Research shows us that our environment greatly influences the way we think, our habits, lifestyle, and day-to-day routines. It can also affect our level of energy, motivation, and productivity.
If you are thinking of making upgrades to your home, now is the best time to design it in a way that promotes physical activity and fitness, especially if you and your family are the types to live a more laidback and relaxed lifestyle. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with being steady and chill, there’s also nothing wrong with designing your home in a way that will remind and encourage you to get your adrenaline going.
You can design your home around physical activity and wellness. Here are some design tips to encourage you and your family members to live an active lifestyle.
Table of Contents
A court in the backyard
If you have a sizable yard that you don’t know what to do with, consider installing a tennis or basketball court in your backyard to get your adrenaline pumping and competitive spirit going. Having a formal court where you and your family members can play some games or set some matches will do wonders for your physical health.
Even a 30-minute intense game or match can help you burn many calories, not to mention the space you can use for jogging and other more strenuous exercises. Moreover, a basketball or tennis court can help increase the value of your home, so if you see yourself selling or renting it out one day, you can be sure that it’s an investment worth making.
Incorporate some point-of-decision visual cues
Hear us out: Motivational posters or visual cues need not be tacky or corny. You don’t need to go for the obvious ones that say “live, laugh, love,” but you can opt for a painting or other piece of visual art that reminds you to go outside and get your sweat on.
You can look for pieces that are centered on fitness and health. These can be photographs of people doing yoga in front of the sunset or an artsy infographic that states how many calories you can burn in a given amount of time. They can also be other types of information that can help encourage you to put on your workout clothes and get moving.
Understand your interests and personality
When designing a fitness space, you must know what motivates you and turns you off from your exercise routine. For example, suppose you are someone who values your privacy while working out. In that case, you need to design your home gym so that it only allows one person to use it at a time, and you and your family members will have to create a schedule so that everyone gets their daily or weekly turn.
Another thing to consider is the kind of workouts you enjoy. For example, not everyone is keen on going on a 30-minute run on a treadmill to get their cardio going. Some people need something more fun, like a Zumba session or doing some hip-hop dancing. For this, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and a good audio system might be more of a priority. Knowing and understanding what interests you and gets you moving is key to designing a fitness space that meets your needs.
Make your home office workout-friendly
Studies show that sitting in front of a desk and a screen all day is not healthy. It can cause so much unexplained pain, not to mention how it can damage our eyes and other body parts if our workspace is not ergonomic.
If you work from home, motivate yourself to work out during a workday by incorporating a piece of equipment that you know you love to use. It can be a treadmill, an exercise ball, a jump rope, a bike, dumbbells, or even an exercise bar. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you know you enjoy using and gets your blood pumping.
Another idea is to get your energetic dog to stay with you in your office throughout your workday. If they are a bit hyperactive, you might be more inclined to pay attention to them and chase them around and thus allow you to get your daily dose of physical activity even when you have to work.
With the right upgrades, layout, and visual cues, there’s no reason why your home should make you feel lazy instead of energetic. Use design to remind yourself and your family to get your body moving, and don’t let your level of motivation drop ever again.