Of the millions of things you need to look after before your move, extra exercise is probably not on your list. But, if you don’t regularly workout or you’re not overly active day-to-day, the sudden stresses you place o yourself on moving day can, at best, leave you with a bunch of sore, aching muscles. At worst, you might suffer an injury and not get the move done on time.
But, by exercising certain areas and muscles groups before the move, you can reduce your chance of aches, pains and strains.
Always consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
You should start getting into shape as soon as you can, but try to give yourself at least three weeks before moving day.
Here are some muscle groups and areas that you can work on to prepare for your move.
1. Neck & Shoulders
If anyone’s ever told you that moving is a pain in the neck, believe them. You’ll be doing a lot of lifting, which can stress your shoulder and neck muscles. Swimming is a great, low-impact way to strengthen these muscles.
2. Core & Back
Your core strength is important for supporting any physical activity, so working on your core will help with anything you do during the move. And you’ll not get through the day without lots of strain on your back. Planking strengthens both your back and core. Setting yourself a challenge for how long you can hold the plank position can be a motivator. And remember to ‘lift with your legs’ not your back.
3. Arms
You can’t lift or carry things without your arms! The planks will help strengthen them, as will some weight curls, push-ups and bench presses.
4. Legs and Glutes
If lifting with your legs saves your back, then your legs better be in good shape for all the extra work. Your legs and glutes will go through two types of stress that they won’t be used to. First, they’ll be asked to support the lifting of heavy weights. Second, you’ll probably spend most of the day on your feet and in motion. So you need to work on both the strength and endurance of your legs and glutes. Squats, lunges and running stairs are all great for working the lower half of your body.
You never know. Getting ready to move to your new home might be your first step to getting into better shape.