Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. A better posture is an easy and essential way to maintain a healthy mind and body. When you correct your posture, your body is in alignment with itself.
A poor posture can quickly become second nature, causing or aggravating episodes of back pain and damaging spinal structures. Awareness of your posture at work, home, and play is vital to instilling better posture.
Fortunately, the main factors affecting your posture are entirely within your control and are not difficult to change. Here are some excellent tips to help you correct your sloughing shoulders and exude confidence from having a far better posture.
Better Standing Posture
- Bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet.
- Keep your knees slightly bent and your feet about shoulder-width apart.
- Stand straight and tall with your shoulders pulled backward, simultaneously lifting your chest. Bring your chin level, as if you had a book on your head, to decrease neck and jaw strain.
- Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of the body.
- Maintain the natural curve in your back and slightly tuck in your stomach. Switch on your core.
- Shift your weight from your toes to your heels or one foot to the other if you have to stand for a long time.
Sit Correctly To Improve Your Overall Posture
- Keep your feet on the floor or a footrest if they don’t reach the bottom. Your ankles should be in front of your knees.
- Don’t cross your legs. Crossing the legs can place unnecessary tension on the lower back muscles. It’s conceivable that habitually sitting with one particular leg crossed might increase susceptibility to lumbar pain or discomfort and possibly injury over time.
- Avoid leaning to one side, hunching the shoulders forward, or tilting the head.
- Your knees should be at or below the level of your hips.
- Adjust the backrest of your chair to support your low- and mid-back, or use a back support. A lumbar roll, a small pillow, or a rolled-up towel wedged in the lower back are effective if the chair has no built-in support.
- Sit straight and align the ears, shoulders, and hips in one vertical line. Relax your shoulders and keep your forearms parallel to the ground.
- Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods. Any single position, even a good one, will be tiring. Try to stand, stretch, and walk around every 45 minutes.
Correct lying positions for Better Posture
- Find the mattress that is right for you; comfort is essential. Get a bed that is firm and not too soft. The soft mattresses you sink into may initially feel nice and comfy but are unsuitable for your back/posture.
- Sleep with a pillow under your head just big enough to maintain the standard cervical–neck – curve.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach. This position increases the curve in the lower back and aggravates backache.
- Sleeping on your side or back is more often helpful for back pain. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs to prevent rotation of the lower spine.
Everyday activities:
- While speaking on the phone, don’t cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder. That can lock up the neck and upper back spinal joints and cause pain. Instead, hold the phone with your hand or use the speakerphone.
- While watching television or relaxing, don’t use the sofa arm as a pillow. The angle is too sharp for your neck.
- Elevate your monitor. Try to site your monitor high, level with your eye line, so you must sit upright and straight back. Although this will be tiring initially, your body will soon adapt to the position as your core strength improves.
- Avoid regularly wearing high-heeled shoes, which can affect the body’s center of gravity and change the entire body’s alignment.
- Avoid holding a book, magazine, or newspaper so you have to look down to read it. Hold it up, or place it on some pillows on your lap.
- When you lift anything, avoid bending your back with your knees straight. Tighten your stomach muscles and lift the object using your leg muscles.
- Avoid carrying heavy items: Attempting to do so over an extended period gradually leads to hunched shoulders and backs. If it’s impossible to reduce the load of things you carry around, you can consider getting a trolley bag or roller bag – these are convenient and are becoming commonplace.
In a world where everyone is on display, good posture is paramount. Postural habits are correctable. You just need to follow these tips and apply them consistently, and you will enjoy a better posture quickly.