Posture myths—it’s the BIGGEST scam in poor posture content.
And you know what it is:
- “Sitting is the new smoking”
- “Sit up straight”
- “Do not slouch”
It’s the same recycled headlines, over and over. The writers rack up views by fear mongering. But they’ve never been stuck at a computer desk like us. 8 hours a day. 40 hours a week. 2000 hours a year. In high-stress jobs. In cut-throat industries.
These myths never answer the questions…
“How do I improve posture at computer?”
“What is correct posture?”
Posture Myths
Every minute that goes by, it’s more muscle tension for us. Most people that write these articles with these mythical headlines, they have a background in physical therapy or personal training. They’re repurposing content from textbooks. In theory, some of their advice may help. But they don’t truly understand our stubborn, chronic pain first-hand. Because they never sat at a computer full-time. They’re physically active throughout the day. Walking around the gym, dishing out an exercise program for 3 clients at a time. They like writing about what studies showed, instead of personal experience.
“Sitting Is The New Smoking”
I get it. This posture myth is catchy. It compares smoking cigarettes to sitting for long periods of time. They both negatively affect heart health, blood flow, and lung capacity.
The human body is designed to move, not sit for 8 hours straight. But, the body’s not made to stand for 8 hours either. That’s why I switch between sitting and standing multiple times a day. I try to practice the most natural variations as possible.
“Sitting is the new smoking.” It’s a myth, because sitting isn’t the only enemy. Working in the same exact position for long periods of time, that’s the enemy. Even if someone has perfect posture, repetitive strain and overuse injuries will still take their toll. Especially on someone holding the same postural muscles activated for 8 hours a day.
I don’t like to say, “Sitting is the new smoking.” I’d rather say, “Sitting is the new car accident.” Because it broke me down, both physically and mentally.
“Sit Up Straight”
A common misconception about good posture…the spine is only straight when looking at it from a front or rear angle. From a side view, the spine has natural curves that are healthy. In order to maintain a neutral spine, we need to make sure these natural curves are intact. Especially when sitting for long periods of time.
“Sit up straight” can be very misleading advice. It can cause us to sit up “too straight.” I used to be guilty of this. When I stopped slouching forward in 2011, I did what I always do, I overdid it. And I sat up “too straight.” The curves in my spine flattened out. It caused just as much pain and dysfunction as slouching forward did, but in different muscles.
How To Fix Computer Pain
Now that we know what bad posture myths to be wary of, let’s focus on how to improve posture while sitting at computer.
Do Not Slouch
Slouching is the most commonly known computer posture mistake. It usually leads to forward head posture. Which makes things exponentially worse.
Don’t Sit Up Too Straight
Maintaining good posture is a balance between slouching and sitting up too straight. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. And that’s very true when it comes to upright posture.
When it comes to spinal position, I describe my comfortable posture like this…
I sit with a balanced, neutral spine, with its natural curves intact.
Switch Between Sit vs Stand Positions Multiple Times A Day
Sitting isn’t the only enemy of ideal posture. Working in the same position for long periods of time is. It doesn’t matter if I sit down or stand up straight.
I switch positions when:
- I start to feel pain or muscle tension from my computer posture
- My work productivity or creativity starts to suffer
- I return to my desk from a break
This allows me to use different postural muscles throughout my workday. Because different muscles are used to support my body, depending if I’m sitting or standing.
Read my guide on how to sit up straight while working.
Repetitive strain and overuse injuries CAN be fixed. But it won’t be easy.
We’re trying to undo repetitive strain and overuse that’s been built up over:
- 8 hours a day
- 5 days a week
- 2,000 hours a year
It’ll take an open mind and consistent effort. But the good news is…I’ll show you everything I’ve learned. So you can learn from my mistakes.
After 10 years of poor computer posture, my body was broken. Both physically and mentally.
But I’ve adopted as many small 1% improvements as possible.
And over time, they’ve led to massive improvements in my ergonomics.
- Less computer-related pain
- Better posture
- More mental clarity
- Better work productivity
Don’t forget to check out: Low-Toxic Living for Better Computer Posture
To make your workstation an asset that promotes good computer posture…
Snag my free eBook titled → 3 Ways to Improve Computer Posture Immediately!
It’ll teach you correct desk level, monitor height, and foot position when working at a computer.
My eBook is a super quick read (5 minutes or less).
Because as office workers, we’re busy as 💩.
And I want to provide the minimal amount of info, that will lead to the most results (when it comes to improving your computer posture).
Thanks for your interest in computer posture.
Todd Bowen — Computer Posture Correction and Pain-Free Ergonomics: For Office Workers Who Want to Increase Work Productivity