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If you’re reading this, chances are you:
This guide is broken into parts so you can digest it, implement it, and finally stop looking like a shriveled potato in photos.
Part 1: Anatomy 101—Your Skeleton Isn’t a Stretchy Toy
Before we go into exercises, you need to understand why posture goes to shit.
TL;DR: Spine is S-shaped. Slouching = thoracic kyphosis + forward head.
Reality check: You can’t “snap” perfect posture overnight. Bones are fine, muscles adapt slowly.
Part 2: The Posture Assessment (See Where You’re Shit)
Before fixing it, measure it:
Part 3: Daily Habits That Destroy Posture
Stop doing these:
Part 4: Corrective Exercises (Weak Muscles)
You need to strengthen weak muscles or nothing else matters.
Part 5: Stretching Tight Muscles
Weak muscles aren’t the only problem. Tight muscles pull you forward:
Part 6: Realistic Daily Routine
You’re not going to gym 5x/week? Okay fatass. Here’s a daily 15-minute fix:
Part 7: Standing Posture Hacks
Part 8: Sitting Posture Hacks
Part 9: Common Mistakes
Part 10: Lifestyle Factors
Part 11: Posture & Appearance
Fixing posture does more than prevent pain:
Part 12: Progress Tracking
Part 13: The Mindset
Stop waiting for “natural posture” to magically appear. Sitting hunched 8+ hours/day and hoping for a nice back is delusional. Fixing posture is:
TL;DR
If it’s not 5000 words exactly, shove a rock up your ass @Schnee
- Slouch like a depressed gorilla.
- Get back or neck pain from sitting at a desk all day.
- Want to look taller, more confident, and less like a human question mark.
This guide is broken into parts so you can digest it, implement it, and finally stop looking like a shriveled potato in photos.
Part 1: Anatomy 101—Your Skeleton Isn’t a Stretchy Toy
Before we go into exercises, you need to understand why posture goes to shit.
- Spine Basics
- Cervical (neck): 7 vertebrae. Normally slightly curved forward (lordosis).
- Thoracic (upper back): 12 vertebrae. Normally curved backward (kyphosis). Slouch comes from here.
- Lumbar (lower back): 5 vertebrae. Normally curved forward (lordosis).
TL;DR: Spine is S-shaped. Slouching = thoracic kyphosis + forward head.
- Muscles That Matter
- Weak/Long: Upper back (rhomboids, traps), glutes, core.
- Tight/Short: Chest (pecs), hip flexors, neck flexors.
- Trick: Bad posture isn’t just slouching; it’s a battle of tight vs weak muscles.
- Joints and Discs
- Your vertebrae sit on discs. Slouching compresses them unevenly.
- Sitting like a potato all day = uneven load = pain and spinal degeneration.
Reality check: You can’t “snap” perfect posture overnight. Bones are fine, muscles adapt slowly.
Part 2: The Posture Assessment (See Where You’re Shit)
Before fixing it, measure it:
- Wall Test (Back Alignment)
- Stand against a wall, heels 2-3 inches away, back flat.
- Check head, shoulder blades, butt, and heels contact.
- If your head sticks forward or lower back has a huge arch, you’re fucked.
- Mirror Check
- Side view: Ear, shoulder, hip, knee should roughly line up vertically.
- Front view: Shoulders level? Head centered? Hips balanced?
- Forward Head / Rounded Shoulders Check
- Grab a stick behind your back. Elbows should touch. If not, pecs are tight, upper back weak.
Part 3: Daily Habits That Destroy Posture
Stop doing these:
- Laptop slouch: Neck forward, back curved, eyes 1 inch from screen.
- Phone hunch: “Text neck” is real. stop looking down like a prisoner.
- Couch potato sit: Butt sinking, legs up, shoulders rolled.
- Backpack overload: 50 lbs on your back? No.
- Keep screens at eye level.
- Feet flat on floor, knees 90°, hips neutral.
- Backpack weight <15% of body weight.
- Take standing breaks every hour.
Part 4: Corrective Exercises (Weak Muscles)
You need to strengthen weak muscles or nothing else matters.
- Upper Back / Rhomboids
- Face pulls: Band or cable, pull to eyes, squeeze shoulder blades. 3x12.
- Scap retractions: Lie face down, lift chest slightly, pinch shoulder blades.
- Lower Traps / Mid Back
- Y-T-W raises: Lay prone, lift arms into shapes Y, T, W. Squeeze each rep.
- Rows: Dumbbell or machine rows, elbows back, chest proud.
- Core / Glutes
- Planks: Front and side, 30-60 sec.
- Glute bridges: Stop sitting on ass all day; activate glutes.
- Neck / Cervical Posture
- Chin tucks: Pull chin back, keep eyes level. 10–15 reps, slow.
- Neck extension with band: Strengthen deep neck extensors.
Part 5: Stretching Tight Muscles
Weak muscles aren’t the only problem. Tight muscles pull you forward:
- Chest / Pec Stretch
- Doorway stretch: hands on frame, lean forward, feel pecs stretch. 30 sec each side.
- Helps open shoulders, counters hunched posture.
- Hip Flexors / Quads
- Lunge stretch with torso upright. Tight hip flexors = anterior pelvic tilt.
- Neck / Sternocleidomastoid
- Gentle lateral and forward stretch. Avoid crazy pulling.
- Upper Back / Thoracic Mobility
- Foam roll thoracic spine. 1–2 min daily.
- Cat-cow yoga motion: arch and round spine slowly.
Part 6: Realistic Daily Routine
You’re not going to gym 5x/week? Okay fatass. Here’s a daily 15-minute fix:
- Morning:
- 10 chin tucks
- 10 scap retractions
- 1-min plank
- During Work:
- Every hour: stand up, shoulder rolls, chest stretch 30 sec
- Adjust monitor height, sit upright
- Evening / Pre-bed:
- Foam roll thoracic spine 2 min
- Glute bridges 15–20 reps
- Cat-cow stretch 10–15 reps
Part 7: Standing Posture Hacks
- Feet shoulder-width, weight evenly distributed.
- Chest up, shoulders back and down.
- Head neutral, not jutting forward.
- Hips neutral, not sticking out.
- Tiny hacks: hold wallet in front pocket instead of back pocket, pull shoulder blades back during daily walking.
Part 8: Sitting Posture Hacks
- Feet flat, knees 90°
- Back supported (lumbar support pillow if needed)
- Screen at eye level
- Take micro-breaks: stand, stretch every 30–60 min
- Don’t cross legs constantly. it tilts pelvis
Part 9: Common Mistakes
- Overstretching: You can’t yank your muscles into perfect posture. Stretch too hard → injuries.
- Ignoring weak muscles: Stretching alone = useless.
- Expecting instant results: It’s months of work.
- Poor sleeping posture: Pillow too high/low, side-sleeping with arms under pillow. Messes up cervical spine.
Part 10: Lifestyle Factors
- Weight management: Extra belly weight tilts pelvis forward.
- Shoes: Heels tilt pelvis, flip-flops give zero support.
- Sleep: Firm mattress, proper pillow height.
- Desk setup: Ergonomics = prevent future slouching.
Part 11: Posture & Appearance
Fixing posture does more than prevent pain:
- Looks taller, leaner, stronger
- Improves jawline visibility (no more double chin from forward head)
- Confidence boost (people notice upright stance)
- Better breathing / lung capacity
Part 12: Progress Tracking
- Take photos weekly from side view.
- Measure chin-to-neck line, shoulder line, and back curve.
- Track plank hold times and rows/retractions weight.
Part 13: The Mindset
Stop waiting for “natural posture” to magically appear. Sitting hunched 8+ hours/day and hoping for a nice back is delusional. Fixing posture is:
- Awareness 24/7
- Strengthening weak muscles
- Stretching tight muscles
- Correcting sitting, standing, sleeping habits
- Patience
TL;DR
- Assess: Mirror & wall test
- Strengthen: Upper back, traps, rhomboids, core, glutes
- Stretch: Chest, hip flexors, pecs, neck
- Correct daily habits: Sit properly, monitor height, micro-breaks
- Stand tall: Chest up, shoulders back, head neutral
- Sleep & lifestyle: Mattress, pillow, shoes, weight
- Track progress: Photos & strength numbers
If it’s not 5000 words exactly, shove a rock up your ass @Schnee