25 everyday objects that can double as workout equipment

As much as you know it to be true, that couch you sit on every single day has more value to you than just serving as your nesting spot while you “Netflix and chill.” You can use your couch to perform tricep dips or split squats by resting one foot on the cushion and squatting down on your opposite leg. 

You’re probably asking yourself how a towel could be of any use in your fitness journey. Instead of its primary function of drying you off after a shower, how about utilizing it as a resistance band? Towels are also great alternatives for stretching exercises, such as sitting down with your legs extended and using the towel to gently stretch your lower back. 

Before you put your next load of dirty clothes into the washer, grab those laundry detergent bottles and perform a bicep curl. The cool thing about these is that they are far cheaper than dumbbells, and you can add more weight in there, either by using something like sand or smaller rocks to up the ante. 

This one is pretty obvious, right? We can all remember our teenage years sprinting down the hallways to beat the bell, all while lugging around five dusty textbooks. Back then, our backs were unaware of how horrible that was, but nowadays, you can tap into that to add weight resistance while you go on walks. You don’t need half a dozen books that add up to 50 pounds, either. Try throwing in a few objects before your next stroll around the block to add a little weight as you further tone down. 

Those broom handles have some value. While it’s easy to see them doubling as an imaginary lightsaber, there’s much more behind those elongated rods. Lay one across your shoulders behind your neck and perform some twists. Hold a broom in front of you and rotate side-to-side to hit your core. The options are pretty limitless with this everyday fixture. 

We’ve all complained at one point in our lives about the idea of having to walk up a seemingly endless staircase. The reason? It’s not easy! That’s the point. That staircase you go up every single day is the best tool at your disposal for working out your lower half. Set a timer, do some step-ups, take a few extra trips up the stairs than you normally would, or even add that aforementioned weighted backpack for some added resistance. You won’t regret it. 

While step stools are essential for reaching that cookie jar out of arm’s reach, they are also perfect for toning your calves. You can knock out some elevated calf raises to build muscle or perform a few step-ups to work up a sweat. 

Grab that soccer ball or basketball and, instead of using it as it’s meant to be — though, playing the sport itself does qualify as exercise — utilize its spherical shape to improve your balance. You can get into a push-up stance, place one hand on the ball to elevate and create an uneven surface, so that you’re adding more stress on your reps. Don’t forget to alternate!

That desk you have in your home office isn’t just there to prop up your laptop for your unnecessary Zoom meetings. Turn that camera off and bust out a few tricep dips. You can also place one foot onto the desk and perform a split-squat. 

You’re probably staring at four of them as you read this. While they serve as an essential part of the foundation of your house, those walls can be a useful tool in your pursuit of improving your health. You can do wall push-ups if you’re facing it, or place your back on the wall and hold a 90-degree squat for as long as you can. That burn is no joke. 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary you have sitting on a shelf probably isn’t serving you much value, right? Well, try stacking that with a few more books and using them like weights? You could even get into a push-up stance with a large book on your back and do some weighted exercises. Try stacking a few large books together and using them to do elevated push-ups or step-ups, too. 

You may not even have to alter this one too much. Grab that jam-packed trash bag of yours and rip out a set of curls. If you have an empty bag, try adding objects to it to increase the weight. 

I’ve always been amazed at how heavy a coiled garden hose is. Pick one up, wrap it around your neck or across your shoulders, and you’ll feel 50 pounds heavier. If you unravel it and have a pole or something of that nature to tie it around, you‘ll have yourself some makeshift battle ropes that offer an intense arm and upper-body workout. 

This one is pretty obvious. Sandbags are very heavy. They’re naturally weights, so the options are endless. Hoist one over your head and do some squats. Find a lighter one, and you can do some bicep curls. 

I can’t stress this enough: Please do not have this cord plugged in if you choose to utilize this equipment for your DIY workout. If you get a long enough cord, you have yourself some jump rope. There aren’t many exercises that hit your core and legs as effectively as doing a simple jump, so don’t look past this one!

Have you ever seen those tire-like ab wheels? Save the $20-30 for one of those and use the rolling pin that’s been passed down through your family generation to generation. It may look funny if someone saw you do an ab workout in the kitchen with it, but the joke’s on them when you have a six-pack for the summer thanks to your Nana’s rolling pin. 

If you haven’t figured out by now, there are a lot of stationary pieces of furniture in your living area that can be utilized for tricep dips. Your bed frame qualifies, too. Another idea is to place your feet on the base or even atop your mattress to perform elevated push-ups that target your upper muscles more effectively than the standard form. 

Wait, what? That’s right, those white paper plates most commonly associated with backyard parties can do more than assist in your hosting obligations. Grab two plates on a smooth surface, get down into a push-up position, place one under each foot, and bring your knee towards your chest. The plates give you the ability to glide and are a fun way of working out your core. 

By now, you’ve probably seen people working out with tires. CrossFit folks swear by them. While I’m not saying you have to get that intense with it, finding any tire of any size will give you a valuable piece of workout equipment. You can flip them. Toss them. Squat them. If you’re feeling like taking some anger out, prop one up and take something like a rubber mallet or baseball bat and go to town. That’s a full-body workout. 

Take advantage of the curb you drive your car over every day when parking in front of your house. Curbs are perfect for doing step-ups or calf raises. Your neighbors may point and stare, but so what? There are worse things you could be known as around town than a fitness junkie. 

This one offers a bit of creativity. Sure, you could spin around in these things while you keep yourself online in Microsoft Teams, but that’s not helping your fitness goals. Try doing a push-up with your feet on the chair to create an uneven platform. Or, from that same position, use your feet to bring the chair towards your chest to hit your core. 

If you’re lucky enough to have a low enough (and sturdy) branch in your backyard, you have yourself Mother Nature’s pull-up bar. This will save you a ton of money, so consider yourself lucky. Pull-ups may seem so simple, but there aren’t many exercises that are better for building strength. 

If you don’t want to use extension cords or garden hoses — understandably — perhaps you have some rope lying around. This one’s pretty straightforward. Rope is great for toning arms, much like the CrossFit battle ropes. You can also wrap it around a sturdy pole and recreate a TRX. 

They don’t call it “farm strong” for nothing. Load up a wheelbarrow with rocks, dirt, logs, whatever you have lying around your yard. You have plenty of options with this option, including lat raises. Walk around the yard pushing this is good enough to build up some muscle. 

Let’s get that anger out. Find that tire I told you about earlier and swing that mallet into it. You’ll tone your arms while doing… and you’ll even be able to work out some of that pent-up stress you have from all of those Zooms that should’ve been an email.