Don't be a slouch!

I was flipping through my pictures of my time in Paris, and I came across one photo of myself that made me feel a bit uneasy, more so than I usually am whenever I look at pictures of myself. This particular photo annoyed me especially so much because...I was slouching horribly. My body looked like a stump sitting at the Luxembourg Gardens, and though I seemed happy, my posture didn't look it.

I know, I know...everyone slouches. Well, maybe not everyone, but it's pretty common and I'm not the only person who does it. But I can't help but feel a bit bothered at my horrible posture.

So for a week I've been trying to snap out of this slouching stance. Slouching has never been something that I take notice of when I'm sitting down, but I made sure that took note of it this past week. Whenever I caught myself slouching in my seat, I would snap out of it very quickly and straighten up my back and slightly drop my shoulders down to a relaxed but poised level. At first it felt a bit weird, but gradually I made a habit to straighten up and it didn't take me long to notice whether I was slouching or not.

And I must say...not only am I saving my back from developing a hunch in the future, but I also am lifting my psyche when I sit with better posture. It's as if I feel stronger and more in control whenever I sit up straight. This all may sound silly, but simply sitting upright can shape my mood significantly. Besides that, I felt like I looked better. From the outside, I might even look like I have some confidence in me!

Even a friend pointed out that I had "superb" posture the other day when I was sitting on an outdoor bench. People take notice!

So remember: to get out of that slump, don't be a slouch! If you need to find your inner Duchess of Cambridge to do so, then so be it.