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Sheryl Kraft

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March 21, 2016

Posture Counts

Published in: Aging, good posture, Health, health benefits of good posture, health effects of bad posture, Midlife, posture, Staying Healthy, why standing up straight is so important

When I was younger and felt self-conscious about my height, I used to slump a lot. I hated being tall. I wanted to be shorter; petite, even.

And now that all seems not only ironic but so foolish. (That’s probably low on the list of the foolish thoughts we all did when we were younger. May be folly for a future post…)

Now, in this so-called midlife of mine, I don’t want to be shorter. But the sad truth is that height loss is inevitable as you age – you typically lose almost one-half inch every 10 years after you hit 40. The loss is due to changes in your muscles, joints and bones.

So, what can you do? Aside from wearing heels – and that’s not an easy feat (pun intended) – you can try to prevent it by eating a healthy diet, exercising and preventing and treating bone loss.

Oh – and also there is another thing.

Stand up straight. Posture matters.

When I look back on photos of me in my younger days, I can’t help but notice the slouching and how it made me look. It may have made me look (a teeny bit) shorter – yet really, who was I fooling? – but it also made me look like a very unconfident, shy and unhappy girl (which admittedly, I was). And even though I was skinny, it made me look heavier than I was, too.

This isn't me (but could be). Shutterstock.com
This isn’t me (but could be).
Shutterstock.com

Aesthetics aside, bad posture is just plain bad for your body. Really. If you know that you’ve got bad posture, you should look into buying a Posture Corrector Australia ASAP! Who knew it could do so much damage?

  • When researchers from San Francisco State University tested this out on students, having them skip or walk slouching down a hallway, those who slouched felt depressed and less energetic than the ones who skipped. Walking tall can increase both your mood and energy levels.
  • A rounded back and shoulders pave the way for aches and pains. It leads to poor flexibility, which leads to increased stress on your body, since other parts of it have to compensate for the weakness in your upper body.
  • If your bones and joints are out of alignment, the wear and tear on other parts of your body could lead to arthritis.
  • And, poor posture, whether sitting or standing, can mess with your circulation. Slouching pushes your internal organs downward…your stomach protrudes…impeding a smooth flow throughout your gastrointestinal tract. Ideally, you want to put the least strain on the supporting muscles and ligaments as possible.

Now that I want to hang onto every inch of my height, you can bet that I’m standing as tall as I can – and it’s not only when I’m posing for photos. I also try to stay conscious of my posture when I sit, when I exercise, when I lift something and even when I sleep (belly-down is among the worst positions you can choose). If you suffer from hip or ankle pain, you may want to invest in the best leg elevation pillow to help improve your posture as you sleep.

Here's the (posture) scoop.
Here’s the (posture) scoop.

I also just started using a laptop stand (thank you, Griffin, for sending me this to try!) I’m amazed at how it makes a difference when I work on my computer – the screen is now eye-level, and I’m no longer sticking my head out like a turtle to look at the (lower) screen. (And although Griffin supplied the stand free of charge, I am in no way obligated to write this post, nor to tell you I love it if I don’t.)

Here’s a helpful link from Cleveland Clinic which guides you through proper posture positions and techniques.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa Froman says

    March 22, 2016 at 11:15 am

    I am 5’6 and I always wanted to be taller! Lol. Hey, it is great you are standing at your computer. Lots of health benefits over sitting!

    • SherylK says

      March 22, 2016 at 1:25 pm

      Heels will help you grow taller, Lisa – I know how much you love shoes! And I trust you have a few pair at the ready 🙂

  2. Rob K. says

    March 22, 2016 at 1:12 pm

    Altho it was a bit intimidating for us 5’8 guys, you were very sexy back in our school days, being so tall and slim. ….I probably know you longer than any of your readers, so they’ll have to trust me on that one. Right! Embrace your attributes and stand tall!! I embrace having all my own teeth, hair, and a I can still see my toes..!! And someone just told me I look pretty good for 50..(not sure why they thought I was 50…)

    • SherylK says

      March 22, 2016 at 1:26 pm

      I’m blushing…that’s so sweet. If only I knew back then, my posture would have been perfect!
      Teeth, hair and toes – all that is a huge plus – and so is being mistaken for 50.
      Thanks for writing, Rob.

  3. Irene S. Levine says

    March 22, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    Thanks for this reminder! It’s scary when you go for a physical and find out that you are shorter than you think you are:-)

  4. Ruth Pennebaker says

    March 22, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    I’ve been much more conscious of my posture after taking lessons on the Alexander Technique — highly recommend it. I’m clinging to every centimeter of height, too.

  5. Kerri @ Living Large in Our Little House says

    March 23, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    I’m short, so I didn’t slouch for that reason, it was just a habit. Fortunately, I got into competitive horse showing and then drill team in my pre-teen and teen years, which gave me a better appreciation for posture.

  6. Rosalba Gordon says

    March 23, 2016 at 8:03 pm

    I’m petite and very happy with my high even though I ‘m getting shorter. Since I was a teen my mom made me stand against a wall for 5 minutes every day to fix my posture and it worked out pretty well because everyone thought I was taller.

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What’s this so-called midlife, anyway?

It’s a time of tremendous change, growth and opportunity. A time to re-evaluate our choices, our experiences and ourselves. A time to take what we’ve accumulated up until now and put it to work.

When I turned 50, many things changed... read more about me.

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I think your website is GREAT!  It's hard to find an online space that speaks realistically about what happens when we approach our 50's and beyond.  Keep writing, and thanks for your support."
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A High School Student and Aspiring Writer from Australia Reaches Out…

I would love to hear a few things on the prospect from a first hand-perspective, and would be thrilled to learn more about it from you. Your advice is well valued and I’m very grateful to have such wise words from someone with such first hand experience.

I will be looking forward to reading more of your wonderful articles in the future!

Best wishes,

Mikayla

 
Sheryl Kraft
2017-01-17T13:37:55+00:00
I would love to hear a few things on the prospect from a first hand-perspective, and would be thrilled to learn more about it from you. Your advice is well valued and I’m very grateful to have such wise words from someone with such first hand experience. I will be looking forward to reading more of your wonderful articles in the future! Best wishes, Mikayla  
https://sherylkraft.com/testimonials/high-school-student-aspiring-writer-australia-reaches/

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Sheryl Kraft
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On behalf of our entire organization, we'd like to thank you so much for featuring our product in last week’s Parade Magazine. Due to your article, traffic and sales have been great this past week.! We are a small business that prides ourselves on excellent product quality and customer service. We work hard to make quality products and market them effectively but then sometimes you get a gift like your article which really takes us to the next level. We will be eternally grateful to you for choosing us as one of your eye product recommendations.  
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Thanks for taking the time to read this - I know you probably have much more exciting things to be doing, but just know that your work is inspiring me to continue down this writing path.

 
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I'm a young medical writer trying to get a foothold in the industry, so the portfolio you have on your website showcasing your accomplishments is something that I'm aiming to achieve. I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I am hoping you can share some advice, tips, or guidance as I work on this, my lateral career change! Thanks for taking the time to read this - I know you probably have much more exciting things to be doing, but just know that your work is inspiring me to continue down this writing path.  
https://sherylkraft.com/testimonials/im-writing-to-express-my-admiration-for-the-work-you-are-doing/
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