I’ve made a discovery that has made a big difference in my everyday physical comfort. And I feel like an idiot, because it’s so obvious.
What do I do? I relax my shoulders.
Somehow, I finally caught on to the fact that when I walk around outside, and especially when I’m writing, I gradually tense up my shoulders.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve made a point to instruct myself, “Shoulders down!” and I get a wonderful feeling of relief as my shoulders relax.
Now that I’m paying attention, I’ve been surprised to discover how much time I spend each day with my shoulders up around my ears. I’m not sure why I’ve developed this habit.
Maybe I’m just imagining it, but I do think I’ve been having more energy at the end of the day. It takes more energy to keep my shoulders tense than to keep them relaxed, and it makes my back hurt.
In the past, the thought of returning to my desk after the girls were asleep seemed too physically taxing to tackle. But why? Sitting at a desk isn’t physically demanding. Well, my tense shoulders may have been the culprit.
And as I lower my shoulders, I’m trying to sit up straighter. Ah, the pursuit of better posture! This is a habit I’ve been trying to pick up for years and years.
