Does your posture affect your day? Your posture health can have a huge impact on you and your business.
Creating your own profitable blog is never an easy experience. You have to dedicate an enormous amount of time and energy to your work in order to ensure you can achieve your goals.
This means that your health and wellness get knocked down to the bottom of your list of priorities. As you probably have far too many other responsibilities to think about beforehand.
However, this is one of the worst decisions that you can make for the sake of your body and mind. Being in poor health has a knock-on effect on the rest of your life too – including your blog business.
Rather than allowing what you’ve worked so hard for to just slip away as you lose focus and encounter illness, there’s no time like the present to start taking your well-being more seriously.
Table of Contents
Working From Home Affects On Our Health and Posture
When we work from home, we may not have access to ergonomic office chairs and desks that keep us in the right position. As a result, many of us end up hunching over our laptops or slouching on the couch to work.
Over time, this can place extra pressure on our spines and lead to chronic pain. So next time you’re tempted to work from bed or the couch, remember that good posture is key to a healthy back.
So, if you’re interested to find out more about how you can stay healthy whilst running your own blog business, then read on. You will uncover a variety of tips and tricks that you can make the most of today.
Reducing Your Screen Time
One of the biggest health risks associated with blogging is the impact that such a large amount of screen time can have on the body and mind.
Staring at your computer screen for hours on end every single day will no doubt begin to cause considerable strain after a short period of time, and this can easily lead to painful headaches and even debilitating migraines.
Reducing your screen time to ensure that your eyes can take a break every once in a while is absolutely essential. It can also be beneficial to use a workspace that makes the most of natural light rather than turning on bright LEDs, as natural light is far gentler.
Get Up Get Moving
Sitting down at your desk for upwards of 40 hours a week can trigger an array of health conditions, most of which relate to either your circulation or waistline.
Your circulation will not be able to flow freely as it was originally designed if you are constantly sat down, as the blood will begin to pool at the base of your spine rather than reaching the tip of your toes.
You’re also far more likely to gain weight and experience related side effects as a result of your lack of exercise, so there’s no time like the present to get up and get moving.
There are lots of handy resources online that you can use to motivate yourself, like the exercise apps and those that track your daily movements to help you move more.
Does Posture Affect Your Day?
The average person will spend more than 18 years of their life sitting down. And, a huge proportion of that, is for office-based workers and those now working from home at their desks.
That’s four and a half hours each day seated at your computer! (Seven when you count other sitting time).
It can all add up to a huge host of problems with your back if you have incorrect postures and your desk is not set up correctly.
Our spines fall naturally into three slight curves. The neck and the lower back, or lumbar, should form a C-shaped curve, known as lordosis. The mid and upper back should have a smaller reversed C shape, referred to as kyphosis.
The trouble starts when the natural curvature of the spine is consistently forced out of position. And it is due to the way we sit during the working day as more work from home.
The spine is composed of segments and spinal discs that give flexibility, range of movement, and shock absorption to our bodies.
The Day As A Blogger or Small Biz Owner Sitting
However, with the modern lifestyle of poor sitting postures, working on computers all day, and bending over our mobile phones, we can alter the natural curvature of the spine. Thus, causing changes that have the potential to significantly alter our quality of life.
Degenerative joint conditions, neck pain, lower back pain, slipped discs and severe headaches are just some of the consequences you may already have experienced.
Sitting all day does affect your posture as a blogger or small business owner.
Take it from me, I’ve been in PT and at a chiropractor last year. And that was after getting steroid injections from all of this.
Sitting for long hours is not good for you. Your posture plays a huge role in it.
How Can Poor Posture Result In Back Pain?
When we work from home, we may not have access to ergonomic office chairs and desks that keep us in the right position. As a result, many of us end up hunching over our laptops or slouching on the couch to work.
Over time, this can place extra pressure on our spines and lead to chronic pain. So next time you’re tempted to work from bed or the couch, remember that good posture is key to a healthy back.
Working and Staying Healthy As Posture Affects Your Day
When it comes to our working day, this isn’t great news. Physical discomfort stops us from focusing properly. This pain affects our productivity.
By getting to understand more about our desks and seating, and how to correctly adjust them so we are sitting right. This will support our backs and we can avoid the discomfort.
This infographic shows the different component parts of an executive office chair. Furthermore, how you can understand their effect on your posture and working life:
Infographic Design By Autonomous
Other Tips to Help Offset How Posture Affects Your Day
- Invest in a good chair and desk for your home office. You’ll be so happy you did as I did over a year ago now.
- Be sure to take breaks often. Don’t sit for more than 1/2 hour at a time. Stand up, and stretch at least!
- Sit straight while you are working away on the computer.
- Invest in a standing desk so you are not sitting for such long periods of time. You can use both in your office or at another location in your home or office too.
- Schedule your breaks so you don’t forget as I often have done over the years. And then, it was too late and I needed medical attention.
Yes, you can always learn from my mistakes here at Inspire To Thrive! ~ Lisa
Take Breaks For Posture Health
Working from home has its perks, but it’s easy to forget about taking breaks when you’re comfortable in your own space. As much as our bodies appreciate the cozy environment, sitting for long periods of time can do a real number on our backs and posture.
To avoid any unnecessary aches and pains, take a break every once in a while to stretch your legs and move around a bit. Not only will this do wonders for your posture, but getting some movement in throughout the day can make all the difference in your overall health.
Who knows, you might even find yourself feeling more productive and energized throughout the day. So, next time you feel like you’re in a never-ending slump at your desk, take a break and give your body the attention it deserves.
In Conclusion: How Posture Affect Your Days
With any luck, utilizing the tips described above will help you to regain a sense of health and vitality. These tips will allow you to take your blog business to a whole new level.
How can you reach your full potential if you aren’t feeling as right as rain? Reduce your screen time and exercise often to feel like a million bucks.
Now, what are you doing to sit better throughout your day blogging or working in your small business? How many hours per day do you sit for?
Please leave a comment below and share it on your favorite social media networks.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
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I don’t let myself stay seated for 3 hours without changing posture. I don’t want any problems with my spine. One needs to do some stretching and walking around before coming back to your sitting position.
Nice article
Thank you Fidel. That’s a good thing. I try to get up at least every 2 hours though I should do it more frequently. I love going for short walks too. Have a great day.
Hi Lisa,
You make some good points in this post. I would just like to add that sitting for long periods and not doing proper exercise also causes weak glutes and core. Having weak glutes and core is a huge contributor to low back pain for pretty much everyone. As an RMT I very seldom see low back pain that is an actual low back issue, except for instances such as disc issues, arthritis etc. So often this is overlooked by massage therapists, chiros, physios, pretty much everyone. If you have a strong, engaged core it is pretty much impossible to slouch, also your core helps to stabilize the lumbar spine. When glutes do not fire properly it causes all surrounding muscle groups to have to work harder. Glutes have a tendency to be lazy. This also contributes to low back pain. So strengthen core, strengthen glutes, and then like you suggested, take regular breaks and a proper chair and desk is a must.
Another thing that is often overlooked and most people don’t realize is that poor posture also contributes to carpal tunnel symptoms. Very often the numbness, tingling and weakness that a person experiences in the arms/hands, actually starts with nerve impingement in the neck. From there, that nerve can become impinged at multiple points down the arm. Carpal Tunnel is not just from typing or using a mouse or other repetitive motions that people are lead to believe. If you are getting any of those symptoms treatment should almost always start at the neck.
I strongly suggest that everyone find an awesome massage therapist and see them regularly but I may be a bit biased.
SharlaAnn
Thanks Sharlanna, yes, we must take those breaks from sitting for a long period of time working on our computers. I had carpal tunnels years ago and B6 helped me tremendously! A co-worker of mine was going for surgery but after taking her B6 for a month she canceled it and was fine. I’m a big believer in that and I’m sure massage therapy feels good too! Thanks for your input and have a great day ahead.
I have not heard of taking B6 for carpal tunnel before. I will definitely have to check this out. I wonder what else it would work for? Hmmm. Thanks so much for sharing this info Lisa!
Vitamin B6 also helps depression SharlaAnn, I’ve read that.
Hi Lisa,
I heard a lot about the effects caused bad posture who works daily 8-9 hours in front of the computer screen. Taking some break and exercise routine can help in getting rid of the most common back pain problems.
Thanks for sharing such nice information.
As a content manager, i daily spend 4 to 6 hours in front of the screen. I take regular breaks and use basic stretches to avoid posture problems and improve focus on work.
Posture tips share in the article are worthy as well.
Hi Noman, is that all? That’s great that you can keep your time down in front of the screen on sitting for those periods of time. Taking breaks is really key and I have to try hard to remember to. Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful weekend.
I must admit that I am guilty of working for long hours without paying too much attention to posture. Working from home has meant working from the bed, couch… just about anywhere in all sort of weird positions. Thankfully haven’t had any problems until now, but this is an eyeopener. Must try the standing desk and see how it goes and maybe get a good quality office chair sometime soon.
Hi Sanjeev, I was the same way! For many years too. But now I think about it a lot as it does affect my health and then my business. Hoping this will help in the future. Thanks for coming by and have a great day!
Hi Lisa,
WHOA…18 years? Nuts. I literally, every single day, spend 1/6th of the day managing my energy by meditating, doing Kriya yoga, doing yin yoga, and power walking. Every one of those 4 hours collectively is about energy-flow, posture, balance and overall wellness, because I do spend mucho time sitting and typing. The chair tips about are super helpful. I need to find a good travel chair that folds up, that I can take from location to location.
Ryan
Yes, isn’t that crazy Ryan? To think we spend 18 years sitting down. You do get in a lot of walks and exercise! I bet there is one. I’ll have to let you know what I find Ryan for a travel chair – a great idea! I’m working on not sitting down for so long at a time. This year really taught me that with my back issues. Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful weekend (Halloween) ahead!
Checking back in, Lisa. Timely post as I was hunched over my laptop in a hotel room LOL.
Ryan
That’s too funny Ryan! I hope your weekend is going well there!
I encourage people to get off from their desks every two hours to walk around for five minutes. It really helps to release those pressure points in the back, bottom and legs. I have felt better since I started taking those short breaks. Another thing I do is to get off my desk for at least an hour and half exercise every day. Even if I have to watch a video or listen to an audio book, I can schedule those around my exercise time when doing it at home. Exercise helps improve circulation and releases stress. Having a good chair as you suggest here with head rest and lumbar support is great. Also, sitting as close to 90 degree angle with feet resting flat on the floor are things to consider providing you get up and walk. This goes for the parents as well as the kids since most of them are also studying remotely. My son complained of neck pain and I replaced his study chair with one that has a head rest. He loves it and now feel better. Thanks for the post.
Hi Hope, welcome to Inspire To Thrive! I’m trying every hour now after what I’ve been through. Exercise is great for so many things and a wonderful HABIT to get into. I feel for those young kids today doing schooling at home with no outdoor recess like the old days. I sure hope it doesn’t last long or the effects will last their lifetimes. Do take care Hope and thanks for coming by.
As someone who’s had a slight curvature of the spine since childhood, I need to be extremely careful with how many hours I spend sitting in an office chair and/or standing for long periods of time. These are fabulous tips, Lisa. I love the seat infographic too. Just reminds me I think I’m due for a new office chair at work. Thank you for sharing this!
Hi Brenda, I didn’t know that about you after all these years I’ve known you. Wow. I recently purchased a new one from Staples and am very happy with it! They do make a difference. Next, on the bucket list is a standing desk too. Thanks for coming by and have a great weekend ahead!
I cross my legs and sit hunched over for hours a day at my computer. I have always crossed my legs when I sit. It feels weird not to. Unfortunately, that’s causing a hump to form on my upper back.
I’ve always kind of had a small hump, probably because I’ve always had poor posture. But now I can really feel how far hunched over I am when I try to straighten up once in a while. It’s like I grow a full foot or more.
And that hump is uncomfortable. It doesn’t feel natural. It feels stiff and heavy.
I’ve (finally) realized that I need a shorter chair so that I’m not so high above my desk and can sit straighter. If I don’t change now, I’m going to be one of those hunched over seniors, without a doubt.
Hi Kari, welcome to Inspire To Thrive. That’s not good! Yes, I would change that as soon as you could. Another option is the standing desk too. I hope you are able to make some adjustments there. Thanks for coming by and have a great day!
Hi Lisa,
Back pain used to be a common problem for me.
I sit continuously for more than 2 hrs.
But I have changed that schedule not more than 1hr.
Although I have not invested in any proper chair for my working hours, I have started working out and going to the gym regularly.
At least my back pain problem has gone and I can able to focus more on my writing work.
Thanks for this post Lisa, your articles are always very helpful.
Regards
Dipanjan
Hi Dipanjan, It sounds like you got your back issue under control. That’s a good thing! I’ve been working on it as well. I have issues like this and carpel tunnel over the years. Amazing how much damage from sitting at a desk, isn’t it? Thanks for coming by and for your valuable input. Have a great day!
Hi Lisa,
It can be challenging stressful sitting down for longer periods, which is why your post is timely and valuable. Yes, getting a more comfortable office chair is ideal as it helps with the spine and other vital areas. I love the infographic; however, you still need to do a little more to improve your health. For this, I take regular short breaks every 25 – 30 mins to stretch a little.
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Moss. Yes, for sure! I am working on taking those breaks Moss. I tend to keep on putting them off as I get more done on my to-do list but that needs to be big on the to-do list! Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful day there Moss.