experienced significant improvements in cardiovascular health and overall fitness levels.

Conclusion: Reselling for Physical Well-being

In conclusion, reselling offers far more than just financial rewards; it presents a unique opportunity to improve physical health and well-being. By embracing the physical aspects of reselling, such as walking in thrift stores, moving around for photos, and engaging in packaging activities, individuals can turn their work into a form of exercise that promotes cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and stress reduction. Again, as a growing reseller, you want a long-term solution. Any physical activity is better than none. So, the next time you embark on a reselling journey, remember that you're not just building a business—you're also investing in your physical and mental health.