Lynds in Real Life

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Health

Simple Tips For Improving Your Posture

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A surprisingly large amount of people have bad posture. The correct and healthy posture change comes from many people working at desks all day, looking down at mobile phones a lot, and slouching in general. 

Having the correct posture will mean that some of the muscles and joints in your body won’t function as they are designed to. The weakened areas are more susceptible to injury, and it can limit your range of movement too. 

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Slouching, in particular, can mean that you aren’t taking big enough breaths, meaning there isn’t oxygen flowing around your body. This lack of oxygen leads to fatigue, poor circulation, and decreased energy levels. 

There are several ways to be more mindful of your posture, and some of them only take a moment. 

If you notice regular backache, tight shoulders, and a stiff neck due to your posture, then a trip to a chiropractic care center should be top of the list. 

The rest of the tips are things that you can do yourself. 

Fastest fix

Notice how you are sitting right now. Are you slumped a little bit, with your shoulders hunched over? Do you have proper lumbar support? 

The key to a fast posture fix is looking at how you are holding your shoulder blades. Your shoulder blades should be drawn back and pulled down slightly. This stops you from having rounded hunch shoulders and allows for better alignment. 

The correct sitting position would be to have your ears in line with your shoulders. This position prevents strain in your neck. 

Long term 

If you spend a significant amount of time sitting, invest in a chair with lumbar support, or purchase a small lumbar support pillow. 

Keeping your legs uncrossed and both on the floor or on a footrest to keep your knees at hips at the same height. Your knee can also be slightly below hip height for optimal comfort. 

Moving often is essential too. Even if you have a desk-based job, it is essential that you set timers to make sure you are moving at least once an hour for a few minutes. 

Read more about how damaging a desk job can be: Your Desk Job Is Killing You.

Moving around makes sure that the blood flow is good and that all of your joints and muscles are lubricated. 

During your time away from your desk, make sure that you stretch your arms, legs, neck, and back. This will prevent them from feeling too stiff and becoming painful. 

If you have tensions in the body, this will also restrict movements, which can see you returning to a slouching posture. 

Walking

If you often walk with your head tipped down looking at your feet, it’s time to break that habit. Walking tall, with your shoulders and the top of your head pointing skywards is the key to keeping your break straight as you walk around. 

Next time you head out for a walk, or you are standing then look at how you hold your body. 

Simply noticing when you are slouching or hunched over can help you correct your posture with ease. 

Thank you for reading!

Health

4 Reasons Why a Standing Desk May Be Right for You

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If you work all day then comfort is of the utmost importance. In order to get comfortable, you will need to ensure that you have the proper work equipment and workstation. Recently a lot of people have been trying standing desks especially if they do creative work.

However, you may be wondering if a standing desk is right for you and what are the benefits you can get from using it. Here is a look at some of the key reasons why a standing desk can be beneficial for you.

Build Your Muscles

Muscular atrophy is very real and it is something that a chiropractor will have to deal with if it gets severe. If you don’t use your muscles they will literally waste away. When you sit all day around a desk you are not using some of your muscle groups.

However, when you get a standing desk you are forced to move and use up most of your muscles. Not only will your muscles be healthier but they will also be more flexible.

Improve Your Posture

A standing desk will encourage better posture. This is because it is impossible not to become more aware of how your back and neck are being used when you use a standing desk.

You will find that you don’t slouch as much as you would if you are sitting in a chair. The more you stand, the stronger the muscles in your back and neck will become and you will see spine alignment improving.

Improve Circulation

Sitting for long periods can restrict the circulation of blood in your body. When you use a standing desk the opposite is true it will facilitate better circulation all over your body.

Proper circulation is important because it sends oxygen to the cells. Not only that but proper circulation will ensure that that the cells get the right nutrients and this will keep your body healthy.

Improve the Health of Your Spine

If you have been having problems with your spine then the perfect solution may be to get a standing desk. While sitting supports the back it can also make the disc in your back become a lot more compact and this can increase or cause pain.

Standing reduces pain in your back and allows for greater flexibility and movement of the spine. This increases the overall health of the spine and your back.

Try it Out

If you find that you are currently having back pains or you just feel uncomfortable after sitting for several hours the perfect solution may be to get a standing desk. Even if you do not use this for the entire day, using it for a few hours may be just what you need to improve the health of your spine and back.

Standing desks are relatively inexpensive and easy to install which means that there is much to gain and very little to lose if you decide that it is not for you.

Thank you for reading!

Health

How You Can Benefit from Better Posture

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There are many unexpected benefits of having good posture. Good posture can be just as vital as a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, so you should try to work on your posture every day. Many activities incorporate posture exercises, such as yoga, pilates, and martial arts. It’s an important part of many sports and can really enhance your workout overall. It’s also important to be mindful of your posture when working and resting, as poor posture can have a negative impact on your health over time. Here are some ways you can benefit from better posture!

Better Breathing

Poor posture can put pressure on the lungs and chest cavity, so it’s important to straighten up, allowing you to breathe more deeply. If you want to keep an eye on your breathing and your posture, you could get a mindful breathing necklace. These monitor your posture and encourage you to sit or stand up straight and improve your breathing. Better breathing improves circulation and delivers more oxygen around your body.

Boost Your Confidence

Improving your posture is one of the practical ways to improve your confidence. A slouching position can actually look quite defensive, and that’s why many psychology experts recommend sitting or standing up straight in a job interview. It makes you appear healthier and more secure in your own abilities. A better posture also makes you look slimmer and is a lot more flattering. Stand up tall and automatically feel stronger and more confident. 

Relieve Anxiety

Improving your posture can reduce anxiety and even help you sleep better. Poor posture is often caused by stress and tension in your body. Trying to maintain a better posture will have the opposite effect as it opens you up and relaxes you. By being mindful of your posture you’ll be able to improve both your physical and mental wellbeing. 

Improve Your Digestion

Better posture improves your breathing and releases tension. This means it’s even beneficial to your digestion. There are breathing techniques to improve digestion and you can open up your stomach and digestive tract by being mindful of your posture. Poor posture compresses your internal organs so by straightening up you’ll help to increase the blood flow to these, improving your digestion and the functioning of your vitals too. Better posture also strengthens your core muscles, supports your spine, and even allows you to burn more calories. By working on your posture you can improve your metabolism overall.

Increase Your Energy Levels

Improving your posture is an easy way to get a natural energy boost. A better posture encourages a higher cell exchange, making your body work more efficiently, giving you an energy boost. Slouching can make you feel sluggish and uncomfortable, so even though it might seem like a more relaxing option, this in fact isn’t the case. If you want to feel healthier and more energized, you should focus on improving your posture. Be mindful of your posture and you’ll immediately start to feel the benefits.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Your Posture Has A Bigger Impact On Your Health Than You Think

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The way you hold yourself when you stand or sit affects more than the way you look. It can have a direct impact on your health. 

Unfortunately, most of us don’t actively think about our posture during the day. We go with whatever feels natural.

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This strategy, however, is a bad idea. Posture is way more important than you think and can affect your health in multiple ways. Here’s how.

Arthritis

We typically think of arthritis as a disease of aging. But evidence from Arthritis UK suggests that people with poor posture are also at risk. 

According to the research, the way that people sit or stand can contribute to their likelihood of developing the condition. Holding the body in certain positions can put joints under increased pressure, increasing the overall level of inflammation. 

The good news, though, is that posture is entirely “modifiable.” As AposTherapy points out, there are hundreds of people all over the world who have already improved their posture with proven techniques. So, even if you notice a problem with the way you walk, you can correct it. 

Stress

According to the data, poor posture can lead to mental and physical stress. Putting extra strain on your muscles, tendons, and bones can create soreness, which then manifests as psychological strain. TIME magazine, for instance, reported on a 2014 study that shows that people who had poor posture suffered worse moods than the general population. 

Problems With Digestive Health

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The health of the digestive tract is vital for maintaining the overall health of the body. But people with poor posture can experience gastrointestinal issues. 

Stomach problems, like acid reflux, are common. And so too are things like constipation. 

Researchers think that the reason for this comes down to the effects of slouching on the stomach. People who slump in their chairs or walk hunched over provide their stomachs with less room to carry out their vital functions. The result is slower transit of food through the digestive tract and more related issues. 

Ankle, Knee And Hip Pain

The ankles, knees, and hips have to support the full weight of the body, day in, day out. They are, therefore, the most prone to problems, especially if there’s a problem with our gait. 

Evolution created these joints to work in a specific way. Poor posture, however, changes the biomechanics, putting additional strain on tissues not designed to cope with it. Eventually, they fail, and pain ensues. 

Again, the key to resolving this is to work on your posture. The more that you can retrain your body to walk in the correct fashion, the better. It can require retraining, but the effort is worth it. 

Sleep Issues

Finally, there’s growing evidence that poor posture can impact how well you sleep. According to the leading physical therapy researchers, the body has to work harder and expend more energy when fighting poor posture habits. That requires more energy, leaving people feeling physically and mentally exhausted. Plus, pain at night can keep people awake, interrupting sleep. 

Thank you for reading!