Spring cleaning is the perfect time to refresh and reset not just your space, but your life. Purging and cleaning closets, cupboards, garages, and everything in between allows you to reexamine what you really want and need. Washing and opening the windows lets the light and fresh air in, sending winter away for the rest of the year and opening up new possibilities. Oh, and another perk of spring cleaning season? It’s also a great workout!
Doing a deep clean incorporates nearly every bone and muscle system in your body, depending on the activity you’re doing. If “move more” was on your list of goals for this year, there’s truly no better time than spring to make that goal stick. A fresh, clean house plus a workout? You really can’t ask for more.
Of course, if you know you’re going to be lifting, squatting, and stretching beyond what you normally do in your day to day or your workout routine, don’t overdo it! Make sure to stretch and warm up your muscles before kicking off your deep clean, and take lots of breaks!
The activity: Storage clean-out
The workout: Lower body
Have boxes been piling up in the basement, garage, or the attic? Give your storage space a facelift and engage your glutes by lifting and moving boxes, home decor, and furniture. Be sure you’re lifting properly with your legs, not your back, to avoid strains.
The activity: Setting up the garden beds
The workout: Full-body
Pulling weeds, dumping soil, potting plants, and running to the garden store for supplies get your whole body working. You’re engaging your back, shoulders, core, and lower body as you dig holes and squat to plant seedlings. Plus, when your initial work is done, you get to enjoy watching your little plants grow into beautiful flowers or fruits and veggies! Regular weeding and pruning isn’t just garden maintenance; it’s extra movement for you!
The activity: Sweeping, vacuuming, and washing floors
The workout: Upper body
Many upper body weight workouts focus on pushing and pulling movements—just like sweeping, vacuuming, and washing the floor! It’s beneficial for your body and the hardwood or carpet. This work also requires stability, so you’re giving your core a workout too.
The activity: General tidying
The workout: Cardio
Making beds, doing laundry, and putting everything in its right place all burns calories and gets your heart pumping. Even your weekly household chores, like scrubbing the bathroom, changing sheets, and dusting, count as activity, so make them a regular part of your routine to sneak in extra steps and cardio when you can.