If you want to have a comfortable work experience, you need to take a good look at your posture. Practicing good posture at work is essential day-to-day, because it will improve your mood and increase your productivity. Over the long term, you’ll see a reduction in potential work-related musculoskeletal injuries, like as neck pain, eye strain, and other sprains.

Causes of poor posture

You’ve probably heard the phrase that “sitting is the new smoking.” Multiple studies have come to the conclusion that sitting at work for long periods and our increasingly sedentary lifestyle are leading causes of poor posture. It has also been found that a sedentary lifestyle can lead to several health risks. Now that so many of us have been working at home, this issue is getting worse. The wrong workspace setup with unsuitable furniture, like an uncomfortable chair or desk at the wrong height can cause problems over time. Add in slouching at your desk and sitting for long periods of time and you have some big causes of poor posture. These may seem minor, but they can pose serious health risks in the long run, and it ‘s smart to correct them as soon as possible. 

Importance of good posture

There are several reasons to promote and practice good posture while working. Some of these include reducing stress and fatigue and preventing neck pain, backaches, varicose veins, spinal curvature, and cardiovascular conditions. Yes! All from bad posture.

Get this: Practicing good posture habits can help you keep your weight in check and increase blood flow. It also improves memory as sitting in an upright position enables you to remember things and events easily. Forget the bad stuff - wouldn’t you want those good things enough to sit up?

Identification and evaluation

To improve your posture, first identify the issues, and then you can address them. So, check how you sit, stand, and walk and notice the areas you should change to improve your posture. You’ll probably need a mirror or a buddy to help you see any imbalances.

Sit properly

Bad posture mainly occurs when you’re sitting. When you get comfortable, you’re more likely to pay less attention to your body and concentrate on other things. Begin to make a conscious effort to notice your posture when you sit. Not sitting correctly can put undue pressure on the tailbone or pubic bone. Always remember to keep your feet on the floor, your weight evenly dispersed, and your back flat. I have short legs, and a little footstool has changed everything.

Use ergonomic furniture and equipment

It’s best to use ergonomic furniture and equipment so you can maintain good posture for a healthy and safe working environment. This was probably taken care of for you at your office, but if you work from home, you’ll need to make some changes to get your ergonomics right, since most of use furnish our home workspaces and offices with pretty furniture, but ergonomic, functional workplace stuff. It’s' worth getting the right furniture, because this reduces fatigue and stress, as well as increases productivity. For example, a bad workstation setup could be transformed quickly with a flexible laptop stand that places the laptop at a good height and distance to make it easier to work with.

Exercise

You can do several exercises to improve your posture or correct parts of your body that have been impacted by bad posture over time, whether it’s been from sitting at your desk or from spending your free time on your phone (the ol’ tech neck). These exercises will strengthen your core and improve your balance, so try some pull-ups, Pilates, yoga, planks, bridges, mountain climbers, and shoulder stretches.

You can avoid a lot of health problems and improve your well-being by practicing good posture habits to comfortable (and safe) work day.