Exercising your mind is just as important as physical exercises. While it feels good to be fit, there’s an even greater feeling when you’re mentally stable. So what has your attention these days? I understand we that may not be able to be our best selves all the time, but we can aim toward mental wellness. What we meditate on influences how we live. Sometimes, it’s good to take each day as it comes and focus on the things you can control. There is much that we cannot control right now, but how we talk to ourselves during these challenging times can either provide a powerful buffer to difficult circumstances or life in general. The Covid-19 pandemic alone can cause a lot of stress for many of us but you can ask for help or begin now to make mental wellness not only a part of your fitness routine but a priority.
Turn your Gym Routine into Housework
Burn more calories with housework during coronavirus quarantine.
While public gyms remain closed during the coronavirus craze, people can still stay fit at home. The twist is simply doing your chores. Remember the key is to burn calories and you can do just that, if you put in the effort. The more you put in, the greater the benefit. Just set aside about three hours and you’re sure to break a sweat. Studies show that a few hours of housework can help trim the waistline and burn those unwanted pounds.
So no need to be a couch potato. Instead, let’s get to work. Yes, your housework!
Below is a little motivation.
Make the Bed: Yes, let’s start here. This should take about 30 minutes and you can burn up to 150 calories as if you were on the treadmill jogging for 10 minutes. First remove everything from your bed and start with a blank slate. This helps with making your bed correctly. Next, grab clean bedding and if they’re already clean, shake out or fluff your sheets, blankets as well as your pillows. Next, vacuum your mattress or wipe clean the best you can. Now, let’s add everything back on. Add the fitted sheet, then the flat sheet and fold it down toward the foot of the bed. Now, place your comforter or duvet cover onto the bed with the top edge folded down from the headboard. Time to add all of your pillows and decorative bedding and fluff once more. Add to the ambiance by lighting a candle.
Clean the Windows: You can spend 30 minutes doing this chore and burn 130 calories depending on how much arm work you put in. This is the equivalent to doing 20 minutes of Hot Yoga. Start with a bucket of water. You can add dishwashing liquid, rubbing alcohol and white vinegar to achieve spotless windows. Grab a sponge and start cleaning the inside of the windows. Wring out excess water and wipe again. Next wipe the windows dry with a lint-free cloth. Now, repeat these steps on the outside of the windows. Finish by wiping clean the window sill with a separate rag.
Load the Dishwasher: This is a light chore and workout. Doing this will help you burn 100 calories. That’s like doing 30 minutes of light stretching in between workouts. This doesn’t take a tutorial. Just be sure to rinse off tough food stains and start loading your dishes.
Climb Stairs: Get ready to burn 285 calories with this in-house workout. No matter the size of house, you’re sure to break a sweat with this one. All you need is 30 minutes to climb or run up and the down your staircase. This is like 20 minutes of jump rope. Treat this like a real workout and put on your exercise gear.
Painting: Honestly, I dread this the most. This takes a lot of time because of the prep work it takes to do the job. However, you can start small with a room or accent wall in the house. Give yourself 30 minutes of painting and you’ll burn 160 calories or you can always go for a walk in the neighborhood for 25 minutes and burn the same.
Wash the Car: Cabin fever can get the best of anyone over a long period of time. So why not do some chores outside and get some fresh air. All you need is about 30 minutes to wash your car in order to burn 140 calories. It’s a good move since that is about how much you would burn in a Pilates or Yoga class.
Housework can’t compare with your usual cardio workout but it will definitely get you moving enough to burn calories. If you want to tone your arms in the process, then concentrate on more energetic chores such as sweeping and mopping. You’ll start to see changes especially if you stick with your chores.
How to Make Exercise a Habit.
It’s tough to sometimes develop an exercise routine. But to establish any habit, you must first make the decision to stick with your goal. Did you know, it takes 21 days to renew your mindset? That means 15 minutes per day, 7 days per week, for three weeks to train cognitive functions such as memory, attention and speed. Challenge yourself and try. A few years ago, you would never catch me at the gym. However, I’ve learned a few things on my journey to a healthier lifestyle that may be worth copying. These things led me to making exercise a habit and I don’t regret it.
Set a time and get on a schedule-Are you a morning or evening person? That’s important to know. I used to head to the gym at 5:00 a.m. but now I’m on an evening schedule. Just be sure to lock in a time and stick with it. It’s easy to put things off, but if you do, you won’t develop a daily exercise habit.
Start small. I started off with classes and eventually transitioned into weight lifting. Also, you don’t have to spend hours in the gym. Spend at least 20 minutes there until you get comfortable. Once you’ve reached a certain level of comfort, later work on increasing the intensity of your exercise routine.
Mix it up. Make your exercise routine an interesting one. Don’t be afraid to work different muscles. Take a swimming class one day and yoga on another. Whatever you do, don’t allow yourself to become bored in the gym.
Pick a rest day. Recovery is important. If you ever feel like your body is too sore to move around, just take time to rest but not for too long. One rest day is acceptable. The key is to do something every day, by getting your body used to daily exercise, and forming a habit. So if you have to, try stretching on your rest day.