Dear LPG,

Have you ever realised that something that you think only others are affected by is affecting you as well?   I think that when we look in the mirror, we most often angle ourselves so that we are facing our reflective selves head-on, but the other day I caught myself in my full length hall mirror as I passed it and realised that I am becoming a little hunched.  

I think that having been stuck at home for so long has left us with less to do than normal and the little things become more important as a result.  If it were not for the pandemic, I would have been so preoccupied that I would have dismissed what I saw, but the internet taught me a thing or two about making sure that my bad neck posture does not get any worse.

Apparently, those of us who have spent time on activities where the need to concentrate on what is in front of us are the ones that are most likely to be affected.  Apparently lots of time sitting in front of a computer, concentrating on the screen of a mobile phone or doing a hobby that causes us to focus on what our hands at their natural level, can be responsible for a lot of our bad posture, and I am guilty, but I have found a few exercises and information that might make a difference, or at least keep any tendency to continually look down with your neck as well as your eyes in check.

I have decided, that while I still have the stay-at-home time available, I need to nip it in the bud with a few exercises that I found online and I have to say that, now I have started, I feel better for doing them. 

So, can I suggest that we all practise focussing with our eyes and not our necks, taking the odd look in the mirror sideways as we pass it, and being honest with our computer and mobile phone-using family members and friends.  We also need to remember to take a bit more notice of those around us who are honest enough to hint about our posture…    

…and when you look in the mirror, turn side-on every now and then. 

  TR, Beckenham.

TR offers some information on the subject of holding your head up high without pain…

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