More Sex, More Income?

I work at home and thanks to regular deadlines and meetings, my day is scheduled just like my colleagues who work in a traditional workplace. But I admit, I sometimes procrastinate and switch on the television as distraction, easily sucked in by daytime programming, such as Dr. Oz.

His program last week was a discussion regarding how health and lifespan are affected by stressful behaviours. For example, if a spouse snores, the partner will lose on average an hour of sleep a night, and shorten his or her life by four years while if a spouse constantly nags, the recipient can have their lifespan shortened by eight years. Both of these behaviours contribute to stress, and can affect workplace productivity.

According to a Health Canada report, the annual cost of depression and distress at work is $14.4 billion, with $8.1 billion in lost productivity.

An article in Maclean's in 2007 spoke of the effects of lost productivity as presenteeism, in which stressed-out workers show up to work but make little difference in their job. Stress has become the unfortunate explanation for many health problems, and there's one possible solution.
So how to find that balance between life's responsibilities and a healthy life? According to Dr. Oz, lack of regular sex can take four years off the average lifespan. If a couple goes from having sex once a month to once a week, not only will they be happier, healthier and extend their lifespans, the results are the equivalent of adding $15,000 to your annual salary.

The average Canadian couple earns approximately (after taxes) $77,500. Adding in the perceived benefit of $15,000, the couple could consider a new car, a vacation, increased or higher payments to their mortgage or RRSP. Or at least feel that much richer, with the benefit of a regular roll in the hay.