Simple Tips to Improve Your Posture

By Bryan Kittman | May 1, 2019

Poor posture can have some serious consequences for your overall health and can be the source of uncomfortable back pain. Over time, unnecessary strain on your spine, and the muscles and ligaments supporting it have major consequences down the road. Having good posture minimizes this strain, and keeps your upper body functioning optimally. If you struggle with poor posture, try using these simple tips to improve your posture.

Straighten up

One of the best ways to begin to improve your posture is to stand up tall when you walk around. Try pretending you’re standing against a wall to measure your height, and hold your head straight and tuck in your chin. Stand with your shoulders back, knees straight, and belly tucked in.

Eliminate desk slump

It can be comfortable to slouch while sitting at your desk, but it will quickly wreak havoc on your posture. Instead, sit all the way back in your chair, and place a small lumbar cushion or rolled up towel behind your mid-back to help keep you maintain posture. Place your feet flat on the floor, and keep your knees at a right angle.

Sit close the steering wheel

Getting comfy while driving by slumping low far away from the steering wheel can really hurt your posture. Instead, pull your seat close to the steering wheel, and bend your knees slightly, just slightly above hip level.

Do core work

Doing exercises that strengthen your core will automatically help you stand taller and help you maintain proper posture. This could include anything from yoga, pilates, or simple ab work. All of these will have a major benefit on your posture.

Learn to breathe properly

How we breathe can have a deep effect in how we sit and stand. Try practicing breathing more effectively by using your diaphragm, and try breathing exercises that focus on engaging your waist and lower core muscles.

Hold devices properly

Holding our phones and tablets while craning our necks down to view them isn’t exactly helping your posture. To correct this, try holding your phone straight in front of you instead of bending your head down. If you’re using a tablet, try propping it up perpendicular to the surface you’re using it on.

Adjust your workstation to fit you

If you spend most of your day at a desk while at work, it might be a good idea to set up your workstation properly. Move your monitor so it is directly level with your face, and try utilizing a floor mat that you can rest your feet on so your knees are parallel to your hips.