5 Bad Postures That Affect Work Performance
Saadat is tired of hearing her mother tell her to stand up straight. She thinks that she has a good enough posture and whatever way she stands or sits in shouldn’t matter as long as she is being productive with her day.
If you are also like Saadat, then you need to understand the importance of maintaining a good posture. You should also know how bad posture can have a negative effect on your work performance.
Negative Consequences of Bad Postures
Whether Saadat realizes this or not, the fact remains that her bad postures are having a negative effect on her life. She wants to know more about what these bad effects really are. And to help her out we have mentioned a list below.
- Spine Curvature
There are three main curves of a properly aligned spine. These curves form an ‘S’ shape. If one maintains a bad posture over a period of time, then the shape of these curves can change. An excessive amount of pressure can even put the curves in the wrong position.
This would directly have a bad impact on the ability of the spine to absorb shock. Further, the natural ability of the body to be safe from serious injuries and risks will also be reduced.
- Back Pain
Saadat often suffers from back pain. Till now she thought it was just because of her not resting enough. However, now she knows that one of the biggest side effects of having poor posture is an unwanted strain on the lower and upper back.
Whenever Saadat slouches forward that puts pressure between her shoulder blades. This would flatter her back muscles. She now understands that the pain below her neck and around her tailbone is due to her not sitting up straight during work.
- Headaches and Neck Pain
If you maintain poor posture, then that would put pressure on your posterior muscles. This has a negative impact on your neck. Strain can also be put on your neck when your shoulders are hunched forward or your head is aimed downward. This can also lead to tension headaches.
- Poor Sleep
If your body posture is deficient in any way, then that puts pressure on the entire system of muscles. This means that you are unable to relax fully at night and you just end up tossing and turning throughout the night. You just can’t find a comfortable position for your neck and back. This makes you lose hours of sleep.
- Disrupted Digestion
Saadat has an office job that requires her to stay at her desk for most of the day. She sits with a bad posture and she never knew that this is causing her to have digestive issues. Her bad posture results in compressed organs which further slows down the digestive process and upsets her stomach.
- Lack of Motivation
Did you know that not having a good posture can even have negative effects on your motivation? If you didn’t, then you can even try this yourself. Sit with slouched shoulders and a bent back. Try to work in that position.
Now, keep your back and shoulders straight. Be comfortable with this position and start working. Did you notice any change? You might also like to know that bad posture is also associated with your self-esteem. People with low self-esteem often have a bad posture.
5 Bad Postures that Affect Work Performance and How to Improve Them
Saadat now understands that her bad posture is having a negative effect on her life. She knows that her bad posture is causing her to be less productive at work and a bit more stressed in her personal life.
However, what Saadat doesn’t know yet is what actually constitutes bad posture. How can she distinguish between what position of sitting or standing is good and what is bad? Also, how can she improve her posture? Are there some simple tips? Or does she have to be mindful of her posture all the time?
Let’s look at the answer to all this by observing 5 bad postures and their fixes.
- The 24×7 Sitting
Saadat is engaged in the IT profession, which is why she knows what it is like to be glued to her chair all day. She often sits at her desk for hours at a time without any break. This tires her muscles and leads her to lean and slouch.
This eventually means pain in the neck and the back. The only workable fix to this problem is for Saadat to make sure that she tries to stand or stretch after every 30-40 minutes. She should take a short walk around the office. She can even set a reminder to remember to take these breaks on her smartphone or computer.
- The Relaxed Working
Many organizations offer the option of working from home or remotely. People take advantage of that by working from their laptops on a bed, couch, or recliner. This relaxed working isn’t doing anybody any favors.
The ‘hunched over laptop syndrome’ can lead to neck pain, back pain, and even slipped discs. This should be completely avoided. If you follow this practice, then you should make it a point to work on a table and chair.
If you don’t own a table or chair, then make sure that you are sitting in an upright position. Your shoulders should be relaxed and your elbows should be close to your body. Do not place your laptop on your lap as it can cause damage to your nether region.
- Cradling the Phone on the Shoulder
While you are working, it is easier to get into the habit of multitasking. This often leads to people using their phones between the ears and shoulders. This frees up their hands for other tasks.
This might seem like a great way to speed things up but it can also put a strain on your muscles and soft tissues. This would cause pain in your neck, shoulders, and upper back.
To resolve this problem, simply get a hands-free device instead of a phone. You can even use a headset or avoid working when you are on a call. The important thing here is choosing not to hurt your body even when you are using your phone.
- Looking Down on the Screen
The most common bad posture practice is when people hunch over their keyboard or look down at their smartphones. Both of these practices can cause stiffness in your shoulders and back. It can also lead to problems like headaches, neck pain, and an unbalanced spine.
The fix for this problem is to always keep your shoulders upright. The screen should be at the level of your eyes and your smartphone should be at eye level too. Try to stretch your shoulders and back regularly throughout the day.
- The Wallet in the Back Pocket
You work hard every day to make money at the end of the month. However, if you keep your wallet in your back pocket then that might be causing irritation to your sciatic nerve. It can also result in back pain.
The ideal fix for this problem is to always keep your wallet someplace else. You should get a chair that supports the spinal curve of your body and is at a level on which your feet are able to rest flat on the ground.
Correcting these Bad Postures Starting Now!
Saadat finally knows everything that she needs to on this subject. She has fully grasped how bad it can be for her to work in a bad posture. She is going to be mindful of all this every time starting now. You can make the same pledge and your body will be thankful for that!
