WELL Building Tip #3: Building Design Can Encourage Healthier Daily Habits

Oculus Inc.’s WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP), Joanne Fields, breaks down the WELL Building principles with practical wellness-driven design tips.

In this post, Joanne shares the importance of movement and how building design can encourage healthier daily habits:

The spaces we design have a direct impact on how people move throughout their day.

One of the core concepts of the WELL Building Standard is Movement – creating environments that naturally encourage physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior. Research continues to show that even small increases in daily movement can improve energy levels, focus, physical health, and overall well-being.

Movement is most successful when it’s built naturally into the environment rather than treated as an afterthought.

As a WELL AP at Oculus Inc., I work with our design teams to identify opportunities that support occupant wellness through thoughtful planning and design strategies.

Some examples of how Oculus applies this concept include:

• Designing inviting and visible stairways
• Providing sit-to-stand workstations and flexible work settings
• Creating intuitive walking paths and destinations throughout the workplace
• Locating amenities to encourage movement between spaces
• Incorporating wellness and fitness-supportive features

Movement isn’t just about exercise; it’s about creating environments that make healthy choices feel effortless. When workplace design supports movement, organizations can help improve employee wellness, engagement, and performance while creating a healthier overall experience for occupants.

If you are interested in learning more about integrating the WELL Building concepts into your environment, email Joanne Fields at joannef@oculusinc.com.