20 Shocking Activities To Totally Nail Being Active

People often wonder what they can do to get active, but they don’t want to work out in the classical sense. Well, that is exactly why I created this list of 20 shocking activities to totally nail being active!

You can play a game, or do another fun activity and burn calories just as well as going to a gym or working out at home.

Use your every day activities to burn off that extra donut this morning. I’m not judging, I did the same thing.

Why Should You Stay Active?

Aside from the obvious reasons of it’s healthy and will help you get into shape… there are other benefits to being active.

It will help with your fatigue. I know, I know… you are probably thinking, “How does moving around more help me feel less tired?”

The way I figure, it helps you sleep more soundly at night, therefore… less tired during the day!! But I’m no scientist.

And of course, it helps to reduce stress. This one reason right here, if nothing else, is the main reason I stay as active as possible.

I need as much help as I can reducing stress. If shaking my booty a little will make me happier, bring it on!!

And bonus!! It boosts your immune system naturally… which I think everyone needs right now. Thanks COVID!!

What If You Hate Working Out?

So what do you do if you want to be active, but you hate working out?

Don’t worry, there are plenty of things that you can do to be active that don’t require a gym membership or at-home workout equipment.

And the best news… there are no squats!

Who needs leg day anyway?

So lets go! 20 shocking activities to totally nail being active.

Alternative Activities To Stay Active

Gardening

Kicking things off right with something that isn’t only great at keeping you active, but great for the planet too!

I don’t know if you have ever tried gardening… but it is hard work!

And it is definitely something that you won’t be able to quit, because those little plants lives are depending on you.

So get outside, do a little gardening, stay active, and get healthy while you are at it.

Work On That Honey-do List

This one not only keeps you active, but it also gets all those little projects done that you keep finding excuses for so you don’t have to do them.

No more excuses, let’s do this!

Get that tool belt, go by Home Depot, and get those projects checked off the list… and watch yourself get healthier too.

Build Something

Aside from the little projects around the house, you can build something to get that blood flowing.

It can be something small, like a birdhouse to go in your new garden, or it can be something bigger, like a bookshelf to go along with that honey-do list you are already working on.

You see how these things are all connecting now aren’t you?

Using power tools, bending and standing, lifting… all of that is a sneaky way to fit in staying active while you are getting things done, like the boss you are.

Cook Something New… From Scratch

Ok, this one, we are going to pretend to be a bit Amish here.

I have made quite a few things from scratch in my time of cooking. I don’t know why, but it always makes me feel like a BA when I can say I truly made something and people love it.

The best thing about making things from scratch? It is a full-blown workout at times.

We aren’t doing any premade boxed mixes here… Oh no, we are going back to before the time of ease and convenience… we will be pioneers!

Break out all your ingredients, roll up those sleeves, and get ready for the best arm workout of your life.

I swear, women back in the day were complete and utter beasts. No wonder kids used to listen to their parents… their moms had to be jacked! But I digress…..

Join A Drum Circle

Alright, things are starting to get fun in this list of shocking activities to totally nail being active!

Even if you are not musically inclined… drum circles are so fun!!

I went to one once, and it was absolutely nothing like I imagined.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, maybe some kind of hippie-dippie scene circa 1960? I don’t know, but it wasn’t like that, I promise.

This is something else that you will have so much fun while you are doing it, you won’t even realize that you aren’t only staying active, but you are getting quite the arm workout in.

Use The Stairs

I feel like this one maybe isn’t that surprising, but I figured it should still be on the list because there may still be someone that hasn’t thought to just do something as simple as using the stairs.

And I’m not talking about the lazy stairs, aka the escalator… oh no, the stairs that don’t move.

Use those legs, get up those stairs and totally nail being active!!!

And good news!! I have heard that taking the stairs actually burns more calories than jogging. So for those of you like me who only run away from murderers and thieves… the stairs are actually worth it!

Ride A Bike

I actually love bike riding. I never feel like I am working out, but I definitely feel it later. But in a good way.

So go forth, grab a bike, and be active.

And even if it is a bit hot outside, riding a bike gets you a nice breeze so it doesn’t feel too bad.

Go Roller Skating/Blading

And going right along with riding a bike, go roller skating/blading.

I honestly think I love this more than riding a bike, I’m not really sure why. And if you hate leg day like, well… every other human ever… this is a great alternative to those stupid squats and lunges.

Fun fact for you… I absolutely CAN NOT skate… I have to rollerblade. I don’t know why, or how that makes sense, but if I put on roller skates, I end up looking like Bambi on ice. Not a pretty sight.

Hiking

I love hiking. And this is a real full-body workout. Or it can be, depending on where you are hiking, and how intense you go at it.

The beauty about hiking is it can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be.

And at the end of your hike, there is usually something awesome to see or do, like a waterfall, or a great field, or beach.

Set a destination, and just go for it.

Don’t forget lots of water and some snacks too… Oh and bug spray!

Go For A Walk

This one ties in with the last, but if you want to stay active, just go for a walk.

Some people think you have to do something really vigorous to workout… not true.

Just get up and go.

What is the alternative? Sitting on the couch continuing to binge watch that show? Nope, even if you are walking slowly, you are already doing laps around the people just chilling on the couch. So go for it!

Head to the mall if you want some air conditioning and walk around. You got this!

Play With Your Kids/Pets

These next few all kind of tie together with this one, but I figure I would break them down and give you some specific ideas.

But for this one, play around with your kids/pets.

Wrestle, get down on the ground and play.

Play tag, run around, have a great time! I promise, you won’t even notice that you are getting in a workout.

Play Just Dance

This game is in my nightly routine.

I get my son, turn on just dance, and we play for at least an hour.

It is so much fun, and we get some real quality time in together.

Granted, most nights it turns into him just watching me play, but hey… I am nailing it!

The Floor Is Lava

I don’t know if you played this game as a kid, but you have to have some serious moves and core strength to play.

Grab some pillows, furniture, whatever you want and STAY OFF THE FLOOR!!

There are other versions to this game, depending on if there are kids involved or not… There is a very involved version with drinking from the show “New Girl” if you are interested… the rules are here. Only if you are over 21 though… if you are under 21, alcohol is crap. Don’t drink.

Go have some fun.

Red Rover Game

Time to work on those legs, core, and arms… throw in some cardio from running and you have, red rover!

Grab some family, or friends once all this COVID stuff is done, and hold hands, get friendly… use hand sanitizer.

Anyway, make two lines, call over someone from the opposite line, and they have to break through your arms… I’ll never let go, Jack!!

Its fun, you are being active, everyone wins.

Hide and Seek

Not many things were as fun as hide and seek when you were a kid.

Running, hiding, more running… I think you see where I am going with this. There is running involved.

HOWEVER! You don’t notice it because you are playing a game. So, fear not, this is a sneaky way to get in that cardio.

You can always change it up too, there are different ways to play hide and seek so you don’t have to play the same way every time.

Do it cops and robbers style, or the traditional way. Team up, or mix it with a game of freeze tag. The possibilities are endless, and so is the fun.

Jump On A Trampoline

Next up on our list of 20 shocking activities to totally nail being active, we have the tried and true, trampoline.

These aren’t just for kids anymore. Adults are jumping around on these death traps just as much as the kids now.

I have even seen people play dodgeball while jumping on trampolines…

Or playing a type of basketball… either way, you can get in a crazy awesome workout and have fun all at the same time. And isn’t that the point of this list?

So give it a shot. And don’t get hurt.

Timed Scavenger Hunt

Last Christmas, my family got together and did a scavenger hunt.

It was timed, and we had to find a list of things throughout our neighborhood, take pics and bring them back.

Not only was it incredibly fun, but I found myself actually running to get everything in the time we had.

By the next day, I was so sore, so something was worked out during that game.

Find a scavenger hunt online, set a time limit, and go! You will find that you are having a blast and you may even find yourself running around like I did.

Create An Obstacle Course

I always loved doing this as a kid, and I feel like it could be even better now that I am an adult.

Do it inside, do it outside, it doesn’t matter. Just grab a bunch of stuff and let your imagination run wild.

Create a course that has you jumping, climbing, crawling, sneaking… anything and everything to get from one point to another.

Ready to make it harder? Set a timer. See who can finish it the fastest.

Lets go! Time for some American Ninja Warrior stuff!!

Play Mini-golf… With A Twist

One time, while I was in Orlando, we went to this indoor glow-in-the-dark mini-golf place.

Sounds basic right? Wrong!

They had different rules for each hole. On one of them, you had to use your club like a cue stick.

That requires getting down on the floor, or at least close to it.

Another one, you had to hit the ball backwards through your legs.

It really was fun and you didn’t realize all the different ways you had to use your body just to get through this 18 hole course.

There are so many different ways you can get the ball to the hole without playing just ordinary mini-golf.

Use your imagination, or look it up. The choice is yours.

Water Balloon Fight

And last, but not least, have a good old-fashioned water balloon fight.

This game has running, hiding, dodging, all the good things that lead to staying active while still having fun.

You can play a water balloon version of dodgeball.

How fun does that sound?

And the best part? Water balloons are super cheap, so you won’t break the bank while you play.

Save this for later!!

There we have it, folks, my 20 shocking activities to totally nail being active. Take this list and go have some fun, and be active while you are doing it!

Were there any ideas that I missed? How do you stay active without working out? I would love to get some new ideas.

Let me know in the comments what you think about my list, and if you have any other ideas.

And if you are looking for some music to get you through a regular old workout, or to play while you are playing around with these ideas, check out my list of the best songs to work out to.

Until next time,