In today's fast-paced world, prioritising mental well-being is more important than ever. Incorporating intentional movement into our daily lives is crucial for maintaining good mental well-being. However, the design of our spaces can often hinder our efforts.
6 minute read
28th May, 2024 | Remarcable
In today's fast-paced world, prioritising mental well-being is more important than ever. Incorporating intentional movement into our daily lives is crucial for maintaining good mental well-being. However, the design of our spaces can often hinder our efforts. Traditional, static environments discourage movement and can lead to feelings of lethargy and decreased focus.
Fortunately, strategic space planning can transform our surroundings from obstacles to facilitators of movement. By implementing thoughtful design principles, we create spaces that subtly nudge us to become more active throughout the day, enhancing both our physical and mental health.
Did you know that the way we design healthcare and commercial spaces at Remarcable Design can profoundly influence not only your mood and energy levels but also your ability to maintain focus? This holds true not just for your team but also for your valued clients!
Physical activity has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost cognitive function. When we move our bodies, our brains release endorphins, natural mood elevators that combat feelings of anxiety and depression. Regular movement also improves blood flow, which can enhance focus and concentration.
Here's how space planning can foster movement for mental well-being:
Create dedicated areas for physical activity within a larger space. This could be a yoga, stretching, or light cardio corner in your clinic/office, a walking path around the perimeter of your office, or even a designated break room outfitted with balance balls and resistance bands. Having these areas readily available serves as a constant reminder to get your body moving and can encourage short bursts of exercise throughout the day. It also removes the mental hurdle of finding a place to move.
In a healthcare setting, patients waiting for appointments can utilize these designated zones to perform some light stretches to improve circulation and reduce anxiety. For commercial offices, incorporating walking paths with ergonomic standing desks throughout the workspace can encourage employees to break up long periods of sitting and improve overall energy levels.
Intentionally design pathways to encourage movement throughout your space. This could involve creating a walking path around the perimeter of your office or designing your clinic layout to encourage walking between frequently used rooms. Instead of opting for straight hallways, consider incorporating curved pathways that naturally lengthen walking routes.
Making stairs easily accessible from multiple locations in your clinic or office building can also increase incidental activity throughout the day, as people are more likely to choose the stairs over the elevator for short distances. By making movement the natural way to navigate your space, you'll find yourself incorporating more steps into your day.
Utilize furniture that can be easily adapted for different activities. Standing desks are a great way to promote movement throughout the workday, while exercise balls used as chairs can subtly engage your core muscles.
Ottomans can double as exercise equipment, while modular furniture allows you to create different activity areas based on your needs. In a healthcare setting, for example, consider exam tables that transform into treatment chairs, or waiting room chairs with built-in resistance bands for gentle leg exercises.
Prioritise access to daylight and outdoor views whenever possible. Spaces filled with natural light tend to feel more open and inviting, encouraging people to move around and engage in physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviour and its associated health risks.
Natural light not only helps regulate our circadian rhythm, it also stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of happiness and well-being. It also helps regulate melatonin levels, which impact alertness and productivity during the day. Additionally, looking out at nature has been shown to reduce stress and improve cognitive function.
Biophilic design principles emphasise the integration of natural elements into the built environment and it has been linked to improved cognitive function, including enhanced creativity, problem-solving skills, and decision-making abilities.
We draw inspiration from patterns and processes found in nature, such as fractals, biomimicry, and natural geometries. These patterns are inherently pleasing to the human brain and can evoke feelings of calmness and curiosity, motivating occupants to move and explore the space.
Incorporate nature-inspired features like plants, water elements, and natural materials into your space. Biophilic design has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and promote feelings of well-being. A calming and restorative environment naturally encourages us to move and interact with the organic elements around us.
Open floor plans can be beneficial for promoting movement, but it's important to implement them with intention. Utilize clear zoning and strategic furniture placement to foster a sense of community and collaboration by removing physical barriers between individuals and departments. This layout encourages spontaneous interactions and communication, stimulating movement as people engage with each other.
In a healthcare setting, a designated waiting area with comfortable seating clusters could be positioned near a walking path that leads to exam rooms. This layout subtly encourages patients to get some steps in while waiting for their appointments. Similarly, in a commercial setting, strategically placed printers or collaborative workspaces at opposite ends of an open office can subtly increase movement throughout the day as employees walk to interact with colleagues.
In case you missed it...
And as we delve deeper into the theme of movement for Mental Health Awareness Month, we also recently commemorated World Interior Design Day. This year's theme underscores a significant challenge: the communication gap among various age groups. Within this context, design emerges as a pivotal instrument for crafting inclusive solutions that facilitate more impactful and meaningful communication across generational divides.
In celebration of this theme, our designers have crafted a materiality board that embodies the essence of unity, comfort, and resilience across generations. Featuring soft textures in neutral hues, this board symbolizes the quest for comfort and harmony in our lives, transcending age and time. The gentle glow of a lit candle in Himalayan salt holder represents the cultural celebrations and cherished rituals shared by generations worldwide.
As a nod to blooming youth, a delicate pink peony flower graces the board, evoking the spirit of renewal and growth. Meanwhile, the deep green crystal signifies the inner beauty, enduring strength, and wisdom passed down through the ages, anchoring us in a solid foundation of heritage and resilience.
Earlier, we explored the link between movement and mental well-being. But did you know this concept also connects to a broader theme of fostering communication and positive interactions? In healthcare and commercial settings, understanding this connection can be a powerful tool in creating inclusive environments that benefit everyone.
The Communication Challenge: A Barrier to Well-being
Effective communication is crucial in both advocating for mental health and fostering well-being. When different generations struggle to connect, it can lead to feelings of isolation and a lack of understanding. This is particularly relevant in healthcare settings, where clear communication between patients, caregivers, and staff is essential for successful treatment plans. Similarly, in commercial spaces, fostering collaboration and a sense of community can be hampered by communication barriers.
Movement as a Common Ground
Space planning for movement offers a unique solution to this challenge. By incorporating features that encourage physical activity, we create environments that are not only beneficial for physical health but also promote interaction and communication.
Wider hallways, strategically placed stairs, and designated walking paths create a more inclusive environment. This not only promotes physical activity, a key factor in mental well-being but can also spark unexpected interactions between different age groups and create a sense of community.
Designed rooms that can be reconfigured depending on the user's needs allow for activities and events that promote intergenerational interaction, such as joint exercise classes or social gatherings. In healthcare settings, multi-functional spaces can provide areas for family meetings, patient support groups, or relaxation areas that encourage informal conversations.
Movement-friendly space planning isn't just about physical activity; it's a strategic tool for fostering communication and building a more inclusive environment. By incorporating these principles into your healthcare or commercial space design, you can bridge the gap between generations, create a space that promotes well-being for all, and ensure a future-proofed investment for your business. Remember, a strategic approach to space planning can have a ripple effect!
By transforming our environments and fostering open dialogue, we can create a world where movement is not just encouraged, but embraced as a key tool for achieving optimal mental and physical health.
Remarcable Design is committed to working collaboratively with clients to create spaces that not only look beautiful but also actively promote well-being through thoughtful space planning and movement-enhancing design elements.
