Cleaning the house is exhausting. Cleaning the house with kids? Even worse. With more of us staying home than ever before, toddler rooms that were once disasters now look completely destroyed. And since parents don't have a ton of free time, a lot of times moms need to choose between cleaning up and doing something for themselves — like exercising. Sometimes, even the act of cleaning up can make you tense up, making it a drain on mental health as well.
There is no shortage of online classes. The problem is finding the time. That's why it's an excellent idea to try to make your cleanup goals and your exercise goals compatible. Is cleaning the floors the same as running 3 miles on the treadmill? Well, no. But it is a step in the right direction, especially if you're aiming for a less-sedentary life.
Here are ways you can incorporate exercise into your life while you clean.
1. Take Extra Steps While Vacuuming
Vacuuming can be really fun if you really get into it. You can work out your whole body while vacuuming. Try seeing how far your legs will stretch while walking around. Even standard vacuuming is a great way to burn calories. According to Good Housekeeping, half an hour of vacuuming the house is the equivalent of 10 minutes on a cross trainer.
You can even add more by making it a ritual to stretch or touch your toes before going in to vacuum a second room. Don't be afraid to move while you clean.
2. Mow the Lawn
Spring is almost here, which means that lawn care is going to be part of your routine. If this is a chore you normally hand off to someone else in your house, you might want to reconsider. Mowing the lawn with anything other than a riding mower is a wonderful workout. WebMD states that you can burn anywhere from 250 to 350 calories by mowing for just an hour. So maybe you should consider mowing a bunch of lawns on your block if you're looking to ditch your gym membership. (That is, unless it'd be taking the job away from a kid in the neighborhood!)
3. Peruse All the Aisles at the Grocery Store
That is, unless it's really crowded. To keep safe, you shouldn't mistake your grocery store for a gym. But if it's not too crowded and you have a big trip, might as well check out all of the aisles. The more you roam, the more calories you burn. On average, a standard shopping trip will burn around 144 calories — which is nothing to frown over.
4. Bust Out the Mop
Supposedly, mopping the floor is one of the best exercises available — and it makes sense. Not only are you walking around, but carrying a heavy mop is also a great workout for your arms. Good Housekeeping states that just a little over two hours of mopping (which can happen if you don't have too many carpeted floors) will burn around 405 calories.
Mopping can be even more of a fun workout by turning up some music. Listen to some of your favorite songs to get you moving, and your workout will be even better.
5. Get Your Laundry Done
Doing your laundry may seem like a pain — especially with all of the folding — but it can also burn a fair amount of calories and keep you motivated. Holding laundry in a basket is a good workout for your arms and can easily take the place of free weights, if you don't have any at home. In just an hour, you can burn 148 calories while making sure your clothes are clean.
If your washer and dryer are downstairs, you'll also get the benefits of walking up the steps with a bunch of clean clothes. Steps are a great way to work out without any extra equipment.
6. Go Outside and Garden
Gardening is a wonderful hobby, and one you can do daily. Aside from planting your initial flowers, veggies, and herbs, you can also make sure plants are doing well and protect them from weeds that steal their resources. Gardening is a great way to be outside, and it's also a good way to get some exercise. According to Woman & Home, a one-hour gardening session can burn about 174 calories.
Gardening is also a great way to get your kids outside. They can help pull weeds or pick produce that's ready to be eaten.
7. Clean the Bathroom
Is this one of the worst cleaning tasks around? Yes. But it comes with plenty of benefits. Aside from having a sparkling clean toilet and shower, just 30 minutes will burn around 200 calories. If you add a little more time in, you'll be able to work off the calories in a standard piece of pizza. So really, this should become one of your most beloved household chores.
