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From my book My Perfect Movement Plan: As you start to analyze the way you move, it is also important to think of your day as a series of WHERE, although I’m not strictly talking about geographical places. Specifically, we can all sort our days into five domains: Sleep, Leisure, Occupation, Transportation, and Home. These domains aren’t exactly locations; rather, they represent where we are allotting our time.
Almost everyone notes “get more movement” as a new year’s resolution, so I thought I’d suggest some holiday movement-rich gifts by domain to inspire the gift of movement!
Parts of our body are pushed and smushed (i.e., moved) when we sleep depending on the “infrastructure” of our sleep. For many that means soft mattresses, fluffy pillows, and an elevated sleeping surface. In search of better movement micronutrients, I’ve been sleeping on the floor (listen to more on that here) and using a short (or no) pillow for almost a decade. It makes a big difference—we spend more time in our sleep set-up than most other environments.
Extra Thin Pillow
Tatami Mats
Wool Mattress
Sheep Skins
Blanket/Sheet Hooks
WiFi Timer (Shut the internet off to remind you to go to bed!)
Read more about how your sleep shape and sleep environment move your body in My Perfect Movement Plan.
Most exercise falls into the Leisure domain, so gifting movement for this part of life is pretty easy.
Bodywork Gift Certificate (Yes, massage is movement. Vitamin Pressure!)
Self-Massage Therapy Balls
Just Dance (or similar) Video Game
Gardening Tools/Seeds
NM Virtual Studio Membership
Find more movement-rich toy(ish) ideas for kids and teens here.
A lot of jobs have “in place” activities, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay still!
Dynamic Workstations (Limberlife, Otthsaw, Romi)
Air Chair Active Sitting Ball from Venn Design
‘Soul Seat’ Active Sitting Chair
Doorway Hanging Bar
Movemate Active Standing Board
“Fix Your Head Posture” Device Decals
If your occupation involves quite a bit of movement, you might not need more movement calories (i.e. total movement). Instead, check to see if your movement micro- and macronutrients need balancing.
We have to get where we need to go and this used to be one of the most movement-rich domains of all. Help others make their transportation time a little more dynamic.
Bicycle, Scooter, Rollerblades, Skateboard
Lumbar Support for Car (Alignment matters!)
Adjustable “Vary Your Carry” Bag or Backpack
Packables for On-Foot Lunches
Beanies, Earmuffs, Gloves
All of the activities for maintaining a home and the people who live there (children, elders, animals) fit into this domain, like vacuuming. P.S. Tools matter! Using an upright vacuum counts as physical activity (woot woot!) but using a robot vacuum does not. Okay, okay, if someone really wants that robot you can give it to them. Maybe you can find some other movement they would prefer!
Floor Cushions, Poufs
Pre-Fab Indoor Monkey Bars or Rock Holds
Slackline
Coffee Hand Grider
Mini-Trampoline
Outdoor Hangout Space
When it comes to the science of movement, how it works in our bodies, and how to figure out the movement nutrients your body is getting plenty of and which it still needs, I recommend the Move Your DNA ALL DAY book set. Essential learning, peeps!
