Health Benefits of Staying Active Around the House
Studies show that staying active not only boosts energy levels and helps you lose weight, but it can also increase your lifespan.
The key to extending your years is to avoid becoming a couch potato.
This does not mean you need to become an athlete or jog every morning (unless you want to).
Simply incorporate these easy tips into your daily routine:
– Go shopping. Unless you are the one doing the cooking, this doesn’t exactly involve much exertion. You can still burn calories by pushing the cart instead of using an automatic basket.
– Clean the house. If you are not careful, scrubbing toilets can actually turn into something mundane and boring. Break up cleaning tasks with mini workouts: dust and polish furniture, scrub floors, and do push-ups between tasks.
– Take the stairs instead of elevators – or take the stairs two at a time!
– Walk your dog (or better yet, get a pet that requires twice as much work such as a cat). Remember to pick up after them though.
– Plant a garden in the backyard. Use a shovel instead of a spade and consider harvesting your own veggies.
– Rather than taking out the recycling bin or trash, try carrying it to its destination (if it’s not too heavy). You can also take the stairs again on your way down.
– Open windows rather than using the air conditioning at home.
– If you have a treadmill, spend 20 minutes walking on it before dinner (and then another 20 after). Treadmills are the most convenient piece of exercise equipment to use because they require little effort and you can watch TV or read a newspaper as you walk.
– Get up earlier and take the dog for a walk before you go to work.
– Try gardening with your kids, even if it’s just pulling weeds from the flower beds in your yard.
– Use a push mower instead of a riding lawnmower where possible or do both!
– If you have stairs going down into the basement, take them two at a time. This will help tone your legs.
– Wash windows or do the dishes by hand rather than using a dishwasher (unless you have a full size one).
– As soon as you get home from work, change out of your office clothes and into something more comfortable like sweats and go for a walk with your spouse and children through the neighborhood.
– Rather than sit in the car while your spouse shops, go for a walk with him/her around the mall.
– Rather than sitting down to watch television, do some pushups or squats before you turn on the TV.
– Take your kids outside to play every day even if it’s just five minutes worth of basketball or tag.
– If you have stairs leading up to your front door, walk them two at a time.
– Get off the bus early and walk home from where it dropped you off. This will not only save you money on gas but also get your muscles moving!