October Wellness Tip

By Jen Milquet, Wellness Coordinator

October Wellness Tip

It’s that time of year in Wisconsin to stop and appreciate all the beautiful fall colors. However, it’s also that time of year when all those trees lose their beautiful leaves as well. Which means raking and LOTS of it! Try looking at raking as more of an opportunity than a chore. Did you know raking is a great total body workout?! It is a moderate form of exercise which can be equivalent to taking a brisk walk. One hour of raking can burn anywhere from 250-400 calories! Follow these safety tips and you’ll not only keep up with your Fall exercise, but you will also have the best looking yard on the block!

Raking Tips:

• Rake with the wind and downhill if possible. Raking is already a tough task, so try to use gravity to assist you.
• Use a tarp. Instead of bending down every few minutes to pick up multiple piles of leaves, try raking them all onto a tarp. Then once you have raked a good area, you can pull the tarp to where you want to dump them.
• Rake towards you. Try not to turn or twist when raking. Your back will thank you!
• Divide your lawn into sections. Take one section of your lawn at a time. If you have a large lawn, think about dividing the raking into a few days instead of all in one day.
• Try not to rake wet leaves. Dry leaves are much easier to rake and much lighter too! Wet leaves can be very heavy which could lead to injury or straining your back when trying to rake them or pick them up.
• Keep your feet supported. Wear good shoes with support and traction to avoid slipping on leaves.