Calling all you putterers and fidgeters! Get excited because you have as much to gain as those power walking enthusiasts and muscle builders. From a recent study consisting ofhealthy older people, it was discovered that the more active a person is, the longer he or she will live. This is not surprising new news, but what is interesting is that it does not matter what form of activity you do.

You do not have to workout 20 minutes per day doing aerobic exercise. That “exercise” can take the place of household chores, yard work, childcare, or volunteer activities… anything that requires energy.

One of the leaders of the experiment reported that the benefit can be from usual daily activities that expend energy and not necessarily from volitional exercise. This has also shown that physical activity has an even bigger effect on health in old age, than what was previously proven.

So, keep on with those daily household chores!

Source: Brown, David. “To Your Enduring Health: Do Chores, Live Longer.” Shaping America’s Health – Association for Weight Management and Obesity Prevention. July 12, 2006. http://shapingamericashealth.org.