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 aspects of reselling are frequently 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 desk jobs with little to no physical exercise, reselling presents a unique hybrid opportunity for your health.
Many people 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 naturally 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. This doesn't have to be the case with reselling. At the end of the day, the best work is the one that gives back more than it takes.
According to an NPR case study, perception can have a significant impact on physical health. Researchers divided 84 maids into two groups. One group was educated on how many calories their daily tasks burned and how these tasks already met the surgeon general’s definition of an active lifestyle. The other group received no information.
A month later, the researchers returned to take physical measurements and were surprised by the results. The group that had been educated showed a decrease in systolic blood pressure, weight, and waist-to-hip ratio—a 10% drop in blood pressure. This change was attributed to a shift in the maids' mindset rather than any actual change in their routines.
This case study highlights that perceptions matter. If you approach your reselling work with positivity, viewing it as a chance to get exercise and improve your health, you're more likely to benefit both physically and mentally.
Incorporating movement into your daily activities can improve your health in numerous ways. 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, and moving during product photography and packaging into your routine, you can easily meet and exceed these recommendations.
Here are some key physical benefits of reselling and how it can positively impact your physical well-being:
Walking through thrift stores, flea markets, and 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 both your business efficiency and your health. Browsing through thrift stores for hidden gems and moving through the racks involves a significant amount of walking, offering an opportunity to rack up steps and improve your cardiovascular health.
Taking photos of items for your online listings requires movement. You need to adjust angles, find the best lighting, and often bend and stretch to get the perfect shot. This constant movement can improve your flexibility, posture, and overall mobility, all of which contribute to better physical health.
Packaging and preparing items for shipment may seem tedious, but it provides a good workout for your arms, shoulders, and core. Lifting, bending, and reaching while packaging items can help strengthen your muscles and improve endurance. Any movement is better than sitting at a desk, staring into a computer screen. Wrapping, boxing, and shipping items sold online requires repetitive movements that engage various muscle groups, which contributes to muscle strength and tone over time. Transporting inventory from one place to another also involves lifting and carrying, providing a form of resistance training that enhances muscle endurance and coordination.
The physical effort exerted during reselling can burn a significant number of calories, especially when handling large volumes of items. Whether you're sourcing or shipping, there's an opportunity to increase your health with these activities by maintaining proper form and a positive mindset.
Physical activity associated with reselling releases endorphins, neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. This leads to reduced stress levels and improved mental well-being. The act of moving around and staying physically active can also provide a mental boost, leading to a healthier work-life balance.
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.
Engaging in physical tasks throughout the day can give you a boost of energy. 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.
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.
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.
Evan & Misa are the authors and founders of Pro Reseller Academy, where they guide everyday resellers to build predictable, profitable reselling businesses. After wrestling with unpredictable sales, wasted inventory, and sleepless nights, they distilled everything they learned into a simple 7‑step system. Today, that same framework has helped resellers source smarter, streamline their operations, and multiply their margins without burning out.
Through their coaching, on‑demand courses, and a close‑knit community, Evan & Misa meet you where you are, give you a clear path forward, and cheer you on every step of the way—because they believe your side hustle shouldn’t just pay the bills, it should change your life.