According to a recent study conducted by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University, some 80 percent of American jobs are sedentary. That number is astounding. So being seemingly glued to our workstations for eight plus hours a day, at least five days a week can certainly “wear and tear”the human body in a number of different ways, in fact.

As you may already be aware, the human body is not physically structured to endure endless hours seated in the same position, day in and day out. They are structured to run, bend, walk, twist and even dance. Being active creatures is our natural inclination. “When we’re desk bound, the body has to hold a fixed, unnatural position for a long time. Eventually that can lead to problems including changes in our metabolism, decreased circulation in the legs and compression in the spine and pelvis, which places extra pressure on the connective tissue and nerves. Chronically poor posture can also lead to neck and back pain, repetitive stress injuries, and even bulging disks and sciatica.”

The bad news; the list of ailments continues the more “restful” one becomes. However, there is good news; aside from taking a walking break at least every hour or so, incorporating supportive pillows and other ergonomic workstation accessories are very effective in making a posture improvement. Place a well-crafted office chair pillow support either on the lower lumbar of the back or perhaps sit on top of the soft surface. An ergonomically correct design will provide optimal support for the coccyx bone all the way up the spinal column to release any extra tension from the legs and hips.

Be mindful of your posture when seated at the work desk; your shoulders, neck and ears should all align straightforward, facing the computer screen. Try not to slouch or round your back forward or squint into the tiny screen. These actions allow tension and stress to creep up the back and cause irritating qualms like headaches, migraines and that annoying crick in the neck. Make sure you have a supportive chair or seat cushion.

Taking these mindful measures will not only develop a good habit while working, but also allow you to become more mindful or your posture while talking on the phone, driving, standing in the coffee line at Starbucks; you will notice a vast improvement and your body will ultimately thank you!