Almost all the pics for this shoot were done in my house! So if you’ve ever wanted to see my bathroom when it’s clean this may be your only chance.
Dusting, laundry, sitting on the toilet – it’s all stuff you have to do anyhow so why not work in a little incidental exercise as you go? That was my thought anyhow when I made the Housework Workout slideshow for Shape.com. Unfortunately that was pretty much my only thought going into it and once it went live lots of women had plenty of other thoughts on this subject and I was surprised by how many people found the premise offensive. In fact, a couple assumed the writer (me) had to be a man because no woman would do this. Well, I can’t say I’ve had my sexuality questioned very often so it was kind of a fun change of pace. (For the record, I totally didn’t mean it to be a woman-get-back-in-the-kitchen statement and I’m sorry if it read that way! I just meant the aprons to be funny…) On a different note, one of the commenters brought up a really interesting point when they said, essentially, “If I’m doing chores, I’m doing chores. If I’m working out, I’m working out. I don’t care to mix the two.”
As a consummate multi-tasker – often to my detriment, I might add – this was an entire paradigm shift for me. I just couldn’t get past the idea that if you could do more than one thing at a time then why on earth wouldn’t you? That some people might enjoy just folding laundry without doing ab work or just running on the treadmill without reading a book and writing their grocery list boggled me. But it makes sense. It’s difficult to put your all into an activity if you’re doing 7 of them at one time.
I’m still not sold though. I can see the benefit to focusing at the gym – I’d be a flesh-colored skidmark on the treadmill if I tried to mulit-task during our Tabata interval runs – but does it hurt to work in a little more activity to your day during less strenuous tasks?
What’s your philosophy: Do you prefer to multi-task or focus during your workout? Is it okay to add in little workout moves to everyday tasks? What are your thoughts about the Duggars (see below)?
Other things I wrote this week:
The Duggars Announce Their 20th Baby: What people are saying (Turns out politics is not the most polarizing topic out there – the Duggar are!)
10 Inspirational Fitness Facebook Pages You Will Love to Like
Will you be shooting yourself up in the Great Flu Ritual this year? I usually do but this year, so far, I haven’t.
Ah nothing like Baby’s First Public Judging – why is there no page in the baby book for that one??
10 Superpowers Kids Have (That Adults Wish We Did)
Could your toddler save your life? This one did!
Look, Gym Buddy Allison’s son was having so much fun during our photoshoot he literally laughed his face off! Jelly Bean is stunned drool-less. (Or maybe I’m just a really bad photog… nah.)
I’m not a multi-tasker. I actually think it’s a bit overrated in most cases. Your line about not giving something your best because you’re doing seven different things hits the nail on the head. If I focus on one thing, finish it, and move on to the next, I find I do a better and *faster* job. Yes, faster. Why? Because I’m not interrupting myself trying to do a zillion other things, too. Now, does that mean I can’t multi-task or that I don’t sometimes find it useful? No. I just mean I don’t think it’s necessarily great to *always* be doing 25 different things.
Absolutely, you can slip in some ‘extra’ work doing housework. When I iron, I usually do it downstairs in the family room – furthest from our closet. And I walk each shirt up to the closet as it is finished. Great workout – no, but it certainly keeps me on my feet and gets a lot of extra steps in! Proper posture at the sink washing dishes encourages me to do some glute squeezes (or other stuff), squats while vaccuuming/mopping absolutely. While I would agree that this should NOT take the place of a true workout – it isn’t at all difficult and becomes second-nature to ‘add’ to your housework. And what’s the harm especially since we are told to do everything we can to stay on our feet and be thinking healthy all the time! Please, people – get your sense of humor back! (I love the aprons and I am SO not a girly-girl.) That being said, every trainer or instructor I’ve ever asked has said to not read on the treadmill for a number of reasons including accident prevention and for focus and best results for your workout.
God bless our servicemen and women!!
The only multi-tasking I do, while doing floor exercises, is to play with my cats! If I’m doing abs, they are licking my hair. Planks, they are walking underneath me. I haven’t figured out the right pace to read while on the treadmill. Maybe it’s safer that way!
That’s just like me and my dogs, only my multi-tasking is trying to push them away. The last time I did my floor exercises my dachshund was trying to jump in my lap while my cocker spaniel was licking my armpits, very distracting to say the least.
Your cats only run under you while you plank? What restraint ^_^ Mine seem to think I’m part of the furniture as soon as I hold still, can’t do anything but flow yoga or they become added resistance in a heartbeat.
I agree with Amy above. I usually don’t multi-task, I’d rather focus on one task, get it done quickly, and move on to the next one. There are a few exceptions, though, like when I talk to my mom on the phone, I pack breakfast and lunch for the next day at the same time. Sorry, Mom!
I multi-task with exercise. I do squats when hanging the laundry and pushups on the kitchen counter… yoga poses when I’m waiting for the kettle to boil etc.
I’m surprised people took it as an insult- don’t sweat it.
I figure something’s better than nothing but multi tasking can get dangerous… I draw the line at doing other things while driving!
I think there’s a bit of a multi-tasker in everybody. If you are a mother (mom of 7) multi-tasking is second nature, probably do it without even realizing it. How many times have you been on the phone and mindlessly picked up things and put them where they belonged? Or had the kiddos do homework at the kitchen table so you could answer homework questions while finishing dinner?
I like to have all my focus in one place when I run, so I don’t fall into a ditch or trip over something. Besides, it’s my zen time.
sadly
these days
MULTITASK.
I neeeeed to stop.
Do you really have a bathroom door that you can use as a chalkboard? That’s great!
I already multitask by doing 5 household chores at a time; I’ll keep the exercise as a separate activity. But if you like holding the plank while cleaning up the toy bins, go for it.
The link to the Baby’s First Public Judging seems to go to the flu-shots. As I’m getting sick right at this moment, maybe the internet is trying to tell me something, but I was interested in the other article. Could you repost the link?
I’m a focuser! Although if I can do something useful, like vacuum or chop wood as exercise, I like that!
It probably goes back to the karate kid, wax on wax off 🙂
You guys are hilarious, and jelly-bean playing with Gym Allison’s son is adorbs! I love their hair, little boy with bright red, and little jelly-bean with her blonde high-pony.
I’m pro-adding more activity into my day. I could easily squeeze in some squats while I’m packing my lunch for the day, if I were to put the bag on the floor and squat to put things in. And I’ll admit, I already do calf-raises and side-lunges while waiting for the LRT. BUT, that only works because it’s getting cold, so it looks like I’m trying to keep warm, and because I leave work pretty late usually, so the train platform is mostly empty. Now that I think about it, this might be perfect for me, since I also like to sneak in walking-lunges whenever I’m walking somewhere.
And re: Duggars- I’m all for people having as many kids as they want, so long as they can afford it. Plus, I think they’re good parents. I don’t agree with their religion (because I would never, ever, ever agree to that many babies), but I think there is something to be said for having a belief, sticking to it, and raising your children with a true example of that belief. And their children seem to be pretty well behaved, I’ve watched the show a few times and they seem like a loving family. So I say congrats.
On the rare occasions that I do housework (kidding!) I usually go at warp-speed. Gets the work over with AND I get my cardio in at the same time!
As far as the Duggars, I have my opinions, but also wonder if it’s any of my business. I worry about the mom, as she had complications with her last pregnancy. And I certainly understand the fascination. But, hey, they’re not the Kardashians, so that’s a plus! (6 Kardashian kids is quite enough, thankyouverymuch! Can you imagine of there were 20?!?!?!?!)
I only work out at the gym. Even if I have the time and space at home and only plan on doing body weight exercises, I know that there are too many distractions at home to get it done. NOT going to happen. But I am at the gym for the sole purpose of working out (OK, maybe a little socializing)- so there it happens.
I do not multi-task my work when it comes to exercise. I don’t even start the writing process -do other people write a post about 3 times in their head before they put it down in the program?) while I’m working out.
OMG my life is multitasking. Anytime durning my workout I am getting Sam out of trouble or having to change a diaper lol. Days like today I get my workout done then clean the place up afterwards.
Well, I don’t go to the gym – I went to one recently for an assessment, but it’s normally not for me. So, it depends what task I’m doing and if I’m trying to be mindful during the task… If I’m watching TV (I finally, after 4.5 years, decided to reincorporate a TV in my life — actually as a means to get me to sit down and relax) I tend to dance or hula hoop when there’s music playing… or if I watch The Biggest Loser (a show I shouldn’t watch.. and don’t fully stand behind) I tend to pause the DVR and go for a run whenever they go into the gym.
When I was a “once a week” cleaner I tended to incorporate more “fun” into it… but now that I clean every day (but for a substantially less amount of time) it’s not as necessary as I get in my walks with my dog and running as well.
p.s. oh how I overuse (asides) and ellipses.
I multitask, but not usually with housework. I have held a squat or lunge while chugging my veggie smoothies… takes my mind off of the smoothie.
As for the Duggars: I’m amazed at how much talk and debate there is about their pregnancy. Good grief! They wanted another child, they are not in debt, they provide for all of their children, and all the children seem very happy and well behaved… what’s the problem. It is especially annoying that many of the negative comments I’ve seen come from women who support “choice” in other aspects of reproduction, but don’t seem to respect their choice to have children.
On the flu subject… absolutely no flu shots here! I’ve got a natural regimen that kicks the flu in a couple of days, and none of us have ever had a bad case.
I see nothing wrong with doing this especially as busy as people are these days. If you have to do it, so be it.. or you want to fit in a little extra, why not.
Me, I am a focus type person. I go to the gym & it is all focus. Yes, I may watch the TV there but at times, I even miss the story due to my focus & when I am lifting, I may not even hear the songs playing in my ears due to focus!
I suppose watching TV & doing abs/stretching is not considered multi-tasking! 😉
I am not really good at multi-tasking in general.
I don’t multi task when it comes to exercise but I certainly consider lots of “non exercise” things exercise in and of itself.
Just wanted to stop by and say hi!!! I actually have a reliable internet connection. Unfortunately, it’s almost 2 am so I can’t fully catch up yet but I wanted a quick dose of Charlotte!
I thought squats and blow drying my hair were always supposed to go together!
When I’m at the gym I like my workouts to be so intense that I’m not able to focus on anything else (its hard for me to do ANY THING else but run at 10 miles an hour). But at home while cooking or doing housework, and even in the shower I’m always sneaking in workout moves:-)
I’ve tried to do some working out when I do chores and to be honest…I don’t like it. I just want to get through the house work so my Toddler isn’t getting restless and my infant isn’t screaming at me for a bottle. So when I have time to just power through, I go for it. I detest housework and I love working out. I’d like to keep it that way :o).
As to the Duggars. I say it’s not my place to say anything. I commented previously that it really isn’t anyone’s place to tell someone they should stop having kids or how many they should have (unless your the state coming into a home that is nothing short of dangerous for a child’s well being). It bothered me that right after I have baby #2, people thought it was an open invitation to tell my husband and myself that we needed to stop and that we’d had more than enough children. Sorry, but that’s a decision only a husband and wife can truly make. Everyone else’s opinion is best kept to themselves, especially since we do provide for our children on our own. I can’t believe how much controversial debate there is over this family who is loving, caring, nuturing and self sufficient. I’ve seen comments like “some people can’t have kids, so she should adopt” (which I don’t understand, why can’t those trying and having a hard time consider adoption too) to others claiming “God doesn’t want her to have this many kids”…I didn’t know people knew what God wanted. People need to take a chill pill.
I only do housework betwixt workout stuff if it’s legit workout stuff such that a break would be beneficial or is necessary. I like doing sets of pull-ups or chin-ups in between tasks. I will do a circuit where I will literally unload a measly three pieces from the dishwasher and then do five or 8 or 10 or however many chin/pull ups of whatever different kind and then repeat. It’s freaking hard. It takes a really long time to finish the discrete tasks (working out and unloading the D/W), but each gets done and feels as though it went by faster, so I chalk that up as a win. I love you.
I multi-task exercise moves/workouts into the few shows I watch during the week. My best time has become Saturday and Sunday mornings, when I do my moves to reruns of The Nanny (Fran Drescher); gives me the perfect excuse to watch my favorite show during the ‘quiet time’ I’m supposed to be writing.
I prefer to focus on my workout.
WHERE did you get that awesome apron? i so want one. i dont always multitask while doing other things….depends on where my crazy not always able to foucus brain of mine. As far as the Duggars, yea they can be fascinating, i do wonder when they will stop since their odyssey started with a death of a child will it stop the same way & i sooooo wouldnt want that to happen to anyone
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There’s a self of accomplishment when cleaning your house and feeling like you got a great workout and weren’t sitting around being lazy! This was ny frist visit, great blog!
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