Sitting at a desk all day has affected my posture. What're some practical ways to fix it?

I like to say that your best posture is your next posture. What that means is you want to be able to change up your spinal alignment throughout the day – standing up, sitting down, and trying not to hold too much tension in your back or sit in one position for too long. The classic mom’s advice to ‘sit up straight like a board’ is not necessarily good for your back or posture, either. 

Movement of any kind is important, but certain stretches may be particularly helpful. My go-to recommendations for posture issues are: 

• “Scap” squeezes. Sit with your arms resting by your side and then pull your shoulder blades (your scapulas) together and relax. 

• Chin tucks. While lying down or sitting in a chair, gently press your chin straight back and then relax. Try not to move anything other than the chin.