Everyone knows that body language is very important and says a lot about how you’re feeling, but did you know that improving your posture can actually affect your mood and mind? Here’s how.
#1. Sitting up straight helps you remember positive moments.
The simple act of sitting up straight makes it easier to conjure up good memories from the past, as well as allowing you to think more positively about your present experience. In one study, participants who were asked to sit up straight reported more positive thoughts while those who were slouching reported more negative feelings and thoughts.
#2. Skipping makes you more energetic.
Skipping gives you a lot more energy than walking. This is because skipping forces the body in an upright position. And because you’re moving around more energetically compared with walking, it also releases those happy endorphin hormones. Who cares if people think you’re a bit nuts skipping down the street. You’ll be healthier and happier for it!
#3. Standing up tall aids the fight against depression.
Erik Peper, professor of psychology at San Francisco State University suggests that posture is a significant contributor to decreased energy levels and depression. Slouching is also known to result in frequent headaches and neck and shoulder pains.
#4. Standing in a power pose helps you make better decisions.
If you want to make good decisions, put yourself in a power pose by putting your hands on your hips. People who feel powerful are more confident and 45% more likely to take risks according to a study by researchers from Havard and Columbia universities. They suggest that body language which symbolizes power has the ability to affect our decisions on a subconscious level.
#5. Adopting good posture can change your destiny in positive ways.
Social psychologist Amy Cuddy popularized the idea that two minutes of “power poses” a day can change how we feel about ourselves. She argues that these poses don’t just show your power but actually produce it, by changing the levels of hormones in the body — increasing the levels of testosterone and decreasing cortisol (the stress hormone) in the brain. Think of it as “faking it until you make it.”