Posture

Your posture is part of your non verbal communication

Posture can demonstrate confidence, poise, presence, or it can demonstrate insecurity, fear, boredom or sheer laziness.

How you hold your head, how you sit, walk and stand all constitute posture behaviour. How you move and carry yourself communicates a wealth of information to the world.

How many times do you walk into a store and see the employee or business owner leaning on something, slouching, and looking totally disinterested and sometimes annoyed at having to serve you.

Its wrong and can indicate poor self esteem too. We all experience fatigue if we are in positions that require us to stand for long periods, so staying focused on the job at hand can mean the difference to you creating that wow experience or leaving your client feeling short changed.

There are many articles on body posture you can refer to, it is an essential part of your overall appearance, and necessary for good health.

Some tips for practicing good posture include:

1. How do I sit properly?

Keep your feet on the floor or on a footrest, if they don’t reach the floor.
Don’t cross your legs. Your ankles should be in front of your knees.
Keep a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat.
Your knees should be at or below the level of your hips.
Adjust the backrest of your chair to support your low- and mid-back or use a back support.
Relax your shoulders and keep your forearms parallel to the ground.
Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time.

2. How do I stand properly?

Bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet.
Keep your knees slightly bent.
Keep your feet about shoulder-width apart.
Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of the body.
Stand straight and tall with your shoulders pulled backward.
Tuck your stomach in.
Keep your head level-your earlobes should be in line with your shoulders. Do not push your head forward, backward, or to the side.
Shift your weight from your toes to your heels, or one foot to the other, if you have to stand for a long time.

3. What is the proper lying position?

Find the mattress that is right for you. While a firm mattress is generally recommended, some people find that softer mattresses reduce their back pain. Your comfort is important.
Sleep with a pillow. Special pillows are available to help with postural problems resulting from a poor sleeping position.
Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
Sleeping on your side or back is more often helpful for back pain.
If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs. If you sleep on your back, keep a pillow under your knees.

Most importantly, stay in the moment, day dreaming or thinking about what you plan to do after work or on the weekend can shift your focus and you will find yourself reverting back to old habits.