The Fun is in the Creativity: Great Workouts No Matter Where You Are

Fitness doesn’t have to be rigid or routine. In fact, some of the most fun and effective workouts come from figuring out how to make it work with what you have. Instead of getting stuck on what’s missing, embrace whatever you have at hand to get moving. For example, one of my go-to workouts when I stay at my parents' house involves using five gallon water jugs for squats and lunges. Once you embrace adaptability, you’ll find that fitness becomes more engaging, efficient, and even a little adventurous.

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Why Creativity Makes Workouts More Fun

Getting creative with workouts isn’t just about making do with less—it actually makes exercise more enjoyable. The novelty of figuring out new ways to move, repurposing household items as fitness tools, or making use of your surroundings keeps things fresh and interesting.

Instead of dreading the same gym routine, you can turn anything into a workout. A staircase becomes a cardio challenge. A sturdy chair is perfect for step-ups or dips. A backpack filled with books works as a weighted vest. These small tweaks transform your environment into a gym, making exercise feel more like a challenge to solve rather than a task to complete.

Beyond the fun factor, getting comfortable with adapting workouts builds problem-solving skills and self-reliance in fitness. You learn to train anywhere, anytime, without excuses. Whether you’re at home, in a hotel, or at a park, you’ll always have the tools to get a great workout—because your body is the best piece of equipment you have.

Simple Workout Structures That Work Anywhere

Even without a plan, you can quickly put together an effective workout using basic formats that require little to no equipment. These structures allow for high-intensity, time-efficient training, ensuring you get the most out of every session.

AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible)

• How it works: Set a time limit (e.g., 10, 15, or 20 minutes) and complete as many rounds of a set of exercises as possible within that time.

• Why it works: Forces intensity, minimizes downtime, and works with any exercises.

• Example: 10-minute AMRAP:

• 10 push-ups

• 15 air squats

• 20 jumping jacks

• Repeat until time runs out.

EMOM (Every Minute On the Minute)

• How it works: At the start of every minute, perform a set number of reps for an exercise. The remaining time in that minute is for rest before the next round begins.

• Why it works: Keeps you accountable, prevents overthinking, and can be adjusted for strength or cardio.

• Example: 10-minute EMOM:

• 10 burpees per minute

• Rest for the remainder of the minute before starting again.

Deck of Cards

• How it works: Assign an exercise to each suit in a deck of cards. Draw a card, and the number represents the reps to complete.

• Example Assignments:

• Hearts = Squats

• Spades = Push-ups

• Diamonds = Sit-ups

• Clubs = Lunges

• Draw a 7 of hearts? Do 7 squats. Keep going until you’ve gone through the deck or hit your time limit.

Ladders and Pyramids

• How it works: Start with a low rep count and gradually increase, then work your way back down.

• Example:

• 1 squat, 2 push-ups, 3 lunges

• 2 squats, 4 push-ups, 6 lunges

• Continue up to 10, then work back down to 1.

**For help formulating workouts on the go, check out our Quick Workout Guide on our Resources Page

Making Any Environment Your Gym

Now that you know how to structure a workout, it’s time to use your environment to your advantage.

At Home

• Chairs → Step-ups, dips, incline push-ups

• Walls → Wall sits, handstand holds

• Stairs → Sprint up, walk down for cardio intervals

• Backpack filled with books → Weighted squats, lunges, rows

Outdoors

• Park benches → Box jumps, dips, incline push-ups

• Curbs → Step-ups, lateral jumps

• Hills → Sprints, walking lunges

• Playground bars → Pull-ups, hanging leg raises

Travel/Hotel Rooms

• Luggage → Deadlifts, overhead presses

• Towels → Slider lunges, hamstring curls

• Bodyweight circuits → Burpees, mountain climbers, jump squats

Final Thoughts

Fitness doesn’t have to be dependent on a gym or specific equipment. When you embrace creativity, everywhere becomes your gym—your home, a park, a hotel room, or even an empty hallway. By using simple workout structures like AMRAP and EMOM, you can quickly build an effective routine anywhere, ensuring that lack of equipment is never an excuse.

Next time you find yourself in a new place without your usual gear, see it as an opportunity, not a limitation. Challenge yourself to make it work, and you might just find that the most fun workouts are the ones you create on the fly.