Do you ever see photos of yourself and wonder why you look like you’re slouched over? Or do you feel the need to straighten your back whenever you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror?
You may suffer from bad posture. If so, you can join the millions of Americans who also suffer from poor posture. It’s not a superficial issue, either; if you’re not careful, that poor posture can lead to a variety of serious health conditions, such as chronic back pain, spine curvature, or persistent sleeping difficulties.
Fortunately, once you become aware of your bad posture, there are a handful of simple steps you can take to fix it (such as buying better office furniture and exercising regularly).
The Usual Suspects in Bad Posture
Why do you have bad posture in the first place?
These are the typical reasons:
1. Poor understanding or awareness of posture. Most of us weren’t taught the importance of practicing good posture, and some of us don’t even know what “good” posture looks like. If you don’t catch yourself slipping into bad posture habits, they become solidified quickly – and they become increasingly hard to change. Millions of people suffer from the consequences of poor posture without ever knowing they were practicing it.
2. Low-quality furniture. Just as commonly, people rely on cheap, poorly made, low-quality furniture. If your chair doesn’t have a supportive back, or if your office desk isn’t the right height, it could force you into an unnatural position – whether you realize it or not. And if you use this furniture regularly, it could accelerate your bad posture habits.
3. Lack of exercise. Some people have bad posture because they don’t have the muscle mass to support it easily. That’s why people who exercise regularly tend to have better posture than those living a sedentary lifestyle; it’s important to work those muscles to improve your musculoskeletal health.
4. Prolonged sitting. Even if you exercise on a daily basis, sitting for long periods of time can be bad for your posture and your physical health. If you work an office job that requires you to sit idly for 8 hours (or more) at a time, you could be at higher risk for a variety of health problems. That’s why it’s important to stand up and move around at least occasionally.
5. Chronic pain or previous injuries. If you’ve had a previous serious injury, or if you suffer from chronic pain, you may find it difficult to maintain good posture. It may be painful, or even impossible for you to hold your body in the “correct” posture. Because of this, this is one of the hardest factors to correct.
6. Stress and anxiety. Some people have bad posture because of chronic stress and/or anxiety. If you’re suffering from stress about your work or your personal life, your posture can directly suffer.
7. Genetic factors. Additionally, some people are more predisposed to bad posture than others. The good news is, bad genetics here aren’t a life sentence; even if you’re predisposed to bad posture, you can make a manual effort to correct it.
What to Do Next
So what are you supposed to do if you have bad posture?
- Research and understand good posture. First, you’ll need to spend some time researching and understanding “good” posture. This way, you’ll know the right posture and positioning to strive for, and you’ll be more likely to notice if your body shape slips out of alignment.
- Exercise regularly. Next, make it a point to exercise regularly. Lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyles are highly associated with poor posture. If you just work out 20 to 30 minutes each day, you’ll be much more likely to hold good posture easily.
- Upgrade your furniture. Ergonomic furniture is designed to support good posture and healthy seating positions. If your furniture is only making your posture worse, make sure you invest in an upgrade.
- Change stances regularly. Don’t allow yourself to sit in the same position all day, every day. Make it a point to change stances. If you’re sitting for most of the workday, take breaks by getting up and walking around.
- Work with a professional. If you’ve followed all of these steps and you’re still struggling with chronically poor posture, it may be in your best interest to work with a professional. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist for more information.
For most people, fixing bad posture is a simple matter. With a better office chair, better awareness of your posture, and a true commitment to change, you can see a difference in your resting posture after just a few weeks. From there, you’ll be on track to experience less chronic pain and enjoy your life more than ever.
Keep being AllDayChic!
