Hidden Wonder Workout – Your Household Chores
If you’re tired of going to the gym and have some housework to catch up on, with a little advance planning you can kill two birds with one stone. Imagine the extra Time It!
Before you start, set a timer for 30 minutes—the ideal duration for a meaningful workout. Staying active for at least this long helps turn everyday chores into real calorie burners.
Dive In Head First…
Put on your headphones and energizing music. Fast-paced playlists (120+ beats per minute) help you move faster, stay motivated, and even improve heart and lung function. Create 30-minute playlists so your music also becomes your workout timer.
Dress for the Occasion
Wear lightweight, comfortable clothing and supportive athletic shoes—treat it just like a real workout!
Star in the Floor Show
Floor care is one of the best home-based workouts. Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and scrubbing burn 190–250 calories per hour for a 150-lb person.
- While vacuuming, flex your abs and use strong forward/back motions to work your core, arms, and shoulders.
- Add lunges as you vacuum for an extra leg workout.
- When sweeping or mopping, switch arms often to avoid muscle imbalance.
- Scrub floors on your hands and knees for a powerful shoulder and upper-arm workout.
Try these vacuuming techniques for extra burn:
Vacuum Workout Video
Try NOT to Save Time
Turn laundry into leg day! Place your basket on the floor and use a squat to lift each item individually into the washer. See the demonstration here:
Laundry Squats
And don’t consolidate trips up and down the stairs. Climbing stairs repeatedly can burn up to 500 calories per hour—a fantastic cardio workout.
Be Crystal Clear
Washing windows with broad, sweeping arm motions burns about 180 calories per hour.
Outdoor Chores, Outdoor Workout
Your yard is another built-in gym:
- Weeding or hoeing: ~300 calories/hour
- Raking leaves (skip the blower!): ~400 calories/hour
- Pushing a manual mower: ~300 calories/hour
- Cleaning gutters: ~320 calories/hour
- Washing your car: ~230 calories/hour
- Painting exterior walls: 250–300 calories/hour
These creative ideas help you maintain a beautiful home while getting in a full-body workout. And if you're making improvements as part of settling into your new Ernest home, don’t forget to explore our Design Studio for inspiration or reach out to our Sales Team anytime.
