Dear Classy Career Girl!
Have you ever blogged about posture? How you stand, sit, type, etc.?
And how important posture is for our health and our professional image?
How Important Is Proper Posture to Our Professional Image?
Thanks for your question!
This question reminds me of my first networking interview with Dawn Stanyon where she talked about how to effectively communicate at work. Part of our discussion was about how young professional women can have body language that projects confidence in the workplace. Dawn shared that there are many body language tricks we can learn to help communicate because the most important thing to convey confidence is great posture.
Proper posture has the following benefits:
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Improves the image you project. It makes you more attractive and professional.
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Helps reduce the risk of neck injuries and back pain.
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Minimizes fatigue and pain from aching joints. You also have the benefit of getting more air for better breathing.
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Prevents improper spinal alignment, which can lead to headaches and discomfort.
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Improves your self-esteem.
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Helps your blood circulation, food digestion, air breathing, and waste elimination.
Proper posture also helps you focus better and be more productive at work, which we can all use more of! But, there is more than one type of posture. Let’s look at the different types and how you can ensure you are sitting or standing properly.
Sitting Posture
Most of us spend too much time in front of the computer which can lead to back pain and neck pain. For this reason, good posture is really important when sitting in office chairs or at your workstation. The key to avoiding pain and long-term injury is to make sure that you are able to work comfortably and in neutral posture. So how can you do that?
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Implement a user-friendly workspace: Adjust your office chair, your computer, and desk pointing in a way that you feel comfortable. Check the position of your screen; make sure your chair is at the right height so your eyes are level with your computer monitor.
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Keep your shoulders and back relaxed: Rest your wrist on your desk and keep your feet flat on the floor and refrain from placing your feet under your chair. Sit in a way that you’ll feel comfortable and also professional and sophisticated.
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Take a break from sitting: Every hour try to some stretching or take a walking break.
Standing Posture
You can promote a good standing posture by maintaining the natural curve of the spine. Here’s how you can maintain those curves:
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Chest out, head back.
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Keep your shoulders directly over your pelvis.
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Tuck in your buttocks.
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Position one foot slightly in front of the other and slightly apart.
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Tighten the core abdominal muscles.
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Stand tall and be confident.
