People go about their everyday lives, unaware of the activities they partake in that burn calories and help improve their health. However, if they knew about these; many people would make changes to their routines. 

This blog highlights 10 surprising things most people do every day without even trying to be healthy.

10 Things You Didn't Know Were Exercise

Living an active life can be hard when people don't burn the calories they consume. One way to combat this is by making sure to exercise throughout the day. 

But the reality is most people don’t have the time or the desire to go to the gym and exercise. Don't worry, there are things that you do regularly that count as exercise.  

1. Folding the Laundry

You can burn 70 calories in just 30 minutes by folding the laundry.  While washing and folding clothes will burn you 148 calories per hour. Try folding the laundry instead of putting it away in drawers or trunks. 

2. Ironing Clothes 

With an hour of ironing, you could burn 157 calories which is equivalent to 30 minutes of water aerobics. If you iron your clothes vigorously enough, you'll burn some more calories!

3. Washing Your Car

If you're struggling to get your exercise in and can't make it to the gym, washing your car might be the answer for you. 20 minutes of washing your car can burn you 100 calories. So, skip the drive-thru car wash and give your ride a thorough cleaning. 

4. Mowing the Lawn

If you don’t like the idea of going to the gym, there’s always something that you can do. Mowing the lawn is one of the best ways to burn calories without even realizing it. 

5. Roughhousing with Your Kids 

Today, we live in a society where people are not getting enough physical activity. And this applies to children and parents too. Roughhousing is a fun family workout. It is a good way for parents and kids to get the physical activity they need without going to the gym or playing outside.

6. Walking Your Dog

Walking your dog is good for you too, and it's also a great way to stay in shape. If you're not in the mood to go out and walk, try taking your four-legged best friend out for a walk instead. Walking with your buddy for 30 minutes at just 4 miles per hour could burn you 135 calories. 

7. Dancing 

Dancing is a great form of exercise that you can use to burn calories, tone muscles, reduce stress, and increase your heart rate. There are countless different styles of dance to choose from, so you are bound to find one that best suits you. The trick with dancing is finding a beat that gets your blood pumping.

8. Gardening

One of the things that I like to do when I don't have time or energy to go to the gym is gardening. Gardening doesn't only help you save time and gain energy; it can also be a relaxing activity. There's something very peaceful about sitting outdoors and working on your flowers, or pulling weeds in your garden.

9. Going Grocery Shopping

We all know the grocery store is full of food and it's very fun to go through the aisles looking for new products. But did you know grocery shopping is a great way to burn some calories? There are many different ways to make grocery shopping into an activity that can help you lose weight. One example would be doing some deep-knee squats when selecting items off those lower shelves.

10. Playing Video Games

In recent years, video games have been utilized as a form of exercise. Many factors contribute to the growing popularity of this type of activity, such as being able to play from anywhere and incorporating exercise into everyday life.

Conclusion

You might be surprised to learn that all the "everyday activities" were considered exercise by their definition. From folding the laundry to playing video games, these things are all part of working out.