6 Everyday Activities That Count As An Exercise

Everyday Activities That Count As Exercise

On the lookout for a few easy workouts to keep you in shape? You don’t necessarily have to go to the gym or even change into workout clothes to get the job done.Everyone burns fuel doing everyday activities. Scientists even named it: non-exercise activity thermogenesis. It's the energy you use walking up stairs or lifting grocery bags, and with a little imagination, it's easy to turn everyday activities into calorie-burning opportunities.

1. Mopping The Floor

I can totally vouch for this one because I get breathless and sweaty whenever I mop my kitchen floor. I mean, I really dig into those kitchen tiles. Livestrong recommends to get a workout while cleaning your house, turn up some tunes, do some stretches beforehand, and start with some easy circle action before hitting the rapid-fire mopping. This is totally how I mop — tunes and all — and I'm glad to hear there are others who get into mopping just as much as I do.

2. Walking

You don’t necessarily need to speed walk in Spandex to count walking as exercise. Parking your car in the far end of the parking lot and walking to your office building counts. If you have a pet, you’re probably already walking several times a day. And choosing to walk for nearby errands instead of driving can help you reach your daily activity goal.

3. Washing Your Car

Waiting as long as possible to wash your car might not bother you — and sure, paying for a quick drive through a car wash station is both easy and affordable. However, giving your car a good rinse as often as you can might burn up to 130 calories per hour.

4. Shopping

Whether you're buying groceries or a new pair of shoes, shopping means walking, and walking burns calories (we're talking upwards of 200 calories per hour). You can get an even better workout by parking far from the store's entrance and avoiding elevators and escalators. Tips: Try two stairs at a time to really get things moving.

5. Cooking

Working in the kitchen - everything from chopping veggies to washing pots and pans - burns around 75 calories in 30 minutes. Ditch the electric mixer and stir batters by hand to give your arm muscles some extra loving.

6. Doing The Laundry

Doing the laundry is a light activity that can add up to the equivalent of doing light resistance training, according to Stewart. You're hauling loads of wet towels or clothes from the washer to the dryer, which can sometimes get pretty heavy. Then you've got to get large loads from room to room, working your muscles and your cardiovascular system.