7 Practical Tips For Improving Your Posture

Thanks to guest contributor, Brad Krause, for this article:

Few of us realize just how much our posture can affect our quality of life. However, poor posture can lead to serious issues such as neck and back pain, making daily tasks uncomfortable.

The good news is that there are simple steps you can take every day to improve your posture. By investing some time and effort into these measures, you can start standing taller and feeling better.

The following are simple and easy to implement, making the path to better posture a breeze.

See The Benefits Of Standing Tall And Improving Your Posture

Good posture can improve your quality of life in various ways. Aside from reducing the risk of neck and back pain, good posture can also increase your energy levels, make it easier to breathe, and lead to less frequent headaches. Plus, standing tall can boost your confidence and give you a more powerful presence.

Need proof that tallness matters? There are even entire websites dedicated to celebrity heights; check HowTallHeight to learn more.

To stand tall, lift your chin, so it’s parallel to the floor, and keep your shoulders back and in a neutral position.

Visit A Chiropractor To Determine Your Baseline

If you want to improve your posture, start by visiting a chiropractor. They can pinpoint problem areas and create a plan to improve your posture.

If your current insurance doesn’t cover chiropractic visits, you may want to find alternate health insurance. If you’re self-employed, consider enrolling in your spouse’s plan or getting insurance through the Freelancers Union.

Create A Back-Friendly Home

If you regularly wake up with neck or back pain, it may be time to invest in a new mattress. Many people sleep on mattresses that aren’t right for them. Look for an option that is firm and supportive, but that also contours to your body. You shouldn’t feel like you’re sleeping on a board or have your entire body sink down. Check this out for options that combine body contouring options with cooling materials, too.

Your home office is another area to tackle. Investing in ergonomic office furniture can help reduce aches and pains, especially if you spend long hours at a desk. A well-organized office can also reduce stress, which research shows can worsen chronic pain. Take steps to create a stress-free workspace, by eliminating clutter, organizing papers, and adding light.

Try Exercises That Improve Posture

Regular physical activity can help improve your posture in various ways. Lifting weights is a great way to strengthen back muscles that support a healthy spine, for example, while stretching can keep muscles from getting constricted.

Yoga is another great way to enhance mobility and flexibility. Here’s a roundup of yoga poses that are shown to enhance good posture, including child’s pose, cat-cow, and downward facing dog.

Always check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program to make sure it’s safe for you.

Walk Every Day

Walking is a great way to improve your posture. It helps strengthen muscles in the back, core, glutes, and legs, which help to support your spine and body.

Additionally, walking helps elongate your spine and makes it more resistant to slouching or overarching. Make sure to keep your head up, shoulders back and chin parallel to the ground as you walk for optimal posture.

Invest In Clothes And Tools To Help You Stand Tall

Even what you wear can affect your posture. For example, high heels can hurt your posture by throwing off your center of balance. Look for lightweight, flexible shoes with good arch support that will help you stand tall.

There are also posture-correcting clothing and braces you can try wearing. For example, there’s a vertebrae-aligning vest that helps to keep your shoulders back and straight, reminding you to maintain good posture throughout your day. You don’t even have to think about it.

Give Your Back A Break

Good posture is a significant asset, as it can help reduce back and neck pain, improve confidence, and give you a more powerful presence. By taking the steps above, like walking more often, standing tall, and finding health insurance that covers visits to a chiropractor, you’re improving your quality of life.

Brad Krause was, like me, a participant in the corporate rat race, until he decided to break free and work for himself. Since then, he discovered his calling was helping people, and that’s why he created SelfCaring.info.