Clean up your exercise routine
"Exercise? I get all the exercise I need, just cleaning my house!"
Some of my patients don't mean to seem disagreeable. They're just stating a simple truth: Cleaning can be hard work, and adding another 30 minutes of a more formal exercise can seem like overkill.
They're generally surprised when I tell them it's okay—go ahead and include that housework as exercise. But make sure you're using genuine elbow grease for cleaning to provide you any health benefit. If you're suffering from any kind of mood challenges, like anxiety or mild depression, exercise can help you find relief from those symptoms.
New research is recognizing the benefits of a good sweat—which means at least 20 minutes of sustained exercise—and housework can be a source.
According to survey results from 3,000 people, those who exercised at least once during the week lowered the risk of stress, anxiety and depression by 33 percent. Those whose exercise came from strenuous housework had a respectable 20 percent lower risk.
Housework is a good way to mix up your routine, because you can actually see the results immediately: polished floors, sparkling bathrooms, shiny woodwork— and a brighter mood. And since this drudgery has to be done anyway, you may as well make the most of it.
Also, what better way to work out any anger or frustration than on a nice piece of linoleum?
