Make housework a workout

According to a new survey by the Discovery Channel, many of us find cleaning our homes ‘mentally therapeutic’ and say it helps us feel in control of our lives. 

Housework is a fantastic way to burn calories! But as is the case with any workout, the more effort you put in, the greater the benefit. In particular, polishing, dusting, mopping and sweeping are great for keeping arms shapely. Bending and stretching, for example, when you make the bed, wash windows or do the laundry are good for toning thighs and improving flexibility. And constantly running up and down the stairs as you tidy is a good aerobic workout.

More energetic household chores such as decorating and spring cleaning, burn even more calories. Don’t forget the garden either – weeding, digging, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges or bushes and sweeping up are all great muscle toners and calorie burners.

Here are some ideas to burn calories doing housework:

• Use a wax polish in a tin rather than a spray as you’ll need to rub much harder to get a nice shine on your furniture.

• Don’t leave things to pile up at the bottom of the stairs – take individual items upstairs as soon as you need to.

• Plan your housework so you constantly have to run up and down the stairs. For example, empty the dishwasher in the kitchen, then make the bed upstairs, then vacuum the living room downstairs, then clean the bathroom upstairs, and so on.

Keep the laundry basket on the floor when you’re ironing (rather than on a raised surface like a table). That way you’ll constantly have to bend and stretch to reach the clothes.

• Get more creative in the kitchen – peeling, chopping, stirring, whisking and beating all burn more calories than simply heating up a ready meal in a microwave oven. And if you really want to work up a sweat, have a go at making your own bread – kneading the dough is hard work!

• Stick on your favourite music and turn up the volume – it will help you polish and sweep that bit harder.

 

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