Burn Calories While You Do Your Chores! You may not realize just how many calories you burn doing everyday tasks. Daily chores do burn calories and, in some cases, help tone muscles. The only catch is that you have to change the way you think about how you do everyday things and choose the more active option whenever possible. The following is a list of the amount of calories you will burn while performing daily tasks. (Note: All calorie counts are calculated for a 150-pound person doing 30 minutes of activity. If you weigh less than that, you will burn slightly fewer calories. If you weigh more, you will burn slightly more calories): Grocery shopping while pushing a cart: 126 Washing dishes: 75 Reading the newest potboiler: 39 Doing laundry: 210 Surfing the Internet: 60 Gardening: 150 Raking leaves in your yard: 144 Walking the dog at a quick pace around the neighborhood: 14.7 Climbing the stairs at work (instead of taking the elevator): 306 Which daily chores can help to burn calories the least?