Taking a walk is great for your health. It helps you stay active, it’s free and you can do it almost anywhere. For a person who weighs 155 pounds, walking for 30 minutes burns about 140 calories. However, not everyone likes to walk or can walk. If you fall into that camp, the good news is that there are many activities that burn just as many calories as walking, and they may even be part of your normal routine.

Everything from hiking and running to household chores can keep you active and healthy. Here are nine exciting alternatives to walking that can help you stay fit while spicing up your routine! Each calorie level is based on 30 minutes of activity for a 155-pound person.

1. Gardening 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 176

It’s time to get outside and in the dirt. Gardening is a gratifying way to see your work pay off over time. Along with being a good way to get in some movement that doesn’t feel like exercise, it is a cost-effective and sustainable way to put high-quality vegetables on the table.

2. Playing with Kids 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

Have kids, grandkids or friends with kids? Spending time playing with little ones is good for them and good for you. Anyone who’s spent the day with kids knows it can be exhausting—but playing along is sneaky exercise (and fun!). Playing at a moderate effort with kids burns just as many calories as walking. If you are playing more vigorous games, like hopscotch or tag, you can burn up to 186 calories per half-hour.

3. Tai Chi 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

Tai chi is a gentle form of exercise that combines slow, flowing movements with deep breathing and mindfulness to promote balance, flexibility and relaxation. Besides being a good way to burn calories, tai chi provides several potential benefits—both for your mental and physical health—including reduced stress and improved mood. Try a tai chi class at your local fitness center or through an online video.

4. Mowing the Lawn 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 193

Unfortunately, riding mowers don’t count, but use a push mower and you can up your calorie burn while taking care of your lawn. Makes sense, since you’re walking and pushing. Plus, you’re doing double duty and making the yard look nice. The energy you expend mowing is on par with sports like recreational volleyball or badminton.

5. Cleaning 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 123–158

Talk about two birds with one stone. Cleaning the house, an item on many people’s weekly to-do list, can burn more calories than going for a walk. More involved tasks, like vacuuming, scrubbing or washing the car, understandably burn more calories than lower-lift tasks, such as dusting or cleaning counters.

6. Raking Leaves 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

Add this to the list of things you’re already doing in the fall that offer a calorie-burning bonus. Raking may feel like a chore, but it’s a great option for getting outside and enjoying the fall weather.

7. Shoveling Snow 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 211

If you live somewhere with winter weather, shoveling snow is inevitable. This gives you a reason to embrace getting out and moving even when it’s cold—and the more vigorously you shovel, the higher the calorie burn. Aside from being a good way to stay moving in the colder months, clearing your driveway and sidewalk of snow and ice makes it safer—trust us, your mailperson will thank you. 

8. Painting 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 158

Painting is one of the cheapest ways to give your house a makeover. Giving a room a new pop of color burns around 158 calories per half-hour. Doing the painting yourself can save you money and help you burn calories.

Note that while painting a canvas on an easel is a lovely way to spend an afternoon, that type of painting won’t burn quite as many calories as painting an entire wall. 

9. Coaching Sports 

Calories burned in 30 minutes: 140

You don’t need to be an athlete to get in on the calorie burn of sporting events. Coaching a sports team burns around 140 calories per 30 minutes of game time, whether it’s from standing or moving around to coordinate with your team. This is a great way to get involved in sports without being on the field.

The Bottom Line 

This list is just the start, but there are many things that burn just as many calories as going for a walk. When trying to lose or maintain weight and stay healthy, it is important to find ways to add movement into your day. The key to sticking with an exercise routine is finding tasks that you enjoy and that are realistic for your lifestyle. These ideas show that burning calories can be accomplished outside the box of conventional exercise.