Add some gentle Movement in your Home….

Winter and time spent inside can be both stressful and boring.

Some gentle movement in the spaces where you live will change all that.

Here, we are talking about curtains that sway slightly and mobiles that rotate slowly in HVAC currents, for example, not items being buffeted around as if they’re in a hurricane.

Gentle movement is an important tenet of biophilic design and one that’s often forgotten.  When we’re in biophilically designed spaces, as discussed here (and search biophilia, biophilic design in our search box top right), we’re more comfortable and less tense.

Another way to add some movement:  an aquarium or even a desktop water fountain (slightly larger water elements in the garden but visible from inside is even better). You’ll feel mentally refreshed and be in a better mood after you do.  The sound of this peacefully flowing water will relax you even more. Designing with water is reviewed here. The sorts of gentle movement you might see in a burbling brook on a lovely Spring day is the goal—no swirling torrents reminiscent of tropical cyclones.

Speaking of things that move: Consider plants with leaves that might gently undulate in air currents inside—you’ll be glad you did for all the reasons noted in the first article in this edition.

Speaking of things that move:  a sit-stand desk might your mental performance and will definitely make you use your leg muscles as you work (or you will fall down!) which may make you healthier.