Slouching is a bad habit I’ve dealt with for the majority of my life.
I’m not alone in my struggle to maintain proper posture, either.
National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Photo: Megan Falk
Safe to say, it’s important to learn how to improve your posture.
What Is “Good Posture,” Exactly?
Technically speaking, posture is how you hold your body while standing, sitting, or lying down.
Megan Falk
“Posture is unique to everyone.
It’s different from your neighbors and best friends,” says Joubert.
So How Do You Find Your Best Posture?
“To fix it, they attempt to hold it in the right position.
Neither of these are helpful.
(Using these tips canhelp you achieve your goalstoo.)
How to Improve Posture While Standing
Step 1:Start standing with feet shoulders-width apart.
Distribute weight equally in the balls of both feet.
(Another way to picture this is to imagine slightly tucking the stomach in.)
Step 3:Gently lower shoulder blades back and down as if tucking them into pants' pockets.
Step 4:Adjust body so knees are pointed forward and relaxed or slightly bent.
Align knees over feet, hips over knees, and shoulders over hips.
Step 5:Let arms hang naturally at sides.
Step 6:Look straight forward and keep head level so that earlobes are parallel with shoulders.
Avoid pushing head forward, backward, or to the side.
Step 7:Scratch the top of the head to bring awareness there.
Picture an arrow shooting straight up from that point on the head.
If necessary, a cookbook or puzzle box can pass for a makeshift footrest.
Knees should be at or below hip level.
Step 2:Position heels directly underneath knees.
Knees should form a 90-degree angle.
Step 3:Align shoulders directly over hips.
Keep elbows bent at a 90-degree angle.
Step 4:Lower or raise the computer monitor so that it is at eye level.
Remember how sitting in one spot for long periods can cause fatigue?
Holding your phone at eye level will also do the trick.
(Yes,tech neck is a real thing.)
Who knew easing my discomfort could be as simple as making a few adjustments to my workspace?
My second goal for the first week of posture improvement: Get up and move every half hour.
Sounds easy, right?
This also explains why I have terrible balance.
But what convinced me most to consistently resituate myself was how I looked after doing so.
Aside from the drills, though, my progress started to hit a wall.
And that was okay.
Yes, there’s still plenty of room for growth.
Most of the time, I forget to stand tall and hold an arch in my lower back.
