If you're tired of doing all of your workouts inside under fluorescent lights at the gym or if you usually enjoy an outdoor workout, but need to change up your routine I have an idea for you that will never get old. If you are feeling adventurous try doing a fitness scavenger hunt!
A fitness scavenger hunt is a great way to get an outdoor workout and to mix things up in your fitness routine. Here is how it works. Plan out a route that you usually jog or walk. Then list 5-10 bodyweight exercises, for example push-ups, burpees, pull-ups, squat jumps, lunges, single leg hops, planks, jumping jacks and the list goes on.
Tip: Plyometrics and explosive exercises like jumping and plyo push-ups are a great way to make the scavenger hunt a workout that will improve your conditioning, burn fat, increase athleticism and challenge your mental toughness.
Next to each exercise on your list put a corresponding landmark or "thing" that you might commonly see on your run. Here are ideas to get you started:
1) Park bench
2) Road work (signs, cones, barracades, etc.)
3) Short brick wall (good for jumping, dips or elevating your feet for push-ups)
4) Tall brick wall (flex your creative muscle more than me)
5) Playground (great for pull-ups, climbing, and primal movement patterns)
6) Crosswalk
7) Red light
8) Red convertible
9) Cute Dog (or ugly dog...they need love too)
10) Baby
11) Yellow house
Every time you see an item from your list you have perform the corresponding exercise. To make things easy to remember just say that you are going to do 5 or 10 reps when you find a scavenger hunt item. So, for example, if I say that every time I see a park bench I am going to put my feet up on the bench and do 10 push-ups with my feet elevated and then continue my run.
Tip: Don't be creepy at the playground...Seriously...That isn't cool and it may get you arrested. Use your best judgement when it comes to jumping into the middle of playground action.
In addition to being a great workout, this will also keep your mind in the present moment which is something that a stressful schedule can prevent us from doing. If you are actively looking for your scavenger hunt items you can't be worried about the presentation you have to give the next day or how the intern at your office accidentally deleted the only copy of the quarterly presentation you have to give later in the week. Add a bit of competitiveness to the workout by counting your total reps of all exercises. That final number for the workout is your goal to beat on the next workout. Have fun with it and push yourself!