For modern folk, lives have become busier as the years have gone on, and as technology has developed at a rate of knots, home lives are no longer kept separate from working lives. This has led to a growing population of working people who quite simply, never stop. Not only are they working around the clock for their paid jobs, but they’re increasingly expected to take care of the many varied aspects of home life, too. For some, this leads not only to a deterioration in the quality of their lives, but to a decreased fitness and general health level, too, mainly due to the limited amount of time people can spend exercising.
However, most of us find the time to clean our homes amidst our busy lives, so why not combine housework with a simple and fun fitness regime?
Just 30 minutes of vigorous cleaning for a raised heartbeat:
You can even set a timer so that you don’t go over your allotted 30 minutes, but be sure to keep moving to feel the real benefit.
Pop on your favourite tunes or fast music:
Studies have shown that loud music with at least 120 beats per minute can help increase the rate at which you exercise. Your favourite upbeat tunes can also have the same effect, and not only can they get your heart rate going, but they can also improve your mood; why not create a 30-minute playlist and dance your socks off as you clean!
Wear suitable attire:
Make sure your cleaning clothes are comfortable and flexible, and you could even pop your trainers on to add to the athletic aesthetic!
Vacuum your home from top to bottom:
Believe it or not, simply pushing the vacuum cleaner back and forth can be a fantastic way of exercising your abdominal muscles. You can even perform lunges and increase the 200 or more calories that are typically burned when vacuuming.
Sweep and/or mop every floor:
In much, the same way as vacuuming burns calories, mopping and sweeping can be a great aerobic work-out provided you really work at it. Focus your muscles as you move the mop or brush backwards and forwards, and if you really want to intensify your fitness cleaning routine, then get down on your hands and knees and scrub for your life!
So, if you have time for a couple of cleaning sessions a week, there’s no excuse for not improving your fitness levels. Crank up your favourite, hip swaying, feet tapping tunes, and clean, clean, clean!
