Tips for Maintaining Better Posture

Poor posture is a result of bad habits that die hard. It’s not uncommon for us to find ourselves sitting down for longer periods of time, given today’s current work landscape. If we’re not careful, this could lead to bad habits. Hunching over, muscle imbalances, and tense shoulders are just a few signs that we’ve been having poor posture on a regular basis. That said, poor posture is correctable, if we’re able to adopt better habits in the future.

Here are a few tips for you to maintain better posture.

Stay Aligned

This is a key component of maintaining better posture. However your body is positioned or whatever kind of movement you’re doing, mind your body’s alignment. Your goal is to stay aligned vertically while sitting or standing. If you’re sitting, be sure to sit up straight. If you find this challenging for longer periods of time, that’s normal. You can practice sitting near the edge of your chair to force better posture, or you can lean against the back support of your chair as well. If you’re standing, be sure to distribute your weight evenly throughout your feet.

Get Mobile

If you’re stuck in the same position for longer periods of time, your body will tend to give in to your tired muscles. This results in hunching and slouching, which is quite the opposite of what we’re looking for. In order to combat this side effect, you can move from your current position, stretch, and warm up your muscles in order to refresh yourself. Not only will this help you regain your posture, it’ll help you refresh your focus as well.

Increase Awareness

We often fall into our bad habits when we’re not aware that they’re even there. By consistently checking on your posture and reminding yourself to make the necessary corrections, you’ll be improving your posture over time. Be conscious of where you’re feeling discomfort or pain, and identify how your posture may be affecting these areas. Once you’re able to do so, fixing these issues will come much more easier.

Start Exercising

By incorporating exercise into your routine (3-5 times per week), you are conditioning your body to stay strong and supportive. If done properly, you can help to balance out muscle imbalances caused by poor posture, which could lead to less pain and discomfort in the future. Focus on strengthening your core and back muscles to support your vertical posture. If you’re having trouble finding out which exercises or movements you’ll need to do, please feel free to ask!