Parents reveal best chores to fit ‘micro-workouts’ around as expert claims ‘we all have the same 24 hours in a day’
Parents reveal best chores to fit ‘micro-workouts’ around as expert claims ‘we all have the same 24 hours in a day’
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BUSY parents are struggling to find time for exercise – with 71 per cent hunting for micro-workouts they can fit around chores. Research of 2,000 mums and dads with kids under 18 found 47 per cent think a good time for a micro-workout would be while waiting for food to cook.
![[Mr. Motivator holding a megaphone in front of a Matalan-branded bus.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/free-editorial-use-mr-motivator-967761231.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
And 35 per cent could get some done while waiting for the washing machine to finish its cycle. Nearly four in 10 (37 per cent) have even used household items to get a quick workout in, lifting bags of sugar or mugs to get some blood pumping. It also emerged they estimate there are as many as 38 minutes every day when they could be doing something to get fit - like when they're brushing their teeth or waiting for the kettle to boil.
![[Mr. Motivator and four women exercising with laundry baskets.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/free-editorial-use-mr-motivator-967799416.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Following the findings, Matalan has teamed up with exercise legend Mr Motivator to come up with a range of exercises busy parents can complete during their day, to keep them moving. Coined the ‘Daily Dozen’, the 12 moves include a water bottle bicep curl, laundry basket upright row and a dining chair squat.
![[Mr. Motivator leading a fitness class.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/free-editorial-use-mr-motivator-967761191.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
1. Waiting for food to cook. 2. When watching TV. 3. Waiting for the kettle to boil. 4. Waiting for the washing machine to finish. 5. Waiting for a tea to brew. 6. Waiting for the microwave to ping. 7. When on hold on a phone call. 8. When brushing my teeth. 9. Waiting for the toaster to pop up.
![[Mr. Motivator leads a workout class using backpacks as weights.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/free-editorial-use-mr-motivator-967761184.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
10. When waiting for my kids to be ready to leave the house. The day-glo icon said: "We all have the same 24 hours in a day, it’s just a matter of learning how to use them most effectively. “It may not sound like much, but even one single minute of activity can make a real difference.
