A recent article in CNN Fitness says that our daily household chores and seasonal activities such as working in the yards or gardens, raking leaves, and snow shoveling are considered daily activities and contribute towards our fitness goals.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that those seasonal chores are functional exercises that can burn more calories than some traditional fitness activities. In fact, raking leaves can burn more calories in an hour than a brisk walk or weight training session.

What’s more, because seasonal chores, like raking, are considered moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise, time spent preparing for the fall season counts toward the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.

– Dana Santas in CNN Fitness

According to the physical activity calorie counter of the American Council on Exercise, a 170-lb person burns 308 calories doing yard work, while brisk walking 3.5 miles/hr would burn only 293 calories.

Just like at the gym, somebody warms up, and light stretching is essential even while doing yard or in-house activities. “Just as you would execute an exercise at the gym, you want to perform your seasonal chores with the same attention to proper form. Lifting should be done by bending your knees and using your legs as your main source of power. Stay aware of your balance and maintain stability with a hip-distance or a slightly wider, even stance during most tasks. Whenever you’re twisting, as you would when raking or shoveling, focus on rotating from the middle of your back — never your lower back — to avoid strains.”

Because an adult body is composed of up to 60% water, it is essential to keep hydrated even in cooler temperatures to recover water lost through sweat.

“Because your seasonal work may be less familiar to your body, there is a good chance you will feel sore afterward, having worked muscles in different ways than your normal routine. To lessen the chance of significant soreness, take a few minutes to stretch and breathe after you complete your chores. And then give your body some much-needed recovery by taking time to rest and put your feet up, eat a healthy, satiating meal and get enough sleep,” CNN Fitness reports.