Ask HN: How to break my habit of folding legs on chair and hunchback?
8 comments
>I have a regrettable habit of folding my legs on the chair when working and hunch back, which is unhealthy.
Nerd neck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIsx1t8TJq4
>Anyone who had struggled with something similar in the past, please share your advice and experience.
So here's the thing, my nerd neck was BAD. There are many other videos like this one. There's another trick of fixing your hip angles that will realign things which can help as well; but still effort being made. It's not going to be an instant fix but boy do you ever want to do this. It's a very bad decision to not go this direction. You need to fix your posture for your own sanity.
The thing that really helped me the most. Alexander technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iriXg5uZ_oU
There is a spot where when you get aligned properly, you basically keep good posture automatically without thinking or any effort. In fact your muscles will suddenly relax for the first time in a long time and you'll never go back to bad posture. Alexander technique is lazy living, and yet practically perfect posture.
The other thing that will help greatly. Breath properly. When you breath properly, your lungs will put you in good order.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldNnKVGxabA
Incidentally, all of these things tend to lead to anxiety and adhd.
Nerd neck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIsx1t8TJq4
>Anyone who had struggled with something similar in the past, please share your advice and experience.
So here's the thing, my nerd neck was BAD. There are many other videos like this one. There's another trick of fixing your hip angles that will realign things which can help as well; but still effort being made. It's not going to be an instant fix but boy do you ever want to do this. It's a very bad decision to not go this direction. You need to fix your posture for your own sanity.
The thing that really helped me the most. Alexander technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iriXg5uZ_oU
There is a spot where when you get aligned properly, you basically keep good posture automatically without thinking or any effort. In fact your muscles will suddenly relax for the first time in a long time and you'll never go back to bad posture. Alexander technique is lazy living, and yet practically perfect posture.
The other thing that will help greatly. Breath properly. When you breath properly, your lungs will put you in good order.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldNnKVGxabA
Incidentally, all of these things tend to lead to anxiety and adhd.
>Incidentally, all of these things tend to lead to anxiety and adhd.
I’m curious - are you saying the Alexander method leads to anxiety/adhd? Or that the original postures the Alexander method potentially fixes lead to anxiety/adhd (and thus it could treat anxiety/adhd).
I’ve struggled with posture and seen the Alexander method but never given it a fair try. I’m curious to learn more.
I’m curious - are you saying the Alexander method leads to anxiety/adhd? Or that the original postures the Alexander method potentially fixes lead to anxiety/adhd (and thus it could treat anxiety/adhd).
I’ve struggled with posture and seen the Alexander method but never given it a fair try. I’m curious to learn more.
>I’m curious - are you saying the Alexander method leads to anxiety/adhd? Or that the original postures the Alexander method potentially fixes lead to anxiety/adhd (and thus it could treat anxiety/adhd).
Sorry, I thought my wording was poor but lost ability to edit.
In my opinion it treats anxiety, fixes it. When your posture is bad you are compressing your chest, this leaves your heart compressed a bit. Your heart has to work harder and faster to pump. This leads to anxiety and similar stress like ailments.
By doing all the links, your heart can relax, your muscles relax.
>I’ve struggled with posture and seen the Alexander method but never given it a fair try. I’m curious to learn more.
Apparently its something you cant do for yourself but I generally find given all the other instructions you can get there.
Sorry, I thought my wording was poor but lost ability to edit.
In my opinion it treats anxiety, fixes it. When your posture is bad you are compressing your chest, this leaves your heart compressed a bit. Your heart has to work harder and faster to pump. This leads to anxiety and similar stress like ailments.
By doing all the links, your heart can relax, your muscles relax.
>I’ve struggled with posture and seen the Alexander method but never given it a fair try. I’m curious to learn more.
Apparently its something you cant do for yourself but I generally find given all the other instructions you can get there.
+1 Alexander Technique. I struggled for years to find something that brought relief to a chronic neck/shoulder issue I'd been having.
Turns out one of the exercises from this technique was the key and I've been way more comfortable and capable on the daily since.
Turns out one of the exercises from this technique was the key and I've been way more comfortable and capable on the daily since.
Before anything, make sure to root out any incentives for bad posture from your environment. Just like how tall people sometimes stoop to hear/see the people they're talking to, you may be hunching as a "solution" to some problem in your environment. If you don't fix those problems, any posture adjustments will be short lived.
Some low-hanging fruit there: Make sure your screen is at eye level (when sitting up straight.) Make sure the font sizes on your computer are big enough that you can read without moving your face closer to the screen.
Folding your legs is also going to lead you to hunch if you're not flexible enough to sit up straight while doing it. (I'd wager that most western adults aren't.) Make sure your chair is at a height where you can have your feet comfortably on the ground. If the height doesn't work for your desk, get something to put your feet on. (My wife uses a laundry basket.)
In case of a dire need for intervention, strap your feet into a snowboard while working. (Half joking, but with my own ADHD, I feel like I'd need to physically restrain myself to break a deeply ingrained habit like that.)
Some low-hanging fruit there: Make sure your screen is at eye level (when sitting up straight.) Make sure the font sizes on your computer are big enough that you can read without moving your face closer to the screen.
Folding your legs is also going to lead you to hunch if you're not flexible enough to sit up straight while doing it. (I'd wager that most western adults aren't.) Make sure your chair is at a height where you can have your feet comfortably on the ground. If the height doesn't work for your desk, get something to put your feet on. (My wife uses a laundry basket.)
In case of a dire need for intervention, strap your feet into a snowboard while working. (Half joking, but with my own ADHD, I feel like I'd need to physically restrain myself to break a deeply ingrained habit like that.)
>In case of a dire need for intervention, strap your feet into a snowboard while working.
Or just use some double-sided duct-tape and tape a pair of old slippers to the floor as an economical alternative.
Or just use some double-sided duct-tape and tape a pair of old slippers to the floor as an economical alternative.
> In case of a dire need for intervention, strap your feet into a snowboard while working. (Half joking, but with my own ADHD, I feel like I'd need to physically restrain myself to break a deeply ingrained habit like that.)
This is great idea!, while it does not have to be snowboard :)
This is great idea!, while it does not have to be snowboard :)
No matter what position your legs are in, it is the head and neck you need to align - make sure your screen is placed somewhere that makes you keep your head and neck up to look at it.
If you are working directly on a laptop, get an external keyboard. Disconnecting your screen position from your hand position can go a long way.
If you are working directly on a laptop, get an external keyboard. Disconnecting your screen position from your hand position can go a long way.
Build strong back muscles and core muscles. Do rowing movements like inverted bodyweight rows or maybe pullups if you can.
Standing desk?
What's your workout regime? Squats? Bench press?
What's your workout regime? Squats? Bench press?
Perhaps look into a "kneeling chair".
Are you working from home or in a workplace? Available options are much more limited with the latter.
it's not necessarily unhealthy
anyway try half lotus instead. instant pelvis realignment
anyway try half lotus instead. instant pelvis realignment
Anyone who had struggled with something similar in the past, please share your advice and experience.
BTW, I also have ADHD which comes with challenge of behavior inhibition.