Slouching is in no way cute, but most if not all of us still slouch. For many people, slouching has become a part of our being, and it feels like there is nothing anyone can do to fix the problem. It is, however, vital for you to learn how not to slouch and to sit in a comfortable and healthy posture instead. In this piece, we highlight some of the reasons why your mom insisted on shoulders back and chest out, and how you sit, stand, and walk upright.
Why shouldn’t you slouch
While the office setting and the hours in front of the computer screen somehow makes slouching easy, every inch that your head is held forward adds about 10 pounds of pressure on the spine, and another inch adds 20 pounds. Sounds bad, doesn’t it? Well, here’s the worst bit that comes from the extra pounds:
- You get more headaches because the extra weight puts too much strain on your neck and the back. If those muscles relax, they easily tense up and cause spasms resulting in that terrible headache.
- Jaw pains: with a misaligned spine, extra stress is put on the jaws, pushing the lower jaw forward and the teeth won’t fit well, resulting in pain.
- Lack of balance because a poor posture means one plane of the body works harder than the other, throwing off your balance
- Spine alignment problems that can affect your lungs, heart, and the gastrointestinal system.
Other issues that come with slouching include:
- Depression
- Lower mental power
- Lass of confidence
So, how do you fix a poor posture?
- Boost your mental power and level of confidence
One of the easiest ways of doing this is working out and engaging in other activities that will naturally boost your levels of endorphin. You can also do that by striking a high-power pose. When you do that, you will experience significant changes in your behavior and the functioning of the neuroendocrine system. Your body will have reduced levels of cortisol and higher levels of testosterone, helping you feel better about yourself. As a personal injury defense lawyer, you know that confidence is everything. So tap into your inner power.
- Stretch
Stretching is great for your muscles, and it’s a highly recommended solution for a bad posture because it realigns muscles. Some of the stretches you want try include:
Scapula Retraction which is simply squeezing the shoulder blades together to stretch your upper body.
Chin Pulls – for this, you need to suck in your chin to the extent that you can feel the stretch at the back of your skull, then relax.
Small neck stretches: these stretches will loosen up your muscles at the base of the neck. Grab the bottom of the chair with your opposite hand, head hanging to stretch the exposed side of the neck. Hold for about 30 seconds then repeat on the other side.
- Take breaks and stretch
Sitting in front of the computer for hours on end is the biggest cause of bad postures. Taking a break throughout your workday is the simplest remedy you can employ. So, get up every few hours and stretch. Placing your hands on your back is the easiest way for you to stretch.
- Strengthen your core
For a good posture, you need a strong core. So, engage in core strengthening exercises often to help you stand and sit tall.
- Lift heavy items correctly
To do this, stand directly in front of the item you want to lift, and with feet placed wide apart (slightly), lift with your gluteal muscles.
Other solutions
- Sit straight and at the back of your chair
- Invest in an ergonomic chair
- Keep your monitor at eye level
- Keep your feet on the floor when sitting.
