Do you manage to sit and stand properly?   When you were a child, you undoubtedly depended on grownups to tell you to "sit up straight" anytime you began to slouch, but as an adult, that same reminder isn't as simple to come by. Good posture is more than an abstract idea that only applies to kids. It is essential to your health. Here is a list of seven weighty reasons to improve poor posture.

1. Improve muscle function
Good posture positions your muscles (and, indeed, your entire body) for success. Because your muscles are linked to bones at both ends, their ability to work properly is dependent on those bones being in the correct position. When your bones are out of place, they pull your muscles out of place as well. 

This causes muscles to be unduly extended or underutilized, which can contribute to back, neck, or shoulder pain. However, when your posture is correct, your muscles can move as they should. This helps you to move more readily and comfortably than you would otherwise, laying the groundwork for muscular strength, mobility, and other benefits.

2. Boost self-confidence
Improving your posture might have an effect on your self-confidence. According to one research, students who maintained an upright, confident posture were considerably more likely to feel confident in their thinking—and outperformed their peers on arithmetic examinations. Feeling more secure in your ideas at work will help you succeed in the long run.

3. Ease headaches
Tension at the back of the neck caused by improper posture might result in unwanted headaches. Simple neck muscle strengthening exercises can assist, but so can changes to your ergonomic surroundings and posture. Do you spend hours looking at your computer monitor or phone? That is an issue that can cause headaches.

4. Improve breathing issues
Proper posture always begins with the breath, which is the very center of the body. Your diaphragm is a vital muscle that is in charge of respiration (inhalation + exhalation) or breathing. When the diaphragm contracts, a pressure gradient forms within the thorax. As the ribs expand due to the pressure differential, air flows into the lungs.

Correct breathing can increase the mechanical efficiency of the lungs by expanding the space inside the thorax on inhalation. The diaphragm, like any other muscle in the body, can be trained, and when the diaphragm contracts fully, we increase the amount of air we can suck into our lungs. Working on breathing can increase lung capacity by 20-30%, according to estimates.

5. Reduce the chance of abnormal wear and tear of joints
Standing or sitting with a curved posture, such as resting on one leg or side of your body, can cause hip pain. Our joints naturally deteriorate over time. When your posture is even, few difficulties develop. However, if your posture is improper, you may have acute discomfort and other issues.

6. Improve digestion
When important organs are compressed, circulation weakens and those organs work poorly. Slouching, moving your shoulders forward, or rounding your back reduces circulation, leaving you open to digestive issues like constipation and GERD. When you have proper posture, your internal organs line properly. This results in less strain on your stomach, intestines, and liver, enabling nutrients and digestive fluids to flow easily.

7. Reduce fatigue and depression
Simply changing one's posture to a more upright stance might boost one's mood and energy levels. The truth is that your posture has an impact on your optimism, energy, and even mood. The reason for this is that your posture automatically influences your mental state. 

When you're depressed, your shoulders naturally sag, yet when you're comfortable or joyful, your posture is erect and open. You may actually achieve your desired state of mind by improving your posture.