You may want to start doing more household chores, as according to a study on ScienceDaily.com, using the stairs as well as raking or sweeping leaves may have the same effect as spending a few hours at the gym.

Researchers from the Oregon State University say that the simple, two-minute tasks that you usually do at home or at work add up to 30 minutes of physical work, which is basically the same as 30 minutes of dedicated exercise. This is based on data of more than 6,000 American adults who may not necessarily go to the gym but who live active lives.

This comes as good news to those who can't find enough time to work out. According to Brad Cardinal, study co-author and professor of exercise and sports science, you may still get enough exercise by doing small adjustments in your daily activities: instead sitting during a phone call, you can stand up and pace about, or instead of riding the jeep to a nearby mall, you can try walking.

Cardinal explains, "This is a more natural way to exercise, just to walk more and move around a bit more. We are designed by nature as beings who are supposed to move. People get it in their minds, if I don't get that 30 minutes, I might as well not exercise at all. Our results really challenge that perception and give people meaningful, realistic options for meeting the physical activity guidelines."

Thirty minutes of physical activity daily may improve metabolism, manage blood pressure, and prevent cholesterol buildup, so try your best to get off your chair as much as you can--doing away with being sedentary will help you stay healthy.

(Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt via Flickr Creative Commons)