Moving from one home to another takes a lot of time and effort. People often spend months packing and getting ready for the big day. It’s definitely not an easy or quick task. But here’s a thought—why not turn your move into a workout?
With all the organizing, packing, cleaning, and shifting, it might seem like there’s no time for a traditional workout. Finding time for a regular exercise routine can be tough, especially when you’re in the middle of a move. However, even if you can’t hit the gym, there are several ways to make the moving process itself a good workout.
When you’re packing and unpacking boxes, you’ll probably spend more time sitting than moving around, which can feel pretty sedentary. To counter this, try taking a five-minute break every hour to get active. You could run in place, do some yoga poses, or knock out a few jumping jacks.
If you’re feeling ambitious, try standing or squatting while you pack—this will help tone your legs as you go. And if you find yourself with a bit of extra time, go for a full workout to tone muscles and sculpt your abs. This might even motivate you to finish packing faster.
Many people hire professional movers to handle the heavy lifting. While companies excel at this, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to burn some serious calories. Try to move as many items into the truck yourself, though it’s wise to leave the heaviest and most delicate items to the pros. Lifting furniture and boxes can actually be an excellent way to work out your muscles and burn calories. Helping out the moving team with heavy lifting can give you a solid workout for your legs and arms.
Stretching is crucial when you’re moving, as your muscles will be working in ways they aren’t used to. Whether you’re lugging boxes or hunched over packing, if you don’t stretch properly, you risk injury. Make sure to stretch at the beginning and end of the day, and whenever you feel stiff. If you have time, do some yoga to relieve any back pain. Stretching and relaxing with a few yoga poses can really pay off, especially given the extra bending involved in moving.
Moving can definitely eat into your workout time. But even when you’re busy, there are plenty of ways to turn the process into a calorie-burning workout.