Check server activity with code

I would like to see the activity on of the SQL server. So I can run a query when the server load is low. I know there is an activity monitor in SQL server but my company doesn't want me to give the rights to use this tool. Apparently you can kill other people queries and this is too dangerous. Is there a way to check the status of the server with code? (Or view the activity without needing those rights so I can manually run them?)