Your posture can affect many areas of your life. From the quality of sleep you get to the amount of back pain you endure, having bad posture can exacerbate these problems. Making sure that you sit, stand, drive and sleep with correct posture can help reduce pain and make you look more confident. Being aware of your posture is the single most important factor in fixing posture. Once you're aware of how easy it is to fix posture, you'll be able to correct it to achieve a better quality of living.
Step 1
Find the neutral spine position. A neutral spine means that you are not hunched over, nor are you extending your back too far in the opposite direction. Neutral spine is the key to good posture, notes physical therapist Jeanne Markusic. Find the right position for neutral spine by standing with your feet flat on the floor and rolling your hips slightly forward so they are "tucked" under your abdominal muscles. This puts your spine in the proper position to fix posture.
Step 2
Practice good posture when in a standing position and while walking. Keep your shoulders back and your back straight, as you may have a tendency to slouch shoulder forward while walking. Choose sturdy shoes that give you ample arch support over more fashionable heels that can cause your posture to suffer.
Step 3
Focus on posture when sitting at your desk for long periods of time. According to SpineUniverse.com, when sitting you should keep both feet flat on the floor and sit tall. If it helps, imagine a straight ruler tucked into the back waistband of your pants, and imagine trying to lengthen your spine along the ruler. If you work at your desk for most of the day, take a break at least once per hour to stretch your back and remind yourself to sit up.
Step 4
Correct your posture when in the car. While driving, you may have the tendency to slouch forward or lean on the steering wheel, which can net you a sore back when you get to your destination. Instead, adjust the lumbar supports on your seat so that you have plenty of support against the small of your back. Adjust the seat so that the back is vertical, and make sure that your knees are at the same height or higher than your hips for the best posture possible while in the car.
Step 5
Fix your posture while sleeping. You may not think much about your posture when sleeping, but it could be the reason you're not feeling rested when you wake up. Misalignment in the hips and knees can cause strain on the back while sleeping. Remedy this by rolling up a towel and sleeping with it between your knees for better alignment.
