Submitted 1 year ago by walnutwalrus@lemmy.world to general@lemmy.world
https://www.ifit.com/blog/housework-counts-as-exercise/
Honestly I’ve seen some attitudes and articles that “housework isn’t exercise” and… I’m guessing such people don’t do much housework? At a minimum, it could often be a lot of walking, which is fine low to moderate exercise.
Have you ever found housework (or chores) to be good exercise?
It would depend on what you’re doing. It’s better than nothing, I guess.
I find this train of thoughts void of a very important variable: there’s no single type of homework and whaile some might be definitely positive for health, both mental and physical, others are the opposite of that.
For example, gardening vs painting walls with a toxic fungicidal paint. Housework? Housework!
I can’t say I’ve ever thought about it one way or another, but I don’t really feel physically exhausted or sore after housework, so I guess I wouldn’t consider it exercise? For me at least, I don’t mean to say anyone is wrong for thinking otherwise. I dunno, I sweep, mop, clean the bathroom, do the dishes, all the normal housework stuff - it’s definitely more strenuous than not doing anything, but in my mind there’s a place between exercise and sitting which is where housework kinda falls.
Though the linked article includes some yardwork like raking, weeding and mowing the lawn, which definitely feel more like exercise to me. I guess it’s probably relevant that I live in a house on the smaller side with a yard on the bigger side, so there’s a lot more work to do outside than inside. I can stay on top of house stuff with an hour here and there while outdoor stuff is basically endless.
Carighan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
As anyone who does any actual housework can attest: Yes, housework burns a lot of calories. Which is one of the reasons why artificial exercise equipment at home - outside of specific sports use because you’re a professional - makes so little sense, you could burn more or equal amounts of calories just finally cleaning up, and both need extrinsic motivation as you’re too lazy to use them otherwise.
(Yes I know, you’re in this text and you don’t like it. Me neither :P )
CherenkovBlue@iusearchlinux.fyi 1 year ago
Cleaning large areas or intensive scrubbing is definitely tiring. Vacuum or mop the whole house, or scrub the tub to remove soap scum - it will raise the heart rate and can make the arms tired.
Light duty stuff like dishes, not so much.