Ask any chiropractor (or your mother) about posture, and you’re sure to get an ear-full. Rightly so! Posture is important to your overall health, and the correct posture can not only make you feel better, but also ward off negative effects later on in life. This is especially important in today’s working office, where bad habits can creep in and affect posture throughout your daily routine.
Today we’re going to take a look at the importance of proper posture in the workplace and provide a few tips on how to achieve it.
THE BENEFITS OF PROPER POSTURE
The health benefits of proper posture aren’t exactly news. For years, we’ve known that sitting up straight and aligning your spine can prevent neck and back pain, headaches and other long-term discomforts. Even the knees and hips get a break, as does your diaphragm and digestive tract. There’s even some evidence that proper posture can increase oxygen to the brain, which is vital for concentration, mood and memory retention.
Now that we’ve identified the overall benefits of proper posture, how can it be applied correctly in a workplace environment? Read on.
PROPER POSTURE WHILE SITTING
With employees sitting as much as seven hours (or more) in today’s office environments, there isn’t a lot of room for mobility. The longer you sit, the more inclined you may be to slouch in your chair. A little practice and some good habits can go a long way, here. Make sure that you’re sitting with your back straight, and your shoulders back. Your bottom should be making contact with the back of your chair. This is a good initial setup that allows you to balance your body weight on both hips, while allowing for a natural spinal shape.
Next, bend your knees 90 degrees, and if possible, raise them a little higher than your hips. Plant your feet flat on the floor, and you’re now in good posture mode. Granted, it may be difficult to maintain this position all day long, but it’s good practice to be mindful of proper posture, and attempt to apply it as much as you can throughout your day. Try maintaining proper posture for 15-20 minutes at a time, before getting up to walk around, or change to another position, temporarily.
PROPER POSTURE WHILE STANDING
The overall theme of proper posture can be applied while standing. Make sure that your back is straight and your shoulders are back. Also, keep your chest up high, and your head aligned with your body. A common mistake people make when standing is to tilt their head forward or backward (especially the former) without even realizing it. Think of how much your head weighs, and how much strain is being put on your neck at any given moment.
Pull your abdomen in, and don’t lock the knees. Your feet should be parallel, and you should feel your body weight distributed evenly on both of them. Once more, maintaining this posture all day long is impossible, but try to go as long as you can, before alternating your standing position to something less optimal, such as putting weight on one leg. As you become used to proper posture, it will become second nature, and you’ll be able to maintain it longer and longer every time.
The long-term benefits to proper posture in the workplace are obvious. Make sure you’re not missing out! fluidconcepts carries a wide assortment of chairs and desks designed for the flexible workspace, and you can apply proper posture easily when utilizing any of them in your workspace. Give us a call today to learn more!
