Childhood memories of most of us would probably be flooded with recollections of our parents advising us – sometimes exasperatedly, to sit straight and proper. And how often have we done just the opposite of it? And, most of us have, rather upsettingly, carried the same lazy habit as we advanced to adulthood. Leaning against the wall while sliding through Instagram posts on your smartphone or slouching lazily on your study chair are all faulty sitting habits that have, unfortunately, turned quite common today.
Sitting for hours in front of a monitor is quite a common phenomenon in recent times. Such is the need of the hour – to be productive indoors. A major share of the contemporary workforce is associated with the various digital media platforms. Unlike in earlier days when adults were required to work in the sun, today, more employees work indoors at a desk.
In such a turn of events – a result of gradual development, it is quite likely that the currents of lifestyle, too, undergo major changes. With the pandemic outbreak, most of the companies adopted a remote or work-from-home strategy for their employees. Mental health concerns have become a matter of high priority, especially for office employees. As per a survey conducted by Wellable Labs, 90% of employers have decided to increase their investment in mental health programs. Of them, 72% expect these programs to be digital. That is how incredibly crucial discussions on health and well-being have turned out to be. Over 50% of the employees, as per the survey, dealt with burnouts in 2021.
Hybrid working conditions – say, an employee is expected to work from the office thrice a week and the rest from home, has accordingly surfaced as the game-changer in 2022. When we discourse on the changing nature of workplace culture – of hybrid and remote work hours, we shouldn’t, in any way, pass over the significance of practicing good sitting posture.
The emphasis on maintaining good bodily postures is not particular to employees or office-going staff alone. A study published in the NeuroRegulation journal found that students who exercised good postures had better confidence, especially in solving math problems.
More energy, balanced breathing, a good mood, more productivity are some of the advantages that the practice of good postures boasts.
It is needless to put the blame on anyone or the circumstances when it comes to maintaining a good sitting posture at the office. The modern world has already provided enough reasons to slouch wearily in front of a laptop screen. As workplace conditions are undergoing major changes, good posture culture itself should become a norm.
The easy 5 point checklist to snap the perfect sitting posture:
- Shoulders relaxed.
- Support the back.
- Support the arm.
- Thighs horizontal.
- Feet flat on the floor.
‘Sitting is the new smoking,’ a phrase by Dr. James Levine, Director of Mayo Clinic, has now become a popular quote. Desk-bounded conditions, according to a study, are the reason for the development of many health issues, like obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
Therefore no matter how right you sit, always be conscious and remember to Walk around as often as possible!
