In the late 20th century, US business executives used to wear health problems such as stress, burn out and stomach ulcers like badges of pride. Today’s business leaders have an attitude to wellbeing that is altogether healthier, in every sense of the word. Prioritizing mental and physical health makes for a better personal life and better business performance, too. And in today’s hybrid working environment, a home sauna is an affordable luxury that helps c-suite executives stay at their mental and physical best.
Online options for buying a sauna
The days of having to appoint an architect to design a sauna from scratch are long gone. This is largely thanks to the arrival of US sellers like *The Saunaplace*, who have a huge choice of saunas in different designs and sizes. That doesn’t just make a sauna less hassle to choose and install. It also makes it far more affordable.
It wasn’t so long ago that you needed to be in the realm of six figure salaries and 50 percent bonuses to even contemplate a sauna in your backyard. But today, even a contemporary barrel sauna that seats six occupants can be purchased for less than $15,000, while smaller personal saunas are available for $3,000 to $5,000.
Prioritizing wellness for better performance
The Dickensian image of business success being synonymous with cigar-smoking, whisky-drinking excess and a BMI approaching 50 continued well into the modern age. But over the past 20 years, businesses attitudes have become both smarter and more compassionate.
Dr Sophia Khalique is a respected Harley Street consultant, who is responsible for the healthcare of some of the world’s top executives. She told Business Matters magazine that anxiety, insomnia, backpain and obesity are among the most common health challenges faced by high-level business leaders. All of these conditions have a direct impact on both personal wellbeing and business performance. Intuitively, being anxious and surviving on four hours of broken sleep will affect anyone’s ability to make the best business decisions.
15 to 20 minutes spent in the sauna has been proven to help with all these challenges and many others. Specifically, saunas reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, while triggering the release of endorphins. This aids relaxation, reduces anxiety and promotes better sleep. The heat from the sauna improves blood flow, reducing aches and pains, and increases heart rate, meaning you burn more calories.
A home sauna means you can always find time
A generation ago, when home saunas were less affordable, the alternative was to join a spa or health club. This has the benefit of meaning you can include time in the sauna as part of a broader wellness program, for example working out in the gym or swimming in the pool.
That sounds ideal in theory, but it ignores the elephant in the room, which is that an incredible two thirds of US gym memberships go unused. One thing that has not changed in modern business is that top executives put in more than their fair share of hours. But with today’s hybrid working practices, having a sauna literally outside the back door means that it is far more likely to get used.
Even better, with a modern electric sauna heater, the sauna can be ready for use in as little as 30 minutes. Today’s heaters feature smart technology, so even if you are in a business meeting, you can switch on the sauna to your preferred setting using a smartphone app and it will be ready for use whenever you need it.
Open business practices
Much has been said about a home sauna reflecting 21st century business attitudes towards wellness. But there is a more direct business benefit that is worth considering. In Finland, the Sauna is one of the preferred locations for a business meeting.
It is a trend that is starting to take off in the US too, especially in businesses in the health and wellness space. It’s certainly worth considering next time you want to meet a business associate and build trust by demonstrating that you have nothing to conceal.
