The Spring Clean Fitness Routine
By Brandi Goodman
Spring is just around the corner. With it comes spring cleaning in many households. The season is a great time to purge your home of unwanted and unused items. Clearing out the clutter can be great for your mental health. A spring clean fitness routine is also part of its advantage.
Cleaning Burns Calories
Any amount and any type of cleaning helps you burn calories. Put your all into it and you'll be burning even more. Take advantage of the spring cleaning season and work up a sweat while you get around the house. Straightening up and dusting can burn roughly 170 calories in just one hour.
Dance While You Clean
One of the best ways to make your spring cleaning routine into a workout is to just add music. Turn up your favorite tunes and get dancing while you clean. You'll really be working up a sweat then. Upbeat music can help you put you in a better mood as well, making the whole scenario a win-win for your household.
Clean Indoors and Out
You don't just want to clean the inside of your home. The outdoors will need some upkeep as well. Spending time both inside and out doing chores can help you break up the workout and cleaning routine and help keep you motivated. Just be sure you're taking breaks in between and even spreading out the work over a few days or weeks if needed so you don't overdo it.
Add Weights
Strength training is necessary if you truly want to be healthy and in shape. Add weights to your cleaning session so you can make the most of it. There are Velcro weights you can put around your wrists or ankles to help add resistance. You can also use dumbbells and use one hand to clean while the other is lifting, before switching.
Give Yourself a Challenge
A quick-clean challenge can help you get your task done fast while you get your heart racing. Give yourself some sort of challenge to really help make your cleaning time a workout. Perhaps you'll set a timer for 30 minutes and do as much tidying up as you can. Maybe you could vow to get at least 50 squats in while you do a load of dishes. The added objective can motivate you to do your best.
Spring cleaning is often necessary, but it doesn't have to be boring. Work in a fitness routine so you can get your house and yourself in shape at the same time. With music included and fun in the mix, the chores you have to do will go by quickly.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Portland, Ore.