You've resolved to get healthier this year, but you still can't seem to carve out gym time. Don't sweat it! A new study shows that short stretches of activity adding up to a half hour a day—taking the stairs, raking the leaves—may be just as beneficial to your health as longer sessions of exercise at the gym.

The nationwide study of more than 6,000 people, conducted by Oregon State University and recently published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, measured participants' moves with accelerometers. The findings: Leading an active lifestyle, as opposed to setting aside a chunk of time per day for exercise, was just as effective in preventing high blood pressure, high cholesterol and metabolic syndrome—factors that increase risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. And calories are burned, too!

Surprisingly, participants who completed short spurts of daily exercise in as little as one-to-two-minute increments were actually more successful at getting in 30 minutes per day than those who did longer exercise sessions.

These kinds of findings can help busy working moms rethink their approach to exercise and fitness. While gym workouts can be very effective in promoting health, smaller periods of everyday-type activity (including vacuuming and lunchtime walks) add up as exercise. Mindfully planning on several short bursts of action each day can go a long way in improving overall well-being.

For some great ways to add in short bursts of daily activity (and some great eat-right tips, too), click here.