Posture

Best Solution To Fix Bad Posture Long-Term

Fixing your posture is about fixing your behavior. To correct and improve your posture, you must emphasize it throughout the day until it is ingrained in your muscle memory.

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment For Good Posture

At your desk, have proper lumbar support and use it. Sit upright. In your car, set your rearview mirror so that it’s angled a little higher than normal. That way, you can only see properly when you sit tall. When standing and walking, before you go anywhere or before you speak to anyone, stand tall and relaxed.

Step 2: Strength Train With Proper Form & Technique

Exercises performed with poor form only reinforce poor posture. If you drop your head towards the floor while doing pushups, your head will be pulling on your upper traps and levator scapula, reinforcing forward head posture. Just because this position makes the exercise feel easier doesn’t mean you’re doing it right!

This is also why standing full-body exercises are better than machine-based exercises. You have to pay more attention to your form and technique when performing standing full-body movements.

Step 3: Posture Affects Mood, & Mood Affects Posture

When you force yourself to smile big, you usually feel happier. The same applies to standing fully upright with good posture. Much like how our nerves are wired to make connections between facial expression and mood, we have connections between body language and mood. Think of it this way: “Walk like a boss”.

Have you ever seen a CEO give a speech onstage with poor posture? By habitually standing tall, you’ll present yourself as a more competent and confident individual, and you’ll feel more confident. The reality is, you don’t have all day, and I’m not one to emphasize specific isolated stretches or exercises to fix the strength or weakness of a specific muscle group. You can do exercises and stretches all day, but if you resume your poor posture as soon as you step out of the gym or sit in front of your desk, you basically just wasted your entire time exercising.

Prioritize good posture by implementing the workout above and setting yourself up for success in your life. Then, show off your leaner, more confident, and healthier image by standing tall!