Moving from one home to another can take a lot of time and energy. Many people spend months packing and preparing for this big change. It’s definitely not a quick or easy task. But what if you turned your move into a workout?

With all the organizing, packing, cleaning, and moving you need to do, it might seem impossible to fit in a regular workout. Finding time to exercise on a normal schedule is tough, especially when you’re moving.

Even if you can’t make it to the gym, you can still turn the moving process into an effective workout. While packing and unpacking boxes, you’ll often be sitting for long periods. To keep active, try taking a five-minute break every hour to move around. You could run in place, do some yoga poses, or do a few jumping jacks.

If you’re feeling up to it, try standing or squatting while packing to tone your legs. If you have extra time, you could even do a full workout to tone your muscles and sculpt your abs. This could motivate you to get things done faster as well.

Many people hire professional movers to help with the heavy lifting. While it’s convenient, you miss out on a great calorie-burning opportunity. Try moving as many items as you can by yourself, and leave the heaviest or most delicate items to the professionals. Moving heavy furniture can burn a surprising amount of calories and helps tone your muscles.

Don’t forget to stretch. Moving involves a lot of bending and lifting, which can strain your muscles. Stretch before, after, and during the move to avoid injury. If you can, do some yoga to relieve any back pain. Taking a few moments to stretch and relax can make a big difference, especially during a move.

Although moving from one place to another can be time-consuming and disrupt your regular workout routine, you can still find ways to turn it into a beneficial workout and burn a surprising number of calories.