6 Ways to Avoid Bad Posture

Protect your body from posture pitfalls during everyday activities.

Avoid Bad Posture When You’re Wrapping Gifts

Your tendency: To plop down on the floor with boxes, paper, ribbons, scissors, and tape spread all around and become a one-woman wrapping machine. This can cause you to hunch over or suddenly stretch for an out-of-reach ribbon, leading to tension and strain in the neck and the shoulders and eventual stiffness or soreness.

The better way: To sit in a chair at a table, with your abdomen pulled in, your stomach muscles engaged, and your shoulders back and down. Keep all materials within easy reach to avoid awkward stretches. If only the floor will do, sit on a firm pillow or a folded blanket to raise your hips higher than your knees, relieving pressure on the lower back.