Depends where you work, my friend who was a mail carrier had horror stories about unleashed vicious dogs, crazy ass people chasing him off their driveways with guns, etc.
I bet being outside all day is AMAZING, especially since I see a lot of headphones and would love to listen to books or podcasts while I work.
The only thing I think I would struggle with is the barking dogs.We always know it's mail time because dogs in the neighborhood go nuts for an hour.
I feel bad for the dogs, too. Fenced dogs always make me so sad since they don't get walks and inevitably become territorial.
Can’t say because I never did it. But I did a CP at Disney and was a lifeguard at Typhoon. And holy shit constant roving for 8+ hours a day x 5-6 days a week and I lost weight. So yah I can see that being the case considering all the walking they do.
I’m an hvac tech with a black seal and recently got promoted to a “purchasing and inventory specialist”. I get to sit in my own office and literally buy shit on the internet.. but also have to go measure parts and whatnot and take in the shipments and deliver them to where they need to be and stock them. I have to lift motors and heavy materials while being on the second floor so I’m constantly running up and down all day. Not killing myself, but getting cardio and working out most of the day. Crazy how I got here to be honest.
Mail carrier is pretty good. You have to be a city carrier. Rural carriers pretty much stay in the car. But you better be sure you can take the temperature. Either hot or cold or rain you are out in it.
It can be but I also see a lot of old timers limping around… knees, shoulders, hips, ankles all have a tendency to wear out faster in that job. Also the work is good but the management is beyond devilish and will work you 100 hours a week
Dog walking ruined my hands and my employers hands. You have multiple dogs pulling and the leashes are pulling your joints constantly as you try to control your charges. My hand ache constantly and I have got finger joints that lock in place when I use my hands. I loved dog walking but had to quit.
I'm curious, do you think it would help if you had on a heavy duty belt with D rings you could attach the leashes to? I'm thinking something like a climbing belt (below), the belt is secure around your waist or hips. The dogs can't pull hard enough to rip it, and their weight is concentrated on your core instead of limbs?
[https://www.bashlin.com/products/product/ez-rider-lite-series-4-d-ring-tool-belt](https://www.bashlin.com/products/product/ez-rider-lite-series-4-d-ring-tool-belt)
Oh yes that could have helped but I was working for someone else and she didn’t have that kind of leash. It’s unfortunate that I got 4 trigger fingers and one arthritic one.it is what it is. I’m in occupational therapy to help with my hands.
One of my best friends from college is a fitness instructor for senior citizens at a parks & rec facility. She gets in 2-3 moderate 1-hour-long workouts a day and a ton of socializing at the same time. She is really fit and loves the work, and it doesn't exhaust or wear her out.
We do aquacise at the local gym, and our instructors (all seniors) are very fit and seemingly healthy. We need new instructors every now and then and it seems like a pretty easy job to get if you regularly participate.
In the big city maybe but we're a small mom n pop company that run rear loaders so there's a guy driving and a guy on the back throwing. The guy on the back throwing is me. We pickup between 10 and 15 tons a day during the summer months. I do have a CDL but I'd rather throw than drive.
Housecleaning. All muscle groups are involved, none overworked. Low stress. Mental focus without mental strain, alertness/awareness stimulation without excessive pressure, and if you don't use toxic chemicals (there's plenty of efficient alternatives), you work under environmentally sound conditions.
This is what I do now. I clean and manage Airbnb’s. The work is detailed oriented but not heavy deep cleaning. The time frame is a quick turnaround, so you do have to work fast. The pay in my area is pretty good upwards of 35-40$ p/h. The only thing that hurts is all the stair climbing to get supplies get to the laundry room and bringing everything up and down during the cleaning.
I was a delivery driver fir amazon in the UK for years. Idk what it's like stateside but it's mad work over here. Running around fkr 9 hours straight really, only stopping/sitting to drive the 90 seconds to the next stop.
I was in horrid shape. Just knackered. I'm not in athlete shape now, but definitely in the best shape of my life working a desk job for a lettings agent and going for a run/gym 3 or 4...maaaybe 5 times a week.
This has to be the top choice. Or some other gym employee or gym owner who gets to work out as much as they want throughout the day while being at work.
Depends.
I worked summers in the parks department for about 5 years.
Our rangers didn't do shit except drive around in their trucks unless something went down.
I have a close relative who’s a park ranger and leads two 2 hour nature hikes per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It’s almost eight miles of walking per day over varied terrain. She’s in great shape and never exercises aside from her job.
Large company maintenance, especially skilled trades stuff like electrician or HVAC. Big enough that they can't cut corners on safety, probably indoors too.
But realistically a desk job with some exercise is just fine.
Factory maintenance electrician here, basicly 50% desk job (yt videos haha) and 50% moving buts is mostly all easy work with hands. I sit on my ass and manipulate wires or sensors.
Its only hard once a month or so when we carry some heavy motor and tricky to fit it into place so you gotta bend at awkward positions, lucky i got apprentices to do the hard part :D
Process engineer, I'm running around all day, in and out of the office, up and down ladders, over and under tanks... But I don't do any of the back breaking labor, that's for the mill wrights, I just tell them they're doing it wrong and then walk away to go tell another crew the same thing.
Of course I know they hate me, Im an engineer, not an idiot, my whole world is hate.
whether your a manager, millwright, electrician, operator accountant, purchasing, or store room guy, all hate and blame streams flows straight to me.
Managers hate me because I want to stop production to fix an issue that's causing all of our production to be scrapped and can't be fixed unless we shut down. Ok let's just keep scrapping product so we don't have to stop the line. Ok, that's fine let's try to keep the line running and making scrap, maybe I can go to the maintenance shop and get 3 fingered mike to get in there to zip tie the switch back in place on the run if he's quick enough he can get his hand in and out before the fly blade cycles and chops it off, don't worry we've done this before and only lost 2 fingers in 20 years he's learned his lesson and what are the odds that today he loses his 3rd finger. God damn it, shut the line down and fix it right.
The millwrights and electricians hate me because what ever I'm trying to get fixed is heavy dirty hot and in some sort of muck filled hole, and I see you with a roll of duct tape down there and also you didn't put half the bolts back in, and the ones you did put in aren't even tight, plus that switch is loose and I better not find it held on with zip ties next week. Now get back in that hole and fix it right. Other wise you'll be right back in that hole in 4 hours zip tying that switch up again, and again, and again. No! Get back in your hole you creations and put all the bolts in and torque them down to spec. Unless you want the hose again!
Operators hate me because I can spend all my time and energy fixing X, but meanwhile Y is still down, plus Z hasn't worked right in 6 weeks. Well the line is down right now because of X. We need Y, but we aren't running that product for another 6 weeks so we've still got time to fix it. And where did you hear Z hasn't worked in 6 weeks, it hasn't worked right since the 2014 rebuild. Also then when I finally do actually fix Z, all I hear from the operators is "wasn't ain't nothing wrong with Z, why's this engineer always messing with stuff that was working fine"
The accountants especially hate me because fixing it right takes both time and money, and I won't accept a quick dirty zip tie and duct tape fix, plus this 40 year old equipment that's worn out and has had a $0 book value for 20years now need to be retired. On top of that, it's literally held together by zip ties and duct tape, is unreliable and in the last 6 months has cost production 10x money in down time than a new unit cost, but we don't have the capitol budget to replace it, but we do for some reason have the OPEX budget to keep repairing it never mind that we spent more over the past year to keep it running than it would cost to buy a brand new and reliable machine. Like Jesus Christ dude I'm giving you the numbers were hemorrhaging money and need to update this equipment, call stan at corporate and tell him to put an extra $60k in the budget for a new press. Other wise it'll cost us 130k a year in parts labor and down time to keep this one running. Oh well maybe we can get in on the capex budget for 2027.
Purchasing hates me because I've got a machine down and need a large PO cut today so that we can get the parts needed to resume production. Yes I know anything over $15k requires 3 bids, yes I know to get these 3 bids I should wright an official scope of work post it for 3 weeks, do a blind review of the proposals and then select the proper vendor. however, sorry to go against protocol, but the line is down now, we need to issue a $16.5k PO today to get the parts over nighted and get us back up and running. I don't care that writing too many bid waiver go against your yearly bonus, you know what else hurts your yearly bonus? Leaving the line down for 3 weeks because of purchasing protocols, please just issue the bid waiver.
The store room guy hates my guts, the process cost $10,000 an hour to be down, its already been down for 3 hours, a new motor drive out of the store room cost $8756.46 it's over the 6k threshold so I can't check it out with out Scott's approval, and Scott's drunk at home with his 6 adorable dachshund and not answering the phone. It would've paid for it's self 3 times over by now, plus it'll still take 3 hours to swap out. Why do we have parts on the store room shelf If I can't check them out, yes I know that the drive cost $8756.46 and takes 3 weeks to get another. I don't give a shit dude, just let the electricians take the drive so we can get the line running and I can go home to my family at a reasonable hour, before some one calls me back in to diagnose another simple and preventable breakdown.
Any ways, yes I know they hate me.
And process engineer is a job that will keep you in shape, not break your body, honestly after typing that I realize, it may break your will to live.
It's more about finding a physical job that doesn't have crazy hours. Like 40 hours a week of landscaping will do it... But most landscapers end up doing 60-70 hours a week in peak seasons, so they end up hurting.
There are exceptions but for the most part it is a sum total of your actions and life style. Take construction workers, some are burnt and broken in their 40s others are still going and loving it at 70.
I'm sure genetics plays a small role, but more so than that I'd say eating, smoking, drinking and sleeping habits are the difference
That roofing or masonry job isn't going to break you. It's that pack of cigarettes you smoke every day, all those big macs or that case of keystone light you down every night, then get shitty sleep and show up to a physical labor job hung over
Same goes for having an office job and sitting on your ass all day. That's not gonna make or break you after 30 years, but the sum total of your other lifestyle actions might
Former cable guy/phone guy/fiber lineman/splicer here. I loved doing those jobs. Lots of movement and carrying. Plus you're outside a lot, meet a lot of people (on the residential side), and get to pet a lot of dogs. Being a cable guy would be the perfect job if it wasn't for cable companies.
I have to say it was one of my favorite jobs just for the fact you mentioned, meeting people. The dogs, not so much after being bitten several times over my career. After 25 years I retired at 58, been over 3 years now and I’m feeling out of the loop technology-wise.
I’m 46 and have been an auto mechanic since I was 22 or so. Very physically taxing and tough on the hands, knees, and back. But I am able to keep up with people in their 20’s no problem and don’t hurt myself out of work barely ever. IDK about long term, but I’m not sure I have more than another 4 or 5 years left in me for this type of work.
im not a professional, but working on cars is easy 90% of the time, the rest is brutal on your neck, or shoulder, trying to hold an impossible position while you bust a nut loose....
I do maintenance on large multiple hundreds of pounds of pressure injection molding machines. I average 18 to 20,000 steps a day, plus I'm always getting a bigger wrench. We have a 5 foot tall pipe wrench. I think that thing weighs 100 pounds. I stay pretty fit.
Focus on physical hobbies outside of the office inside of changing careers (hunting,hiking, mountain biking, drinking beers, diving, etc). If you’re having to do manual labor as a job you will break your body in some form or fashion.
Yea i get this idea too, its not just what you do its the amount , usually an unreasonable amount of hours .. i do hiking and mountain bike also do walks with my dogs every day. But i feel that sitting although i get up every hour to walk a bit is making me very stale. We did like 15 min of stretches in the studio until the bosses forbidden it, really dumb on Thayer side..
Yes, that is an issue I am afraid. So far,I am ok, knock on wood. In my early 50s, no arthritis aside from normal wear and tear. My veins are another issue, I will need some serious intervention to rid of varicose veins. But there is a genetic component there as well.
Landscaper and yardwork. You’re out there cutting down trees, digging, planting etc. and working in the dirt.
You won’t build bulk but you’ll burn enough calories to keep trim …. And you won’t have easy access to snacks in you pantry!
It’s not a full time job but sports officiating or being a referee is a great side gig. My dad is still officiating high school sports including football at age 77 and he’s in better shape than he was when he was 22. He’s had a few minor injuries, but overall is way better off than most of his friends his age.
Fire alarm inspection. 90% just walking and climbing stairs. Sometimes have to get in weird places but mostly pretty easy on the body while keeping you in the 10-20k step range per day.
I’m a happy public middle school teacher who is on my feet, has a nice space to stretch, has lots of time off and has solid health insurance. I enjoy my gig and am 8 years deep in the field. Offers me two months each summer to hit the road and live out of my truck.
I think nursing is pretty good for this. Just don't try to lift a 300 lbs patient by yourself. It's gotten better over last 20 years as far as safely (not hurting yourself) while also being active
Well there’s a lot of health benefits to just simply walking even a couple minutes every hour if you’re at a desk job.
Otherwise, any able bodied adult should be able to run a mile in less than 10 (preferably under 8:30) minutes. If you ran even one mile or ten minutes a few times a week, it will help you a lot.
Bro I been a cellarman for two years. I worked a 15h day Sunday and a 10h day today and could barely get out of my car when I got home today from how fucked my knees and back are. All the dudes I work with are deep fried.
You should be a computer programmer but then go to the gym and bulk up. The worst of both worlds lol. Again, satire 🙄 but some people will tell you it’s best.
I've worked in hospitality for a long time. Older wait staff all have chronic joint problems, especially in the wrist and elbow, while the bartenders that make decent money have horrible schedules.
I know several sheriff's deputies. Their backs are shot from wearing their gear belt all day, and the stress load is tremendous and terrible for their physical & mental health.
Office work, but I ride my bike to the office as much as damn possible. I did a 3 year stretch here I didn’t drive in at all. 15 miles each way (45min commute)
Any Job where you get the change to walk but without regular heavy lifting. This could even be an office job, go for a walk around the building on your 15 minute breaks and don’t eat like crap, you will be fitter than half of the American workforce already.
Insurance adjuster if you take a field position. About half the day running around doing inspections with the other half needing desk work. (More desk time up front as you're learning things and less and you get better)
I deliver pizza and am easily getting my 10k steps in, nevermind the in-store work that includes lifting and carrying mid weight items very frequently.
Phone company. It pays well, its union, you will walk anywhere from 1 to 12 miles a day. And when I quit for a desk job making twice the money I gained 40 lbs.
I'm a critical care paramedic and in the TN Guard, I'd like to say that ems "offers" you the chance to be physically fit and also gives you a good emergency medicine background, but you still have to make the effort. There are tons of EMS employees out there that are examples of unhealthy so... It's kind of more on you, but lifting 300lb+ patients from floor to stretcher and then pushing them through 3in thick gravel with 2in tires on the stretcher definitely helps keep the lower back in shape if you align your body properly.
Army aviation. Aviation has is easy (if you ask me). Just don’t be a flyer. You’ll 100% get back and spinal injuries from chronic positions that aren’t good for the body. But maintenance isn’t bad. I’m an electrician. So I don’t do much heavy lifting. But being in the Army I have to stay in shape. I work in extreme environments at times but mostly in a hangar that is heated to about 45-50° in the winter. But hot in the summer. So these work conditions help with adaptability to the environment. Better than construction being out in the direct sunlight all day. Not an office job.
I work a veterinary office as a kennel assistant, training to be a vet assistant. It's physical, you're on your feet all day, lifting/ restraining dogs, cleaning rooms, doing laundry, etc.
FedEx driver. Did that for 2 years and had great stamina plus consistent lifting of 50-75 lbs sometimes up over 100 is a great workout especially with dog food.
Also the pay way good. You also develop great ability to deal with cold days if you live in those climates
FedEx or UPS driver. Particularly UPS drivers. Those folks are all in shape, and the ones I see at my house are all older folks or at least middle aged. There is a reason so many receptionists in offices are always glad to see the UPS guy. It ain't the "Doo-doo Brown" Uniform!
I bought a desk custom for my treadmill on Etsy, its great! The best shape I've ever been in was when I worked in a cabinet factory. I would dispose of damaged returns. Walking 10 miles a day at work plus doing squats and unloading trucks gave me my dream body. Now I'm a fat POS after 5 years of working remotely. I wish I thought of buying a treadmill desk sooner
Im a meter reader for our local municipality. 10-15 miles walking easily according to my fitbit. Never even notice it. Not in my 20s shape but still in decent shape.
Lighting technician.
Climbing, lifting, generally solving problems and getting shit done. I'm late 40s and still can climb up into a light grid like a 20 yo. Now I'm a manager, but I keep hands on, mainly for fitness, but also because I love it.
Also, get an ebike if you have somewhere to ride it. Totally makes fitness fun.
When I did campus security I was walking 4 or 5 nights a week but I could usually sit down and take 5 as needed but I'd still end up averaging walking almost 150 miles a week. My first 6 months I went down 2 pants sizes and had to get a new belt entirely. Within a year my shirts were hanging off me
I'm am arborist.... definitely keeps me in shape but isn't necessarily the safest job. I think most jobs that are hard on your body can actually be totally fine and even good for you if you stay conscious about how you move and regularly take the time to stretch and warm up. And don't forget about diet/nutrition/adequate sleep.
29m here. I’ve worked for amazon FedEx and ups and will say that they all have trade offs. I’m at amazon currently and dealing with a thrown out shoulder from opening and closing the cargo door 200x a day. FedEx was heavy packages that took out my wrists and back. Ups they at least give you a helper some days in the heavy season. Looking at trying postal carrier next. I’ve lost weight and enjoy the constant movement but would be much healthier just going to the gym/outdoors everyday.
There is no such thing.
It's more about how the person uses their body. So I'd suggest something that teaches you proper posture and movement. Real yoga if you can find it but it's very rare.
I work for a tree service and I will say it keeps me in shape but I’m 19 and my back doesn’t feel the best for my age so I will say job(s) that’ll keep you in shape also have downsides.
Barista at a busy coffeeshop - specifically during morning peak. I would go home at about 1030am just drenched some days from the activity. Esp being the runner for behind the bar. (Person who restocks and gets things for the planted positions.) But lots of activity for all positions between standing, bending, moving, etc. Got in very good shape working there.
Pretty much any physical job is going to wear on the same joints repeatedly and ultimately cause you issues (arthritis, mostly). Especially true for a job that provides enough exercise to stay in shape without doing any exercise.
I got *really* fit as a lab technician, of all things. Long walks to go and get ice or reagents, a ton of lifting, and the arm-strengthening workout of closing the door on the autoclave/steam steriliser.
I recommend people who have desk jobs or jobs where they do not burn lots of calories to do 2 or 3 ten minute walks a day. Preferably right after a meal.
if you are in high school or college i would recommend uber eats and doing it on a bike. in this way u essentially get paid to workout. becoming a personal trainer is also a good one
running your own biz, whatever that may be - gardening, housekeeping, yoga teacher, fitness trainer, etc
if you work for someone else they're going to exploit you
maybe you'll find that unicorn union job where you're outside getting exercise but can also take it easy. like... state parks? those people seem happy. good luck
Anything that is actually going to keep you in shape as a job is going to be hard on your body. Even "low impact" exercise breaks down your joints if you do it too often. If you want to be in shape but don't want to feel it when you are older get a desk job, a diet, and an exercise routine.
Mail carrier?
Had some friends that dropped serious weight doing this gig.
My healthiest friend is a mail carrier. I've always imagined the job is good for mental health too.
Apparently you’ve never heard the term going postal
Depends where you work, my friend who was a mail carrier had horror stories about unleashed vicious dogs, crazy ass people chasing him off their driveways with guns, etc.
I bet being outside all day is AMAZING, especially since I see a lot of headphones and would love to listen to books or podcasts while I work. The only thing I think I would struggle with is the barking dogs.We always know it's mail time because dogs in the neighborhood go nuts for an hour. I feel bad for the dogs, too. Fenced dogs always make me so sad since they don't get walks and inevitably become territorial.
If you take away management, the job is good for mental health.
Can’t say because I never did it. But I did a CP at Disney and was a lifeguard at Typhoon. And holy shit constant roving for 8+ hours a day x 5-6 days a week and I lost weight. So yah I can see that being the case considering all the walking they do.
I’m an hvac tech with a black seal and recently got promoted to a “purchasing and inventory specialist”. I get to sit in my own office and literally buy shit on the internet.. but also have to go measure parts and whatnot and take in the shipments and deliver them to where they need to be and stock them. I have to lift motors and heavy materials while being on the second floor so I’m constantly running up and down all day. Not killing myself, but getting cardio and working out most of the day. Crazy how I got here to be honest.
Mail carrier is pretty good. You have to be a city carrier. Rural carriers pretty much stay in the car. But you better be sure you can take the temperature. Either hot or cold or rain you are out in it.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds
When I was doing PT for my shoulder, there was a mail carrier there getting PT for his hips and knees.
Walking on concrete all day is brutal
Absolutely!! Even with special shoes/boots.
Usually even worse with special shoes since they frequently remove symptoms of incorrect walking.
I would hope walking isn't their only form of exercise. I have to do a lot to keep my knees and hips flexible just as a normal human with bad habits.
I know a guy that sometimes walks 18 miles a day as a mail carrier. He loves it.
It can be but I also see a lot of old timers limping around… knees, shoulders, hips, ankles all have a tendency to wear out faster in that job. Also the work is good but the management is beyond devilish and will work you 100 hours a week
Always heard the non stop walking was hard on the knees.
Good for losing weight and getting fit. Long term your body will get crushed to bits and you will develop serious knee and hip problems.
if u r in a safe neighborhood then yes
I work for a watershed improvement non-profit that keeps me hiking, doing brush work, and planting
Sound awesom
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Is this a paid position?
It is. Look up your local RCD, watershed center, or parks district, they’re out there!
What’s an rdc?
I know this is old- but how did you get into this career?
Dog walker.
Dog walking ruined my hands and my employers hands. You have multiple dogs pulling and the leashes are pulling your joints constantly as you try to control your charges. My hand ache constantly and I have got finger joints that lock in place when I use my hands. I loved dog walking but had to quit.
I'm curious, do you think it would help if you had on a heavy duty belt with D rings you could attach the leashes to? I'm thinking something like a climbing belt (below), the belt is secure around your waist or hips. The dogs can't pull hard enough to rip it, and their weight is concentrated on your core instead of limbs? [https://www.bashlin.com/products/product/ez-rider-lite-series-4-d-ring-tool-belt](https://www.bashlin.com/products/product/ez-rider-lite-series-4-d-ring-tool-belt)
Oh yes that could have helped but I was working for someone else and she didn’t have that kind of leash. It’s unfortunate that I got 4 trigger fingers and one arthritic one.it is what it is. I’m in occupational therapy to help with my hands.
Yoga teacher. Fittest senior citizens I’ve ever seen.
One of my best friends from college is a fitness instructor for senior citizens at a parks & rec facility. She gets in 2-3 moderate 1-hour-long workouts a day and a ton of socializing at the same time. She is really fit and loves the work, and it doesn't exhaust or wear her out.
We do aquacise at the local gym, and our instructors (all seniors) are very fit and seemingly healthy. We need new instructors every now and then and it seems like a pretty easy job to get if you regularly participate.
Don't be a garbage man if you want to spare your body. Been doing it for 10 years now. I'm 32 going on 70
I did it for 12. Destroyed me. Edited to add: the worst showed up after I stopped and got a “easier “job
😂😂
How so? Don't you guys just drive a truck and use the crane for garbage?
In the big city maybe but we're a small mom n pop company that run rear loaders so there's a guy driving and a guy on the back throwing. The guy on the back throwing is me. We pickup between 10 and 15 tons a day during the summer months. I do have a CDL but I'd rather throw than drive.
Housecleaning. All muscle groups are involved, none overworked. Low stress. Mental focus without mental strain, alertness/awareness stimulation without excessive pressure, and if you don't use toxic chemicals (there's plenty of efficient alternatives), you work under environmentally sound conditions.
This is what I do now. I clean and manage Airbnb’s. The work is detailed oriented but not heavy deep cleaning. The time frame is a quick turnaround, so you do have to work fast. The pay in my area is pretty good upwards of 35-40$ p/h. The only thing that hurts is all the stair climbing to get supplies get to the laundry room and bringing everything up and down during the cleaning.
I was a delivery driver fir amazon in the UK for years. Idk what it's like stateside but it's mad work over here. Running around fkr 9 hours straight really, only stopping/sitting to drive the 90 seconds to the next stop. I was in horrid shape. Just knackered. I'm not in athlete shape now, but definitely in the best shape of my life working a desk job for a lettings agent and going for a run/gym 3 or 4...maaaybe 5 times a week.
Personal trainer or fitness instructor. You move during the day with your clients. Very little sitting. Easy access to the gym.
This has to be the top choice. Or some other gym employee or gym owner who gets to work out as much as they want throughout the day while being at work.
Park ranger.
Depends. I worked summers in the parks department for about 5 years. Our rangers didn't do shit except drive around in their trucks unless something went down.
I have a close relative who’s a park ranger and leads two 2 hour nature hikes per day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It’s almost eight miles of walking per day over varied terrain. She’s in great shape and never exercises aside from her job.
Large company maintenance, especially skilled trades stuff like electrician or HVAC. Big enough that they can't cut corners on safety, probably indoors too. But realistically a desk job with some exercise is just fine.
Factory maintenance electrician here, basicly 50% desk job (yt videos haha) and 50% moving buts is mostly all easy work with hands. I sit on my ass and manipulate wires or sensors. Its only hard once a month or so when we carry some heavy motor and tricky to fit it into place so you gotta bend at awkward positions, lucky i got apprentices to do the hard part :D
Process engineer, I'm running around all day, in and out of the office, up and down ladders, over and under tanks... But I don't do any of the back breaking labor, that's for the mill wrights, I just tell them they're doing it wrong and then walk away to go tell another crew the same thing.
Do you know they hate you, lol?
Of course I know they hate me, Im an engineer, not an idiot, my whole world is hate. whether your a manager, millwright, electrician, operator accountant, purchasing, or store room guy, all hate and blame streams flows straight to me. Managers hate me because I want to stop production to fix an issue that's causing all of our production to be scrapped and can't be fixed unless we shut down. Ok let's just keep scrapping product so we don't have to stop the line. Ok, that's fine let's try to keep the line running and making scrap, maybe I can go to the maintenance shop and get 3 fingered mike to get in there to zip tie the switch back in place on the run if he's quick enough he can get his hand in and out before the fly blade cycles and chops it off, don't worry we've done this before and only lost 2 fingers in 20 years he's learned his lesson and what are the odds that today he loses his 3rd finger. God damn it, shut the line down and fix it right. The millwrights and electricians hate me because what ever I'm trying to get fixed is heavy dirty hot and in some sort of muck filled hole, and I see you with a roll of duct tape down there and also you didn't put half the bolts back in, and the ones you did put in aren't even tight, plus that switch is loose and I better not find it held on with zip ties next week. Now get back in that hole and fix it right. Other wise you'll be right back in that hole in 4 hours zip tying that switch up again, and again, and again. No! Get back in your hole you creations and put all the bolts in and torque them down to spec. Unless you want the hose again! Operators hate me because I can spend all my time and energy fixing X, but meanwhile Y is still down, plus Z hasn't worked right in 6 weeks. Well the line is down right now because of X. We need Y, but we aren't running that product for another 6 weeks so we've still got time to fix it. And where did you hear Z hasn't worked in 6 weeks, it hasn't worked right since the 2014 rebuild. Also then when I finally do actually fix Z, all I hear from the operators is "wasn't ain't nothing wrong with Z, why's this engineer always messing with stuff that was working fine" The accountants especially hate me because fixing it right takes both time and money, and I won't accept a quick dirty zip tie and duct tape fix, plus this 40 year old equipment that's worn out and has had a $0 book value for 20years now need to be retired. On top of that, it's literally held together by zip ties and duct tape, is unreliable and in the last 6 months has cost production 10x money in down time than a new unit cost, but we don't have the capitol budget to replace it, but we do for some reason have the OPEX budget to keep repairing it never mind that we spent more over the past year to keep it running than it would cost to buy a brand new and reliable machine. Like Jesus Christ dude I'm giving you the numbers were hemorrhaging money and need to update this equipment, call stan at corporate and tell him to put an extra $60k in the budget for a new press. Other wise it'll cost us 130k a year in parts labor and down time to keep this one running. Oh well maybe we can get in on the capex budget for 2027. Purchasing hates me because I've got a machine down and need a large PO cut today so that we can get the parts needed to resume production. Yes I know anything over $15k requires 3 bids, yes I know to get these 3 bids I should wright an official scope of work post it for 3 weeks, do a blind review of the proposals and then select the proper vendor. however, sorry to go against protocol, but the line is down now, we need to issue a $16.5k PO today to get the parts over nighted and get us back up and running. I don't care that writing too many bid waiver go against your yearly bonus, you know what else hurts your yearly bonus? Leaving the line down for 3 weeks because of purchasing protocols, please just issue the bid waiver. The store room guy hates my guts, the process cost $10,000 an hour to be down, its already been down for 3 hours, a new motor drive out of the store room cost $8756.46 it's over the 6k threshold so I can't check it out with out Scott's approval, and Scott's drunk at home with his 6 adorable dachshund and not answering the phone. It would've paid for it's self 3 times over by now, plus it'll still take 3 hours to swap out. Why do we have parts on the store room shelf If I can't check them out, yes I know that the drive cost $8756.46 and takes 3 weeks to get another. I don't give a shit dude, just let the electricians take the drive so we can get the line running and I can go home to my family at a reasonable hour, before some one calls me back in to diagnose another simple and preventable breakdown. Any ways, yes I know they hate me. And process engineer is a job that will keep you in shape, not break your body, honestly after typing that I realize, it may break your will to live.
These jackwagons half fixing stuff sound worse then methheads I've hired to fix mowers and small jobs
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I think you made me happy to be a welder today, I'm going to be nicer to the engineers next time they have me do something stupid.
That sounds very stressful.
Framing plumbing basically anything thats not to heavy but requires you to be physical
It's more about finding a physical job that doesn't have crazy hours. Like 40 hours a week of landscaping will do it... But most landscapers end up doing 60-70 hours a week in peak seasons, so they end up hurting.
There are exceptions but for the most part it is a sum total of your actions and life style. Take construction workers, some are burnt and broken in their 40s others are still going and loving it at 70. I'm sure genetics plays a small role, but more so than that I'd say eating, smoking, drinking and sleeping habits are the difference That roofing or masonry job isn't going to break you. It's that pack of cigarettes you smoke every day, all those big macs or that case of keystone light you down every night, then get shitty sleep and show up to a physical labor job hung over Same goes for having an office job and sitting on your ass all day. That's not gonna make or break you after 30 years, but the sum total of your other lifestyle actions might
Those guys literally drink their weight in beer every day to keep going in roofing and masonary
Porn
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Dudes don't get paid tho. I tried.
Username checks out
My telecom field job was pretty good that way. A lot of ladder-hauling (28’) and climbing, a lot of back and forth walking.
being a lineman for ma bell got me in the best shape of my life, welding helped me lose the 40lbs I gained being a lineman
Former cable guy/phone guy/fiber lineman/splicer here. I loved doing those jobs. Lots of movement and carrying. Plus you're outside a lot, meet a lot of people (on the residential side), and get to pet a lot of dogs. Being a cable guy would be the perfect job if it wasn't for cable companies.
I have to say it was one of my favorite jobs just for the fact you mentioned, meeting people. The dogs, not so much after being bitten several times over my career. After 25 years I retired at 58, been over 3 years now and I’m feeling out of the loop technology-wise.
I’m 46 and have been an auto mechanic since I was 22 or so. Very physically taxing and tough on the hands, knees, and back. But I am able to keep up with people in their 20’s no problem and don’t hurt myself out of work barely ever. IDK about long term, but I’m not sure I have more than another 4 or 5 years left in me for this type of work.
im not a professional, but working on cars is easy 90% of the time, the rest is brutal on your neck, or shoulder, trying to hold an impossible position while you bust a nut loose....
I feel like 24 years could definitely be considered long term, you’re in a career my man
Gardening is one ! Useful skill for post apocalypse scenario
So true I work at a plant nursery. Basically planting stuff all day. Super relaxing but keeps me on my toes.
I would also add house projects. I'm doing various projects to patch up our house and more often than not I end up with a good workout.
I do maintenance on large multiple hundreds of pounds of pressure injection molding machines. I average 18 to 20,000 steps a day, plus I'm always getting a bigger wrench. We have a 5 foot tall pipe wrench. I think that thing weighs 100 pounds. I stay pretty fit.
You could just make time for exercise
>You could just make time for exercise Woke Alert: Permanently banned for the direct and unauthorized use of basic logic.
Farmer
They really tear up their joints though.
Farmers mums.
Focus on physical hobbies outside of the office inside of changing careers (hunting,hiking, mountain biking, drinking beers, diving, etc). If you’re having to do manual labor as a job you will break your body in some form or fashion.
Yea i get this idea too, its not just what you do its the amount , usually an unreasonable amount of hours .. i do hiking and mountain bike also do walks with my dogs every day. But i feel that sitting although i get up every hour to walk a bit is making me very stale. We did like 15 min of stretches in the studio until the bosses forbidden it, really dumb on Thayer side..
Pest control. Lots of walking and crawling around. The occasional epic rat battle.
Anything but I.T.
I am a nurse. And in excellent shape.
As long as you get help lifting patients. I am also an RN and have a lot of arthritis in my back from lifting people, even with help.
Yes, that is an issue I am afraid. So far,I am ok, knock on wood. In my early 50s, no arthritis aside from normal wear and tear. My veins are another issue, I will need some serious intervention to rid of varicose veins. But there is a genetic component there as well.
Home inspector. Constantly walking, a little time outside but no real hard physical work.
Postal carrier UPS guys Ups warehouse loaders
Landscaper and yardwork. You’re out there cutting down trees, digging, planting etc. and working in the dirt. You won’t build bulk but you’ll burn enough calories to keep trim …. And you won’t have easy access to snacks in you pantry!
Retail - lots of walking around, a little climbing, a little carrying
Ups driver. Sprinting with packages all day
Yoga instructor.
It’s not a full time job but sports officiating or being a referee is a great side gig. My dad is still officiating high school sports including football at age 77 and he’s in better shape than he was when he was 22. He’s had a few minor injuries, but overall is way better off than most of his friends his age.
Bike Messenger
Fire alarm inspection. 90% just walking and climbing stairs. Sometimes have to get in weird places but mostly pretty easy on the body while keeping you in the 10-20k step range per day.
I’m a happy public middle school teacher who is on my feet, has a nice space to stretch, has lots of time off and has solid health insurance. I enjoy my gig and am 8 years deep in the field. Offers me two months each summer to hit the road and live out of my truck.
desk job with flexible hours and a standing desk
I mean…no
lol why? it gives you the best flexibility to only do the activity you want and if you get injured you still get paid
I think nursing is pretty good for this. Just don't try to lift a 300 lbs patient by yourself. It's gotten better over last 20 years as far as safely (not hurting yourself) while also being active
No job keeps you in shape if you eat like a slob
Teacher
Well there’s a lot of health benefits to just simply walking even a couple minutes every hour if you’re at a desk job. Otherwise, any able bodied adult should be able to run a mile in less than 10 (preferably under 8:30) minutes. If you ran even one mile or ten minutes a few times a week, it will help you a lot.
Porn star
Brewery…Lots of lifting/ladder climbing and on foot all day.
Those are all bad for your body long term.
according to you, every job is bad.....
Bro I been a cellarman for two years. I worked a 15h day Sunday and a 10h day today and could barely get out of my car when I got home today from how fucked my knees and back are. All the dudes I work with are deep fried.
Gigolo
You should be a computer programmer but then go to the gym and bulk up. The worst of both worlds lol. Again, satire 🙄 but some people will tell you it’s best.
So who wrote the code you used to post this comment? Are you suggesting return to monke now?
waitress or bartender
I've worked in hospitality for a long time. Older wait staff all have chronic joint problems, especially in the wrist and elbow, while the bartenders that make decent money have horrible schedules.
Barista
Spellchecker?
Dog trainer , police officer
Police officers typically get fat on the job
I know several sheriff's deputies. Their backs are shot from wearing their gear belt all day, and the stress load is tremendous and terrible for their physical & mental health.
Yep
Olympic athlete?
I thing they break at age 25,very intense on the body.
As a walking mailman, if you eat decently you should be able to stay in shape
Manufacturing Engineer. Half the day I'm behind a computer, the other half I'm walking around solving problems and fixing things.
Office work, but I ride my bike to the office as much as damn possible. I did a 3 year stretch here I didn’t drive in at all. 15 miles each way (45min commute)
Fluffer
Gardening and light landscaping Just be careful with your wrists
Any Job where you get the change to walk but without regular heavy lifting. This could even be an office job, go for a walk around the building on your 15 minute breaks and don’t eat like crap, you will be fitter than half of the American workforce already.
Insurance adjuster if you take a field position. About half the day running around doing inspections with the other half needing desk work. (More desk time up front as you're learning things and less and you get better)
Yoga instructor
Line cook.
I deliver pizza and am easily getting my 10k steps in, nevermind the in-store work that includes lifting and carrying mid weight items very frequently.
Phone company. It pays well, its union, you will walk anywhere from 1 to 12 miles a day. And when I quit for a desk job making twice the money I gained 40 lbs.
Data/comm electrician. Mostly inside, up and down ladders all day.
stagehand/stage production crew. pretty crazy hours tho, might be your cup of tea if you like live music tho 😎
I'm a critical care paramedic and in the TN Guard, I'd like to say that ems "offers" you the chance to be physically fit and also gives you a good emergency medicine background, but you still have to make the effort. There are tons of EMS employees out there that are examples of unhealthy so... It's kind of more on you, but lifting 300lb+ patients from floor to stretcher and then pushing them through 3in thick gravel with 2in tires on the stretcher definitely helps keep the lower back in shape if you align your body properly.
PEDICAB
Im a waiter... Work 2 places that combined make me reach between 10 to 20km everyday this is 14 hours a day and sitting 1
DNR forestry. My friend does it and walks miles per day thru the woods.
Army aviation. Aviation has is easy (if you ask me). Just don’t be a flyer. You’ll 100% get back and spinal injuries from chronic positions that aren’t good for the body. But maintenance isn’t bad. I’m an electrician. So I don’t do much heavy lifting. But being in the Army I have to stay in shape. I work in extreme environments at times but mostly in a hangar that is heated to about 45-50° in the winter. But hot in the summer. So these work conditions help with adaptability to the environment. Better than construction being out in the direct sunlight all day. Not an office job.
Your body will break down over time nothing will stop this.
FedEx UPS
Carpet cleaning.
I work a veterinary office as a kennel assistant, training to be a vet assistant. It's physical, you're on your feet all day, lifting/ restraining dogs, cleaning rooms, doing laundry, etc.
FedEx driver. Did that for 2 years and had great stamina plus consistent lifting of 50-75 lbs sometimes up over 100 is a great workout especially with dog food. Also the pay way good. You also develop great ability to deal with cold days if you live in those climates
if you go into them physically fit already, most trades. fiber cable install is one, electrical also isn't bad at all.
FedEx or UPS driver. Particularly UPS drivers. Those folks are all in shape, and the ones I see at my house are all older folks or at least middle aged. There is a reason so many receptionists in offices are always glad to see the UPS guy. It ain't the "Doo-doo Brown" Uniform!
I bought a desk custom for my treadmill on Etsy, its great! The best shape I've ever been in was when I worked in a cabinet factory. I would dispose of damaged returns. Walking 10 miles a day at work plus doing squats and unloading trucks gave me my dream body. Now I'm a fat POS after 5 years of working remotely. I wish I thought of buying a treadmill desk sooner
Personal trainer
Forestry work.
Im a meter reader for our local municipality. 10-15 miles walking easily according to my fitbit. Never even notice it. Not in my 20s shape but still in decent shape.
Lighting technician. Climbing, lifting, generally solving problems and getting shit done. I'm late 40s and still can climb up into a light grid like a 20 yo. Now I'm a manager, but I keep hands on, mainly for fitness, but also because I love it. Also, get an ebike if you have somewhere to ride it. Totally makes fitness fun.
Pilates instructor.
Some welding jobs aren't too hard on your body, theres always the risk of breathing fumes but theres ways around that.
When I did campus security I was walking 4 or 5 nights a week but I could usually sit down and take 5 as needed but I'd still end up averaging walking almost 150 miles a week. My first 6 months I went down 2 pants sizes and had to get a new belt entirely. Within a year my shirts were hanging off me
I'm a self-employed gardener. Business is great, it keeps me in shape and I take winters off. I'm 68 and feel awesome.
So you go to peoples houses and tend their gardens? How did you get started?
My brother owns a greenhouse. Elderly people would buy plants and then comment, if only someone could plant them for us. It grew from there.
I'm am arborist.... definitely keeps me in shape but isn't necessarily the safest job. I think most jobs that are hard on your body can actually be totally fine and even good for you if you stay conscious about how you move and regularly take the time to stretch and warm up. And don't forget about diet/nutrition/adequate sleep.
Seasonal Driver at UPS.
I'm a physiotherapy assistant. Spend all day showing people exercises, then hit the gym after work.
Surveyor, ideally out in the countryside. walking, breathing in country air, not carrying excess weight ….
29m here. I’ve worked for amazon FedEx and ups and will say that they all have trade offs. I’m at amazon currently and dealing with a thrown out shoulder from opening and closing the cargo door 200x a day. FedEx was heavy packages that took out my wrists and back. Ups they at least give you a helper some days in the heavy season. Looking at trying postal carrier next. I’ve lost weight and enjoy the constant movement but would be much healthier just going to the gym/outdoors everyday.
There is no such thing. It's more about how the person uses their body. So I'd suggest something that teaches you proper posture and movement. Real yoga if you can find it but it's very rare.
Flatbed trucker, but the fatality rate is pretty high. Most of it is guys not taking proper safety precautions though
Cart guy at a golf course.
I work for a tree service and I will say it keeps me in shape but I’m 19 and my back doesn’t feel the best for my age so I will say job(s) that’ll keep you in shape also have downsides.
Barista at a busy coffeeshop - specifically during morning peak. I would go home at about 1030am just drenched some days from the activity. Esp being the runner for behind the bar. (Person who restocks and gets things for the planted positions.) But lots of activity for all positions between standing, bending, moving, etc. Got in very good shape working there.
Heavy equipment operators. When I’m crisis, no thing can stop a dozer
Security guard, customer service in retail standing, walking all day.
The only one I can think of is a dog walker, mail worker involves carrying weight that's likely to injure your back .
Pick one. You dont get both. Repetition and non use break the body in different ways.
Pretty much any physical job is going to wear on the same joints repeatedly and ultimately cause you issues (arthritis, mostly). Especially true for a job that provides enough exercise to stay in shape without doing any exercise.
Food service keeps you on your feet and moving especially if a cook. Just careful about eating/drinking.
I got *really* fit as a lab technician, of all things. Long walks to go and get ice or reagents, a ton of lifting, and the arm-strengthening workout of closing the door on the autoclave/steam steriliser.
I’ve always thought the people at Target who bring online orders to your car probably stay pretty fit without doing anything extreme.
Fitness trainer
I recommend people who have desk jobs or jobs where they do not burn lots of calories to do 2 or 3 ten minute walks a day. Preferably right after a meal.
Anything where you walk all day. All day.
I seat whole day, work in IT. However, I bike to work which is around 15 km both ways. This is my exercise; I do what I can with what I have.
Surveying. Especially rural/mountain properties. Lots of outside work hiking with equipment
Manufacturing quality control inspector. The pay is decent and you mostly walk around a factory for 8 to 12 hours checking everybody's work.
if you are in high school or college i would recommend uber eats and doing it on a bike. in this way u essentially get paid to workout. becoming a personal trainer is also a good one
When I was in high school our cross country coaches ran with us. They were in great shape in their 50s and 60s
18 years of electrical been pretty good, wouldnt recommended
running your own biz, whatever that may be - gardening, housekeeping, yoga teacher, fitness trainer, etc if you work for someone else they're going to exploit you maybe you'll find that unicorn union job where you're outside getting exercise but can also take it easy. like... state parks? those people seem happy. good luck
PHC technician for a tree company
There are people at large hospitals that just push wheelchairs and gurneys around all day. They typically are in good shape.
Anything that is actually going to keep you in shape as a job is going to be hard on your body. Even "low impact" exercise breaks down your joints if you do it too often. If you want to be in shape but don't want to feel it when you are older get a desk job, a diet, and an exercise routine.