40 Fun Exercise Ideas to Help You Move More
By Marnie Kunz, NASM-certified personal trainer, USATF- RRCA-certified run coach
If your workout routine has gotten stale, try these fun exercise ideas to stay active. The good news is that you don’t have to do high-intensity interval training or other intense workouts to improve your fitness and health. In fact, enjoying exercise is one of the best ways to improve your health, as you’ll be more likely to stick with activities you enjoy. Get in a great workout while enjoying these fun types of exercise.
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Benefits of Adding Fun Exercise to Your Life
Better adherence to regular exercise routines. According to researchers, the more you enjoy your workouts, the better chance you’ll stick with them. Making exercise fun makes you more likely to stay active (and enjoy it!).
Lower risk of heart disease and related conditions like high blood pressure and stroke. Adding more fun exercise to your life will improve your heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Reduced risk of diabetes. Regular cardio exercise helps lower your risk of getting diabetes.
Improved mental health. Exercise improves mood and reduces stress. It can lessen depression and anxiety.
Healthy weight management. Physical activity helps you burn calories and lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Regular exercise can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk of obesity-related health conditions.
Stronger bones and muscles. Regular activity helps strengthen your bones and muscles, which can do everything from improving your balance and preventing injuries to reducing your risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Better flexibility and improved range of motion in your joints. The more you move, the easier it gets to move. Increased flexibility will also help prevent injuries and muscle soreness.
40 Ways to Make Exercise More Fun
If you’re ready to break out of the same old workout routine, try these strategies to enjoy moving more. Don’t be afraid to test different ideas until you find the most fun workout for you.
Fun At-Home Workout Ideas
At-home workouts offer a convenient way to move without leaving the comfort of home. Try these fun exercises and games to improve your home workout routine:
1. Do micro workouts. Short workouts you can do anywhere are a great way to stay active and improve your fitness level. Try push-ups under your desk, walking up and down the stairs in your home, and doing dips on a chair or bench. Even a 5-minute burst of exercise can make a difference in your health (and also break up the monotony of work days!).
2. Do a chair challenge. Use a sturdy chair for seated tricep dips, squats, and even single-leg Romanian deadlifts.
3. Play plank games. Planks can be repetitive, but trying different variations can make them more fun. Challenge yourself to add time to your planks by adding a few seconds each day. Or, try new variations and do high planks, side planks, or plank taps for an advanced core workout.
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4. Play tag. Let your inner child out and enjoy a game of tag with your kids, partner, or friends. The thrill of the chase is always great running motivation.
5. Do bodyweight exercises. You don’t need equipment to get in a great workout! Do circuits with push-ups, squats, side lunges, seated dips, planks, and dead bug exercises. Aim for at least 10 reps of each exercise and do 2 to 3 sets for a complete circuit.
6. Burpees offer a challenging full-body workout. You can make it a game and have a burpee contest with a friend or family member, or test yourself and see how many burpees you can do in 30 seconds.
7. Have a dance party at home. Create a pumped-up playlist and enjoy dancing solo or with your friends and family. This is a fun way to get active while improving your physical and mental health.
8. Do a stair workout. Stairs can be used for all kinds of functional exercises. Warm up by walking up and down the stairs. You can do calf raises, seated dips, push-ups, planks, and even plyometrics like squat jumps onto your stairs.
9. Do mountain climbers. You don’t need any equipment for this excellent ab workout. You’ll get in a cardio workout with this compound exercise at the same time.
10. Do Pilates by following a Pilates workout video.
11. Do yoga. Stream a yoga video for a full-body workout that improves your flexibility and strength. There are so many kinds of yoga - from hip-hop yoga to restorative yoga - so you can find the best one to suit your tastes and fitness level.
12. Participate in an online Zumba class. Learn some new dance moves and have fun with this cardio dance class.
13. Hula hooping—it’s not just for kids anymore! It's a great way to work your core and have fun. All you need is a hula hoop and a little bit of space to get started.
Outdoor Workouts
14. Play on a playground. Swing through the monkey bars, run up stairs, and go for a swing. Invoke your inner child and have fun getting active on the playground.
15. Explore outside on the beach or in the woods. Enjoy a nature walk, run, or jog in a scenic place. Stop and find seashells or rocks for an adventurous scavenger hunt.
16. Ride a bike through a park or around your neighborhood to work up a sweat and build endurance.
17. Jump rope. Jumping rope is a classic cardio workout with many benefits and variations. If you’re a beginner, try simple skipping rope and challenge yourself to do more moves as you advance.
18. Play basketball. Shoot some hoops alone or join a local rec team for fun.
19. Take a hike. Go on a hike for a full-body workout and natural adventure. Check out our Hiking Tips for Beginners to get started.
20. Play soccer. Join a local soccer team or create your own with some friends for a fun-filled time and an excellent workout.
21. Go swimming. Swim laps or go for a swim in a natural body of water. Swimming offers an excellent cardio workout that strengthens your core and upper body.
22. Play softball or baseball. Have fun with an adult intramural team and play ball.
23. Go skiing. Embark on a snowy adventure with cross-country or downhill skiing.
24. Play tennis. Tennis is a lifetime sport that is fun for players of all ages and levels. If you’re new to the sport, take tennis lessons.
25. Play pickleball. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and for good reason—it’s fun! Pick up a paddle and see what all the hype is about.
26. Make an obstacle course in your backyard. Get creative and use trees, benches, and materials you have on hand to create a thrilling obstacle course in your backyard.
27. Go rock climbing. Climbing is a challenging full-body workout. If you’re new to it, take a lesson at a rock climbing gym.
28. Try plogging. Plogging combines running and picking up trash. It’s like an eco-friendly scavenger hunt with cardio! Join a local plogging event to help clean up your community and meet like-minded people.
29. Throw a frisbee. Enjoy a game of frisbee with your dog or a friend for a fun exercise.
30. Garden. Take up some gardening for a low-impact workout that’s peaceful and fulfilling.
31. Try surfing or stand-up paddleboarding. If you live near the ocean, try a thrilling workout by surfing or paddleboarding.
32. Play laser tag. Laser tag is a fun-filled way to get in a running workout. You’ll be so busy playing you won’t realize how much you’re running.
33. Jump on a trampoline. Channel your inner child and plunge into jumping fun on a trampoline.
34. Join a running group. You’ll have accountability and extra motivation as you meet new people while getting in some running miles.
35. Roll out on rollerblades or skates for a fun workout. Skate on a flat trail or at a rink. If you're hitting the trails, make sure you bring a fun soundtrack.
36. Channel your animal flow and move like your favorite animal! Cheetah lunges, bear crawls, and inchworm walks are all excellent exercises.
Related Post: I Tried Plogging: Here’s How to Do It
Gym Workout Ideas
37. Try a new class. Fitness classes have group support, and there are so many exciting theme options. From parkour to adult gymnastics or aerial yoga, you can learn something new and add a whole new level of fun exercise to your fitness routine.
38. Do a treadmill workout. You don’t have to just run at a steady pace for a fruitful treadmill workout. Break up the monotony with our treadmill workout ideas for runners and walkers.
39. Take a spin class. Enjoy an indoor cycle workout with a pumped-up beat and plenty of support from your instructor.
40. Work out with a friend. This is a tried and true way to enjoy your gym time more. Set a date and catch up with your friend while you lift some weights or hit the cardio machines.
Do you have any other fun exercise tips that have helped spice up your workout routine? Follow and tag @Runstreet on Instagram to share your workouts and get cheered on.
If you need a training plan to help you hit your fitness goals, head to the Runstreet Training Center. Whether you want a personalized strength training program or a marathon running plan, we got you covered with our training designed by a certified running coach and personal trainer.
Happy sweating to you! 😊
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Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified personal trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, NY. Marnie likes helping people get and stay active to enjoy a better quality of life. When she’s not doing fitness things, Marnie enjoys exploring with her dog, a mischievous rescue Akita.
