Creating a home environment encourages movement can benefit your overall health and well-being. With just a few simple tweaks, you can make your house more conducive to bringing about physical activity. Here are four tips to help you design an environment in your home that will motivate you to move around more often.
1. Design Ergonomic Furniture and Spaces
Setting up furniture in ample room is key for encouraging movement. When arranging furniture, focus on ergonomics, or the science of designing objects, systems, and environments with the user’s safety, comfort, and efficiency in mind. You should also plan out safe pathways between rooms so that you don’t have obstacles blocking your way when you want to move around.
Creating an ergonomic space doesn’t just mean comfortably arranging furniture. It also involves paying attention to the materials and surfaces that are used. Surfaces should be easy to clean and provide sufficient support for people sitting or standing in one place for extended periods. Consider investing in ergonomic chairs, adjustable desks, and other furniture pieces that are designed to fit the body’s natural shape.
Finally, ergonomic designs should also take into account acoustics. Noise from other areas, such as traffic, construction, or even a neighbor’s loud music, can be distracting and make it difficult to concentrate on tasks. Invest in sound-dampening materials that can reduce background noise levels so you can focus and get work done.
2. Establish Exercise Zones
The best way to motivate yourself to exercise is by creating dedicated zones for physical activity in your home. Consider setting up a workout station where you can do various exercises — like yoga mats placed near weights or medicine balls next to an elliptical machine — so that it will be easy for you to get moving in the morning or after work hours.
Making sure you have all the necessary equipment for each exercise zone is key to sticking to your exercise plan. Start by deciding what kind of physical activity you want in each area, and then purchase the right tools. If you want to build muscle, consider purchasing weights, resistance bands, and other strength training tools. You’ll want to buy a treadmill if you do more cardio exercises like running or jogging.
When deciding on the size of each exercise zone, consider the amount of space needed for each activity. Even if you’re tight on space in your home, it’s important to remember that you can use even a small area effectively for exercise. You just have to get creative with the layout and equipment you use.
3. Make Your Home Fun
If physical movement doesn’t come naturally (or easily) for you, try making it fun by incorporating activities into everyday life that encourage motion. For example, if streaming devices are a regular part of your day, consider dancing along as much as possible while watching TV or engaging in active gaming sessions with friends or family members rather than sitting still on the sofa all night long!
And if you’re looking for a fun activity to get the whole family involved, consider installing candlepins in your home. A variation of traditional bowling, candlepins is an exciting and easy-to-learn game that people of all ages can enjoy. It involves rolling balls about the size of a softball down narrow alleys at smaller pins that stand just over three feet tall. The scoring system is also different than traditional bowling—players receive points for each pin they knock down, rather than a total score based on several rounds of throws.
If you’re looking for more competitive activities, consider a game of table tennis or pool. Table tennis can be played indoors and out and is a great way to get the whole family involved in some friendly competition. Pool is another popular choice for game nights at home, offering hours of fun as you practice your aim and accuracy. And, if you’re looking for something more relaxed, try your hand at chess or checkers.
4. Utilize Natural Lighting
Bringing natural light into interior design elements like windows or skylights is aesthetic and healthy. Natural sunlight increases serotonin levels, which gives us motivation and energy to stay alert and awake during daytime hours—the perfect combination for getting up and about! Investing in appliances like LED lights that simulate natural sunlight during nighttime hours is another excellent option for achieving these goals without having direct exposure from outside sources.
When using natural lighting in interior design, a few simple tips can help maximize its benefits. Positioning furniture and other objects close to windows or skylights will allow the most light possible into your space. Reflective surfaces such as mirrors or white walls can be used to bounce the light around the room. Consider where the sun rises and sets, so the available light is utilized to its full potential.
Regarding nighttime lighting, strategically placed lights can allow for a warm, inviting atmosphere in your space. Make sure all bulbs are LED or compact fluorescent to save on energy costs. Installing dimmers where possible will also allow you to adjust the brightness as needed. If your space is darker than desired, you can use light bouncers like white curtains or blinds to help bring ambient light into the room.
In Summary
Designing a home environment that encourages movement is integral to staying healthy and active. You can make your house more conducive to physical activity with just a few simple tips. Through these tips, you can create a space in your home that encourages movement, motivating you to stay active and healthy.
