Do you need help with that?

“Do you want me to bring it in for you?” says the well-meaning delivery driver, handing me the parcel at my door. 

To which I reply, “No, thank you, that's great, I can take it from here.” 

“Are you sure, it's quite heavy?” 

This is an interchange I find happens regularly. The intention, of course, is kindness and helpfulness, but there are a couple of issues with the driver’s approach. 

A. an assumption that I might find it too difficult - which could be true, of course - but it’s always best not to make assumptions. (My inner feminist can’t help wondering whether he’d have said the same to a man, but that’s another discussion!)

B. the belief that it’s kind to spare someone the effort.

The amusing thing about this particular delivery was that it actually was heavier than most, as I’d ordered a weighted vest to add load to some of my walks. Clearly, if I couldn’t manage the parcel, I wasn’t going to get far on my loaded walks! But this interaction happens with much lighter parcels too. 

The solutions are fairly simple:

The driver could flip the question to, “are you happy getting this, or would you rather I helped?” Not only would I feel like he was making positive assumptions about my capability, but I would also be given the opportunity to add a lifting moment into my day. I could choose to make the effort. But why does that matter? After all, it’s just a moment!

Those moments count. And all the moments add up. 

When you become aware of the opportunities all around you, two things happen. You start to take more of them intentionally and then, when you realise how important these micro strength moments are throughout your day, you start to actively seek them out and even create them for yourself. 

Each time we lift today is an act of care for our future self.

Research shows that lifting weight becomes more and more important as we reach midlife and beyond. It has so many benefits; helping protect against the muscle loss that occurs from 35 onwards and speeds up after 60, strengthening bones, boosting metabolism and making us more capable of being independent for longer, so we don’t have to rely on others. 

But lifting doesn’t just have to mean a few dumbbell sessions at the gym or even at home.

Don’t get me wrong - I enjoy lifting weights in exercise sessions at home. But I know from my own experience, that when we integrate practical movement skills into our daily routines and lives - the benefits are even greater. I’m also aware that not everyone wants to ‘lift weights’, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great deal of benefit from all the moments you lift in life. 

Take my friend Catherine. She doesn’t want to do weights sessions, but she has a lot of chickens - she lifts and pours 20kg bags of chicken feed daily. That’s a lot of great lifting right there! The same goes for the gardeners among you who choose to lift bags of compost rather than ask someone else to do it. Lifting it into and out of the car is great - but if you can do a few runs to take individual bags to your shed, rather than using a wheelbarrow, then even better!

Other everyday moments include things like sometimes loading a basket of items to take upstairs. Choosing a couple of baskets in the supermarket, rather than a trolley - to lift and carry your groceries. Walking to the shops with an empty backpack and filling it to lift and carry them home using your body, rather than a car. Moving heavy furniture yourself instead of asking for help and volunteering yourself for lifting tasks, whether with someone’s help or not - but just getting involved. 

The key is to start actively choosing to create those moments in your life. If you struggle to think of many, then you could buy a hand weight to leave somewhere in the kitchen where you see it and add in a few lifts and carries each time you do a specific task. A kettlebell to hold open a door makes a great talking point, and can create challenges amongst family and friends!

Lifting is a practical, essential skill for everyday life. When we start to build these moments into our days, on purpose, it stops feeling like ‘extra effort’ and starts becoming second nature.

Over time, these lifting moments add up - not just to stronger bodies, but to more confidence in what we’re capable of.

Want to get more confident with lifting in your own daily life?

Inside the Reclaim Movement Membership, we regularly practise lifting skills using household items and everyday scenarios - no gym required. Join us to build strength for the life you actually live by clicking here.