Designing Wellness Amenities for Use, Not Optics

Wellness amenities that go unused are simply capital expenses with no return on investment.

There is a tendency to select wellness amenities that are trendy, or that “check the box”, because their presence indicates a healthy space. Often, the result is something that looks great in marketing materials but sees little usage. As with anything in life, you can have the best laid out plans but if they go ignored, they really are no use at all.

An amenity only creates value if it is used… an overly obvious statement but one that still gets neglected when the aim is to design spaces with a wide appeal. Creating conditions that make healthy behaviors more accessible and convenient matter so much more than novelty or scale. A good place to start is to think of how to reduce friction around making healthier choices that encourage engagement. The most effective wellness amenities work by supporting small, repeated behaviors that can easily fit into daily life. 

Thoughtfully designed wellness amenities based on patterns of behavior, that can be adapted over time, is the difference between a risky expense and a strategic investment. 

Where do you find it easiest to incorporate healthy behaviors in your workplace or home?