The change in season can often prompt a change in your schedule. It may be juggling added family activities like soccer and other sports, outdoor chores or the perks of the summer season like patios, picnics and park time. Whatever the reason, it can be even tougher to start or keep up your regular workout routine at the gym.

Don't despair; your summer fitness solution may be as close as your back yard - or deck, street, park or any patch of outdoor space. There are so many outdoor resources that can double as convenient and free fitness equipment. With a creative take, so many things can be used for cardio drills, body weight resistance and flexibility.

If you're stuck for ideas, here's a few ways you can prompt inspiration and ideas:

  • Can I use this as an anchor or platform for my body - place my hands, feet or use for balance?
  • Can I use this to move my body - pull, push, rotate?
  • Can I use this to duplicate an everyday movement (functional fitness)?

Here's some exercise ideas to get you started with some common outdoor tools:

1. Stairs: Even a couple of steps can be incredibly versatile for a variety of fitness moves.

  • Cardio: low impact - stepping up/down or alternating knees - slow, moderate or fast, polymeric options - 2-foot jump; 1-legged hops - stadium stair type drills.
  • Upper Body: push-ups - hands on step, hands on different steps, feet on steps; triceps dips - dips on one step, walking dips.
  • Lower Body: lunges - stationary, alternating, lifting up to a stork position; squats - one foot up, squats with a walking turn, squat jumps

2. Railings: Using railings varies based on incline and space around the rail.

  • Cardio: mountain climber - slow to fast; polymeric options - scissor lunges, jumps using rails
  • Upper Body: push-ups - an incline rail can be great for these - just do both sides for balance! Pull-ups - varied hand positions, single hand pulls
  • Lower Body: anchor - use like a TRX tool to assist with lunges and squats which can take you from a basic starting point to full and polymeric options; balance - place one foot up to facilitate single leg movements like lunges and squats.

3. Chairs and benches: Always consider the strength and stability of a chair or bench before using it for a given exercise.

  • Cardio: low impact - burgees - slow, moderate or fast; polymeric options - side to side jumps, jump-through, platform jumps.
  • Upper body: walk-up/down - from the arms or seat pan based on stability and height; push-ups - from the arms or seat pan, hands up or feet up.
  • Lower Body: lunges - low lunge exchanges - stepping or jumping; squats - use as an anchor or balance based on stability and strength.

Whether you're using your own or a public space, remember 2 key rules - use safely and use respectfully for yourself, others and the environment.

So how long? How many reps and sets?

Don't get too caught up in trying to create the perfect workout - just get moving! Make it easy at first and give yourself a simple number or time like 10-20 repetitions or 20-30 seconds. The best foundation for setting intensity is "comfortable but challenging."

Once you get started, you can then add to how specific, complex and intense you make it. We'll be adding in some specific workout outlines on my website at www.libbynorris.com. Visit all through the month of June during our 30 Day Activity Challenge.

What's the 30-Day Activity Challenge? It's FREE, it's simple and it's intended to get you motivated and moving so you can have the energy to participate in ALL the summer activities you want to enjoy. Throughout the month of June, we'll be sending out and posting weekly workouts, nutrition tips and ways to stay motivated and on track to help turn your great intentions into awesome outcomes!

For more tips and inspiration on how to get started with your workouts, click here. We'll be running a 30 Day Activity Challenge at libbynorris.com for the month of June to help you feel energized heading into the warm weather season. Sign up or simply visit weekly for tips and information. More details coming soon.