Video: 9 ways you can sneak exercise into your day By Mayo Clinic Staff Share Facebook Twitter Print details No time to exercise? Not so fast. When you make the right moves, physical activity can happen automatically. And it doesn't have to take a lot of time. Watch to learn 9 simple tweaks from Mayo Clinic experts that you can make to be more active and burn more calories every day — including one that can actually save you 15 minutes a day. Yes, really. Show transcript 9 ways you can sneak exercise into your day Fitness doesn't have to happen in the gym, or even in gym clothes, to count. Program a buzz to get up and move. Set your activity tracker, computer, smartphone or watch to remind you to move. Arrive 5 minutes early. Park at the far end of the lot to score extra steps and reduce your last-minute stress. Take the stairs (and save time!). One study of office workers found that waiting for elevators takes an extra 15 minutes a day. Dress to move. Office workers in one study took 491 more steps when they wore comfy pants vs. business dressy. Choose comfort. Can't dress down? Express your style with shoes that won't make you hesitate to take the long way. Do errands on foot. Going to two stores on opposite ends of one shopping spot? Park once and walk. Get more face time. Trade email for an in-person chat. At home, forget yelling between rooms. Turn tasks into exercise. Wash your car or push the lawn mower to burn up to 400 calories an hour. Make plans to be active. Forget dinner or the movies. When was the last time you went bowling? Guidance from the wellness physical therapists at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. Get more healthy action tips delivered daily when you download the Mayo Clinic app. Show references Shah S, et al. Elevator or stairs? Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2011;183:E1353. ACE study finds fitness benefits of wearing casual clothing to work: Casual and comfortable clothing workdays promote increased physical activity. ACE Fitness. https://www.acefitness.org/about-ace/press-room/339/ace-study-finds-fitness-benefits-of-wearing-casual-clothing-to-work-br-i-casual-and-comfortable. Accessed Aug. 15, 2017. Ainsworth BE, et al. 2011 compendium of physical activities: A second update of codes and MET values. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2011;43:8. VID-20314218