You may not think about your posture all the time, but the way you stand and sit can have a huge impact on the way other people perceive you and on your health. When you have good posture, you are perceived as more confident and attractive, and you are less likely to have back problems. In fact, having good posture not only helps other see you in a better light, it can also build your self-confidence. There is a huge difference between confronting something head on while standing tall and slouching up to a problem. If your posture isn’t where you want it to be, don’t despair. Here are a few tips to help you stand taller.
Strengthen Your Core
A strong core is essential to proper posture. Core muscles move your torso by manipulating the spine. Building a strong core doesn’t mean hours of sit-ups. Some of the best exercises are found in yoga and pilates. The movements and postures of these practices build strong core muscles while stretching out the spine.
Stand Tall
Slouching causes back and shoulder pain and can throw your lower body out of whack. For proper posture, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and ears should form a straight line. Keep feet shoulder-width apart and bear weight on the balls of your feet. Slightly bend knees, pull stomach muscles in, keep the spine tall, pull back shoulders and let arms hang loosely. A lot of people will stand with one leg cocked and most of their weight on the other leg. While this may be comfortable, it does mess with your posture and can create overuse problems for your muscles.
Sit Correctly
Most people do not use proper posture while sitting. Slouching, crossing legs and having workspaces at the wrong angles all contribute to poor posture. Sit with a straight spine, keep shoulders back and make sure the buttocks are touching the back of the chair. If your chair is uncomfortable, or you find that sitting this way hurts, consider using a seat cushion to help relieve some of the pain. Bend knees at a 90° angle and place feet flat on the floor. Adjust chair height as needed to keep your workspace close and tilted up.
Create a Reminder
Poor posture doesn’t occur overnight, and neither will good posture. It takes practice and mindfulness to strengthen muscles and form a good habit. An easy way to practice good posture is to leave yourself a reminder. Whether it is a note on your bathroom mirror or a reminder from an app, make sure that you have a reminder placed where you will see it and remember to stand up straight.
Stop Smartphone Sabotage
Most of us use our phones numerous times each day constantly tilting our heads downward or to the side. You may be on yours right now, and it can be ruining your posture. To improve posture, hold phones out in front of you or prop it up at eye level. Even better, use Bluetooth or earplugs. When texting, hold your phone at a distance, so you aren’t looking down.
Just as you trained your body to have poor posture, taking a few simple steps can retrain it with proper posture. Not only will this have you looking better, but you will also feel better, and you may even be able to eliminate any pain that you suffer from. Don’t let the little things pass you by just because you weren’t feeling confident. Stand up straight and go for it.