Related Articles
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Working from home has a lot of benefits, but it could also be putting a strain on your back if you’re sitting in a chair all day. Even if you’re out and about, everything from the way you stand, to the way you drive, could be affecting your posture.
Your parents may have yelled at you about bad posture, but a lot of the times, it was just to look a little more presentable (“Stop hunching at the dinner table!”) But having good posture isn’t just about being proud and looking confident. Upright posture helps to strengthen your core, stretch out your muscles, and relieves stress from your neck and back.
Good posture can also improve your breathing, correct your body alignment and improve alertness. It may seem counterintuitive, but by slouching all day, you’re actually conditioning your body to be apathetic, rather than attentive. Straightening your spine and pulling your shoulders back opens you up to a more productive working stance, so you’re better aware of what’s around you and more ergonomically-positioned at your desk.
If you’re on your feet all day, say at a retail job, at a hospital, or in the service industry, standing up straight and practicing good posture can also help prevent achy feet and fatigue.
If you have severe back pains, you should consult a chiropractor. But if you just want to start working on your posture at home (or at work or in your car), we’ve found four easy ways to straighten up.
These non-medical deviceshelp to reverse muscle memory that causes slouching or hunching, while re-aligning your spine to ease pressure from your shoulders and lower back. From insoles to chair pads, these products will help you stand a little taller, sit up a little straighter and hopefully reduce overall stiffness and tension.
