Fitness does not have to be boring or regimented. Moving your body can be fun and creative! I hope these 6 games help inspire you to turn your home workout into a more exciting experience.
1. The dice game 🎲
Create your own fitness dice using a regular six-sided die. Assign a different exercise to each number on the die (e.g., 1 = push-ups, 2 = squats, 3 = jumping jacks, and so on). Roll the dice and perform the corresponding exercise for the number rolled. To add a twist, roll two dice and the second dice determines the number of the exercise you’re doing (e.g., if you roll a 3 and a 4, do 4 jumping jacks). This game adds an element of randomness to your workout, keeping it exciting and unpredictable.
2. The music game 🎶
Have as many songs as you like at the ready, as well as a list of exercises. Dance to the song, until the chorus comes on and then do your first exercise for the whole of the chorus. Each time the chorus comes on, do the next exercise and continue to make your way through the list.
3. The card game 🃏
Similar to the dice game but you have a whole pack of cards now and a lot more numbers!
You could have a different exercise for each number (13 exercises including jack, queen and king) and then different length of time for each suit. Clubs could be 20 seconds, Spades 30 seconds, Diamonds 45 seconds and Hearts 60 seconds. Pick an exercise you particularly dislike to build anticipation for when (or if) you pick the joker. Then pick another card to determine the length of time for that exercise.
Shuffle the deck, pick a card at random and get moving!
4. The obstacle course game 🚧
Have a station for each exercise (as many as you like), just like a more familiar exercise circuit. However, in between each lies an obstacle in order for you to get to the next exercise station. This obstacle could be stepping over a washing basket or a stool, crawling, doing the limbo, hop scotch, hopping, jumping, picking up and putting down something heavy… the list goes on.
5. The coin game 💰
Keep things simple with just one coin to determine your workout routine. You could have 6 stations and for each station two exercise options. One for heads and one for tails. Once you reach the station, flip the coin and enjoy the surprise!
6. The partner game 🤝
Gret yourself a partner for your next workout! Pick two exercises and set a 3 minute timer. While partner one is completing one of the exercises, partener two is doing the other. For example, partner one is doing burpees while partner two is holding a plank at the same time. Partner one has to complete 10 burpees to allow them to switch places and unlock partner two from their plank position. However long it takes for partner one to do the burpees is how long partner two is holding a plank. So here’s the question, will you race to complete your reps and free your partner from their plank, or will you keep them waiting in anticipation? Remember, the roles will be reversed!
After reading all of these, I hope you feel inspired to get creative and turn your next workout into a game. Make sure to listen to your body and adapt these as necessary.