There was a time in life where I was so focused on my physical goals (a good thing), that I could only see one way to accomplish them (not a great thing). Every day, for 10 months of my life, I obsessed over how many calories I was consuming and how much exercise I’d gotten. What I failed to recognize though, was that sometimes my day-to-day life was getting me the exercise I needed. I couldn’t understand that it’s okay to build exercise into your daily routine through chores you would “be doing anyway.”
I figured anything I would be doing anyway “didn’t count,” and I had to go through my cardio or strength routine at the gym if my day was to be complete. No excuses.
Household chores can sometimes double as a daily workout.
Vacuuming
Quickly vacuuming up a small mess or one room doesn’t necessarily equate to a workout replacement. But I find that on the days when I need to vacuum every room in the house, plus the stairs, I get a pretty good workout in.
Altogether, it usually takes me about an hour, and carrying a heavy vacuum up and down stairs in and of itself takes strength.
Scrubbing
Deep cleaning really gets the muscles working. I really notice this when I need to do a lot of scrubbing (for example, cleaning the shower). When Steve helps me plan out a new strength training routine, it always involves both a push and a pull motion . . . scrubbing floors, counter tops and shower walls definitely counts in my book!
Gardening
Pulling weeds, raking, carrying heavy bags of soil and pushing heavy wheelbarrows all take great strength and get your heart rate up. Not only is this an excellent way to build exercise into your daily routine, it could result in money-saving, healthy vegetables for you and your family!
Stacking Firewood
This one is a bit more of a niche. If you use a wood-burning stove or fireplace to heat your home, this may be a more regular activity in your household. At our house, we mostly just burn in our backyard firepit, and only have firewood to work with when a tree falls on our property.
I tell you what, though, throwing wet rounds of firewood into a lifted truck uses arm, leg and core muscles!
Find What Works for You to Build Exercise into Your Daily Routine
There is no “right” or “wrong” way to health. It’s a matter of finding a way to consume healthy foods and keep your body active in a way that works for you and fits into a life that you love. The more you can incorporate your exercise into daily activities, the better!
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