There are many everyday activities that are great ways to increase your physical activity level, build strength and up your heart rate! Be intentional about increasing your activity levels and if going to the gym or spending ½ an hour straight on a bike or “working out” then maybe some of these are options for you!
I have spent much of this week so far increasing my activity by breaking a sweat as I clean my house lol. You can burn a lot of calories washing your floors, mirrors, dusting and vacuuming! The continuous movement is great for your body and increases your heart rate! As well, even when standing still, standing burns more calories than sitting does!
This one is difficult for some of us right now, as with the pandemic affecting all of us in one way or another – some of us who are higher risk may be doing curbside pick up or grocery delivery - but if you ARE getting your groceries this is a great way to grab some extra exercise! Also – if you get the heaviest items in your cart first, it actually forces your body to burn a few extra calories pushing the extra weight around the store!
Cooking – have you every considered the “exercise” you get when cooking meals? Chopping vegetables, using a rolling pin, whisking, flipping, stirring, grating, slicing etc… these are all great ways to give your muscles an extra workout and again – if you can do it while you are standing – even better!
Washing and drying your dishes – instead of popping them in the dishwasher – also a great form of exercise that will work the muscles in your upper body!
And yard work, never forget the value of mowing your grass, picking weeds and watering your works! These things are all great “workouts” that leave your yard looking beautiful too and they also give you some of that time in nature that is so good for us – increasing our time with a little vitamin d bath in the sun!
For those of us that do not get to “garden” year round due to snow – well if you have lived with snow your whole life as I have, you know that shovelling that walk or driveway is way more of a workout than most of us want ha ha – but none the less – last but not least – the snow shovel can be your best friend in the winter when it comes to finding ways to burn a few calories and get some sun!
To your health!
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