Creative, Varied Work Tasks Make Healthy Workers, Study Shows

New research from the University of Texas, Austin, shows that people who are challenged at work and have a variety of tasks and activities are healthier than workers with repetitive jobs.

People who have more "creative" lives outside of work, meaning that they participate in creative activities, are also healthier.

The study suggests that people who lead creative lives are as healthy as people more than six years younger than them who do not have creative lives.

The type of creativity the article talks about is the ability to make choices, be challenged and forced to problem solve, and to spend your time doing stimulating activities.

How can you bring more of this type of creativity into your life?

Well, you can try new activities, or consider finding a more stimulating job. The study showed that people who worked at assembly line jobs were far less healthy than those who had variation and choices to make in their work throughout the day.

Try taking a course at the local community college in something you've always wanted to try, but never thought you'd be good at. Try taking that algebra course that you struggled with in high school-now that you've used it in real life you may surprise yourself and find it easier.

Get outside and get yourself some fresh air. Some fun outdoor activities you and your family could share are hiking, kayaking, canoeing or fishing.

Get your adrenaline racing and your heart rate up with some sports. Soccer, basketball and Ultimate Frisbee are fun sports that can be played with any size group.

Exercise by itself will be good for your health, but check with a doctor before starting any new exercise regime, especially if you haven't been active in quite some time.

Interestingly, the Austin study also found that employed people in general are healthier than unemployed, so if you don't have a job and have some extra time on your hands, start looking through the newspaper classifieds.

Work does not need to be paid to confer health benefits, so any extra volunteering you add into your schedule may add years onto your life.

If you're unsure of where to start volunteering, ask around at church. Also, check for local soup kitchens or homeless shelters that could use a helping hand.

Unlike most great things in life, such as chocolate cake, this research shows that you can have fun and be living a more healthy life at the same time.