Your Posture Could Be the Key to Your Productivity

Your posture is important. Not only does it affect your body and even potentially reduce your confidence, but poor posture can also be making you less productive. Find out how correcting your posture can ease aches and pains and help you focus and concentrate on your work.

How to Tell if You Have Bad Posture

There are a few ways to tell if you have bad posture. When you’re standing, your head should be in a neutral position, rather than leaning forward. Your ears should line up with your shoulders, your back should be straight (though slight curves are normal), and your hips should be in alignment with your knees.

When you’re sitting, your feet should be resting flat on the floor, your shoulders should be back yet relaxed, and your ears should be in line with your collar bones.

You can also likely tell that you have bad posture if you experience pain or nagging aches in your back, shoulders, neck, or other areas.

How Good Posture Affects Your Brain and Body

There are many ways that posture affects your body. Bad posture causes back pain, tension in your shoulders and neck, and much more. On the other hand, having good posture can increase your energy levels, boost your confidence, and make it easier for you to be productive.

When you slouch, you cause stress on your body. For instance, if you’re sitting slouched over, you’re giving your lungs less space. This compressed space can reduce your lung capacity, and that means less blood to your brain, which can make it more difficult to think clearly.

Poor posture can also cause headaches, make you feel tired, and harm your circulation. All of these things will hamper your productivity. If you don’t feel well, it’s more difficult to focus on work.

Tips for Improving Your Posture

One of the most important things you can do to improve your posture is to be aware of it. Many of us slouch or sit hunched over for hours each day without really thinking about how this negatively affects us. Throughout your day, be aware of how you’re sitting and standing.

Over time, being aware of your posture and adjusting how you sit and stand throughout the day will provide you with many benefits. Once you get used to having good posture at all times, you’ll find it easier to maintain this posture all day.

How to Maintain Good Posture in the Long Term

Adjusting your environment can help you maintain good posture. Many people who work from home don’t have the same setups they would in an office. If you’re working at your dining room table, sitting on the couch, or leaning over your kitchen island, you’re not doing yourself any favours when it comes to your posture. Instead, create an ergonomically correct workstation for yourself where your screen can be at eye level, your feet can rest comfortably on the floor, and your chair can support your back.

If you’re driving for long periods of the day, adjust your seat so you can reach the pedals comfortably, angle the seat so it’s only slightly reclined, and consider adding lumbar support to your seat.

Seek Help from a Professional if Needed

If you are dealing with bad posture or experiencing aches, pains, or other issues because of your posture, or if these pains are making it tough for you to sit or stand up straight, seeking help from a professional can be a good idea. Strengthening your core, adjusting your spine to reduce pain, and taking other steps can reduce pain and make it easier for you to have good posture.

Don’t let pain in your joints, muscles, and nerves hamper your life. The professionals at Park Place Clinic can help you find the right solutions for your situation, easing your discomfort and helping you feel better on a daily basis.

Give us a call at 604-646-6699 or book an appointment online. Our team is here for you and ready to help.