How to Improve your Posture while Working?

By Divya G

If your job requires you to be seated at a desk staring at the computer screen, signing documents, and typing for extended periods, then this sedentariness is putting you at risk of injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and chronic pain. You may not realize now, but all these can have a prolonged impact on your health and productivity. 

In order to enhance your physical wellbeing and prevent chronic health issues, it is vital to work on your posture. The posture can be anything related to the way you sit, cradling a cell phone, and holding something in the same position for a more extended period.  

To help you with that, here are some tips that you should follow. 

Start by practicing a neutral posture. It is the easiest thing to achieve, whether you are working from home or office. To start with, keep your desktop at eye level, ensuring that your head doesn’t tilt. Make sure that you are sitting with your back and shoulders flat against the chair. Next, ensure that your legs rest flat on the ground. If they don’t, adjust the height of your chair. Avoid crossing legs or ankles.  

Make use of posture-friendly props. First things first, make sure your chair is adjustable, else it will become difficult to spend 8-9 or more hours sitting on a rigid chair. Supportive ergonomic props include a small pillow, a portable lumbar back support, and a footrest. 

It is impossible to sit continuously for long periods without giving yourself some break. Move your joints and stretch out your muscles every 30 minutes. Or you can also take a 10-15 minute break and go out for a short walk. This will relax your muscles and reduce strain on your joints, especially in the neck, back, hips, and elbows.