A retail salesperson asked me, "Is working retail bad for your health?" My quick answer was, "No." However, as the Retail Doc, I realized my speedy response didn't give the question the consideration it deserves.
Sure, things in retail can negatively impact your health if you're not careful. But it's not the job itself that matters most. It's how we approach it.
Water is good for you, but you can still drown in it, right?
Working in retail as a salesperson can offer some surprising health benefits. Many of us started part-time and wound up as Accidental Retailers, so let's explore why selling might just be good for your well-being.
The Surprising Health Benefits of Working in Retail
- Physical Perks
We're constantly on the move - walking the floor, stocking shelves, and moving merchandise. All that stretching, reaching overhead, and bending down? It burns calories and keeps your body in motion. Who needs a gym membership when you've got a busy sales floor?
- Mental and Emotional Boost
From bosses and co-workers to customers, retail puts you in contact with a wide array of people daily. This constant social interaction serves multiple purposes:
- It gets you out of your own head, pulling your focus away from internal worries or distractions.
- It reduces your dependence on your phone for social connection, encouraging real-world interactions.
- It fosters a sense of connection and belonging, combating feelings of isolation.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) emphasizes that social contact is the primary way to combat loneliness - a growing concern as younger generations increasingly avoid interacting with strangers. Working in a store provides a valuable opportunity for meaningful social engagement.
Moreover, the problem-solving skills you develop in retail are like a workout regimen for your brain. Just as CrossFit challenges your body in diverse ways, retail constantly exercises your mind with varied challenges and interactions.
- Professional and Personal Growth
Working retail teaches you skills like time management and teamwork. Great managers teach you goal setting, critical thinking, and self-awareness. Once you know how to set and meet your sales goals, personal goals become much easier. And let's not forget the positivity you develop - shoppers don't buy from Debbie Downers, after all.
I had to eat more calories when working on the floor because I ran from the front to the back to the stockroom, etc.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "But Bob, what about all the stress and long hours?" Fair point. Like any job, retail has its challenges. I’ve worked days when everyone came in at once and others when no one came in. The key is learning how to manage both effectively.
Addressing Common Misconceptions
Yes, some habits can make working retail seem unhealthy:
- Bad diet: Those food courts and fast-food joints near many retail locations? Using Uber Eats or DoorDash is tempting, but they’re not your only option.
- Stress: Like any job, retail has its pressure points. The trick is learning to decompress in more ways than cannabis or alcohol.
- Always being "on": There's a "go, go" mentality in retail. It's great in the store, but you've got to find time for yourself, too.
Here's the thing—it doesn’t have to drain you. These challenges can be overcome with a bit of awareness and planning. Pack a healthy lunch, practice stress-management techniques, and make sure to carve out some "me time" in your schedule.
One of the biggest things I learned working in retail is you can’t do it alone. You need to find the right people on your team and make their day, and they’ll make yours. The times we missed goal could usually be attributed to a disruption in the crew. Get that right, and everyone looks forward to supporting each other.
Long-term Benefits of a Retail Career
A career in retail can set you up for long-term financial and personal success.
- Economic health: If you work at it, improve yourself, and choose good retailers to work for, you can make a decent living. Find a great retailer, and you can work your way up to making $500,000.
- Transferable skills: The skills you learn in retail - from customer service to inventory management - are valuable in countless other careers. Most C-level executives point to their early careers in retail as instrumental in making them aware that they have to make someone else’s day to get ahead. You won’t find that on a side hustle of selling garage sale finds online.
- Diversity training: You'll encounter people from all walks of life. Few things can prepare you for the challenges of our diverse world, like working retail can. Part of the reason we are so divided is we don’t spend time with anyone who does not already agree with us. While you don’t want to talk politics at work, you do want to see we are more alike than different.
I love retail, and it's a good career for those who choose to do it and choose to do it well. It's where I got my start selling shoes to put myself through college, never dreaming it would afford me a lifestyle my parents could never have imagined for me. I decided not to use the degree I received in college, and I stuck with it for decades. Why? Because the benefits of working in retail can last a lifetime, no matter what career path you ultimately follow.
So, the next time someone asks you if working retail is bad for your health, you can confidently say, "Actually, it might just be the opposite."
Remember, it's not about where you work but how you approach your work that truly matters. And learning that in the fast-paced world of a store…there’s no comparison.
