Sitting here at my computer writing the Neck Pain Support Blog it makes me aware of my computer, my breathing, my sitting posture, and how I feel while working on the computer.Actually, I am pretty comfortable- no neck pain, no upper back pain, and no eye strain.I think my Mom would be proud: She always says, sit up straight, walk standing tall !
Some of us can be oblivious to our surrounding, not paying attention to what our bodies are going through. More specifically, our neck posture, and our back posture.
If you are craning your neck to see your screen, leaning back or rocking back and forth in your chair- or maybe even crunched up in your seat, you may need to do a double take on your posture while at the computer. Why is good posture important you ask? Lots of different reasons:
Sit up straight and stand up straight. Once you start doing that you will be engaging different muscles to be sitting up straighter; soon your body will get used to it, and it will become a normal act to sit up straight. Its also okay to remind yourself to sit up or stand up straighter. Some people even put a yellow sticky note on their computer screen or a mirror as a simple reminder. Also, if you find your self straining to see the computer screen, check your surrounding light. You may have to get a brighter desk lamp so that you eliminate the extra strain you are putting on your body and your eyes. Finally, making sure you have a good quality back support is important- especially if you are sitting for the majority of the day. It will help you sit up straighter in your chair and can help decrease the back pain at the end of a long work day !
So next time your Mom shouts at you to walk without hunching or to sit up straight, keep in mind that she is right, and only looking out for you !
Additional Reading Resources
If you are craning your neck to see your screen, leaning back or rocking back and forth in your chair- or maybe even crunched up in your seat, you may need to do a double take on your posture while at the computer. Why is good posture important you ask? Lots of different reasons:
- Good posture helps you breathe better and more easily
- Good posture will make you look better and feel more self confident
- Good posture will help you concentrate and think better
Sit up straight and stand up straight. Once you start doing that you will be engaging different muscles to be sitting up straighter; soon your body will get used to it, and it will become a normal act to sit up straight. Its also okay to remind yourself to sit up or stand up straighter. Some people even put a yellow sticky note on their computer screen or a mirror as a simple reminder. Also, if you find your self straining to see the computer screen, check your surrounding light. You may have to get a brighter desk lamp so that you eliminate the extra strain you are putting on your body and your eyes. Finally, making sure you have a good quality back support is important- especially if you are sitting for the majority of the day. It will help you sit up straighter in your chair and can help decrease the back pain at the end of a long work day !
So next time your Mom shouts at you to walk without hunching or to sit up straight, keep in mind that she is right, and only looking out for you !
Additional Reading Resources
- Improve your Posture With the Posture Corrector
- Why Posture Is the Window to Your Health
- Neck Posture: Components of a Comfortable Work Station
- Back Packs and Neck Pain
