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It’s important to find ways to move each day. We’re taking it a step further by creating the need for movement while designing our kitchen.
How much do you move each day? Do you purposefully add movement into your day?
Consider that the typical American commutes an hour to work, sits at a desk for eight hours, commutes back home, exercises for 45 minutes and then sits in front of the TV for two hours. The hope is that the 45 minutes spent exercising will negate twelve hours of being still, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. (source)
I’ve shared before how I am making a conscience effort to add more movement into my day. The more I learn about the trouble with sitting the more convinced I am that I need to add intentional movement.
Shortly before we began the design of our kitchen in our still unfinished house, I read this article from Traditional Cooking School. In the article, Megan talks about designing a home to increase range of motion and movement within a persons day.
I loved this idea!
Megan shared a few things they’ve done in the kitchen of their tiny house to facilitate movement. Such good ideas that we’ve used them also and are adding a few more.
Movement Friendly Kitchen
A few things we’re doing to make our kitchen movement friendly:
- Roll-out cabinet organizers. This is great for being able to have needed appliances in an easy to access manner. This still provides a need of movement to get to. Appliance garages are very common but eliminate the movement by only having us slide things back and forth. Plus I would lose valuable (limited) counter space with an appliance garage.
- A folding step-stool is wonderful for reaching higher open shelves and upper cabinets. Instead of relegating never used items to these places I pull out the step-stool as needed. We place things that we do need on these shelves choosing to get rid of those never used items. It tucks away near the fridge when not in use.
- Our pantry is in a separate room and is utilized for food and extra appliances. We keep only basic food items in the kitchen. For most things I need to go out to the pantry and retrieve what I need to make a meal. At first I didn’t like this much. Now I think about the extra steps I’m adding to my way too sedentary lifestyle and know this is a benefit.
- We’re adding a couple of foot massage mats to add a little vitamin texture inside.
Soon I hope to have an article sharing our finished kitchen and show you all of the bells and whistles.
In addition to designing our kitchen for movement, we’re adding movement opportunities throughout the house. Our steep-ish stair case provides a slight climb, even through we have a bathroom on both levels, I make a point to use the upstairs bathroom during the day. I’m normally downstairs, I have a dynamic workstation which gives me many opportunities for movement throughout the day, and I’m adding movement breaks throughout the day.
Making a point to add movement into my day has made such a difference in the way I feel. I’m not talking about spending hours at the gym, I am truly looking little things mentioned in this article.
Moving my body when bending, lifting my legs to climb the stairs, taking a break to stretch, changing my position, etc. I do try to add in at least one short walk each day and spend some time outside. overall these are things that take very little time and fit well into my (busy) day.
What things can you do to add more movement into your day?
Millie Copper of Homespun Oasis is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking amazon.com.
