Bad posture for over-extended periods of time can be quite harmful for your bones and muscles. We’ve compiled a few tips that will help you sit in the healthiest way possible so your body isn’t in agony every time you get up from the chair.

1) Investing in a posture corrector chair.

These products might not seem worth your time and money, but they are. Even if you make a conscious effort to keep your posture healthy, you may not be able to maintain it. People find themselves slouching back into painful positions over long office hours. This is where a posture corrector chair comes in. This kind of chair helps you keep your posture proper constantly, especially when you feel it slipping away. They’re designed for the sole purpose of maintaining and improving posture, so it may be worth your while to get one.

2) Leaning your back a little.

It can be very helpful to sit as you lean your back against the chair. The straight position that people usually take is very harmful for your spine, despite contrary beliefs. Some studies have found that sitting with your back straight is not helpful at all. A relaxed position where you’re learning at around 135 degrees will help you maintain the health of your spine over time. The reason why these positions are harmful is because over time, the effect builds up and starts doing damage to your bones. It’s important to counter this with good posture, consistently.

3) Investing in an ergonomics chair.

These are specially designed, adjustable chairs. They usually come with a backrest that supports the natural curve of the spine, and you can adjust the position of the chair. Ergonomics chairs also come with lumbar adjustments, which lets people adjust the chair according to the individual curve of their lower back. This can be a very worthwhile product for people that have desk jobs that require a lot of sitting. These chairs are designed to support the spine, in a variety of postures. If you’re suffering from back problems, you may want to invest in an ergonomics chair.

4) Avoid settling into the chair.

People tend to get very comfortable in the positions they’re in if they’re sitting for long periods of time. If you find yourself needing to relax, then instead of focusing your weight on your elbow, or taking another harmful position, get up instead. It can be helpful to go for a bit of a walk instead of settling into an uncomfortable position. This will help you avoid making a habit of these positions.

5) Starting out small.

If you’re just starting out on the long journey of changing your posture then it’s important to remember to start slow and small. You may catch yourself slipping many times, and you may feel demotivated after a few days, but you have to keep at it. This goes a very long way in your older age in making sure that your spine is healthy. It’s important to keep in mind your posture at all times. However, it’s also very important to ease into the process. Don’t force ideal posture immediately, as you may quickly get annoyed and burned out. Instead, take it step by step, and work your way up to it.