Five ways to burn calories with bedroom chores

This week we celebrate #exerciserightweek, but did you know that you don’t even need to leave your bedroom to work up a sweat? Some chores burn the same amount of calories as your traditional HIIT (High-intensity interval training) workout. Read on for the five-bedroom chores that will help you burn the most calories so you can stop feeling guilty for avoiding the gym.

Keep in mind the calories burned vary depending on each individual’s body and the intensity in which the chore is performed. The below is a general guide and should not be taken as a substitute for a fitness professional’s advice.

1. Making your bed

After letting sleep fuel your day, it’s time to put any laziness aside and make your bed. Not only will you feel accomplished coming home to a clean bedroom after a long day or work, but it will aid in some calorie-burning as well. Pulling up your bedsheets, changing pillow covers, folding your blankets and straightening your quilt are all examples of activities that, when performed together, can form a great early morning workout. Making your bed can help you burn 70 calories per hour, equivalent to 20 minutes of pilates.

2. Vacuuming the bedroom floor

Very few of us enjoy vacuuming, but if you knew it could help you burn calories and stay fit, would this change your mind and make you feel more motivated? Cleaning your bedroom floor burns 80-90 calories in 30 minutes which equates to just under half of your ordinary yoga session. It works as an effective upper and lower body workout, but focusing on engaging your core with each movement can also assist with working those abs. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could incorporate a series of squats or lunges for additional leg work.

3. Cleaning your bedroom windows

If your aim is to get toned arms and a six-pack, start by cleaning those bedroom windows inside and out. It can burn up to 300 calories per hour. It’s all in the technique. If you’re a spray and wipe type, you are more likely to be looking at 140 calories per hour. If you like to work up a sweat scrubbing that window grime, it will bring it closer to the 300 calories per hour mark. You would need to do 25 minutes of circuit training to burn the same amount. Trust us when we say that you don’t need dumbbells to feel the burn, just a bit of elbow grease.

4. Decluttering the wardrobe

While it may not work up too much of a sweat compared to the other bedroom chores mentioned, decluttering your bedroom wardrobe is still no easy feat and can burn up to 85 calories per hour which is equivalent to a 10-minute walk. Start by reviewing your clothing by category and only keep clothes that you love, wear and fit into now. Be honest with yourself and get rid of ones that you don’t wear, need or fit into currently. We only wear 20% of our wardrobe, 80% of the time.

5. Cleaning and dusting your bedroom furniture

Time to go ahead and grab your damp microfiber cloth to collect those stray dust particles. For a more thorough job, to cover a larger area or to get those pesky hard-to-reach areas, you could use the dusting tool or hose attachment on your vacuum. Spending an hour cleaning and dusting your bedroom furniture like your bed, bedside tables, tallboy, chest of drawers, dresser, and even blanket box can burn up to 166 calories which is equivalent to 20 minutes of aerobics.

Next time you’re dreading going to the gym or dragging your body outside for a workout, just remember that cleaning your bedroom can still help you burn calories. To get the most out of your day cleaning, remember it all starts with a good night’s sleep in the first place. Stay well-rested, Snoozers.