Does anyone have any helpful tips to improve posture?

Here are a few tips, adapted from an article I wrote for a health magazine last year.

1) Imagine there's an invisible string that's connected to the top of your head and is pulling you upwards. Imagine that you're dangling from that string - how would you body react? It'd elongate and straighten; allow your shoulders to relax into a natural position instead of slumping forward.

2) Imagine that you're standing/sitting with your back and head against a wall.

3) When seated to read or work on the computer, elevate your reading material or adjust your monitor screen such that you don't have to bend your head down to view them. They should be just below your eye level.

See more good tips at the sources cited below. I can understand that because you're quite tall, the tendency is to slouch to close the gap between you and a shorter person. Don't worry about the heigh difference. All you need to do is tilt your head slightly forward. No need to sacrifice good posture to communicate - they can see you fine!

Some exercise forms that may help improve posture (and strengthen your back, which also leads to better posture) are yoga, pilates and the Alexander technique.

Interestingly enough, keeping your back straight might not be good for you back, at least when you are sitting. A new study (link included in sources) has found that "slouching" is better than keeping your back straight when sitting down. Leaning back at 135° is even better.

When you are standing though, it is still believed that you should keep you back straight, especially when carrying a load on your back. Now, it all depends on the way you bones are formed. For example, if your upper back bones are curved forwards, you will naturally "slouch" forward and will always have to do an extra effort to keep your back straight. For other people, it is the muscles that aren’t strong enough. So my best suggestion is to go see a physiotherapist.

If that is not an option, it really is of getting into the habit of straightening your back. It would help if you can find something or someone that would remind you periodically like a tied string on your finger or a friend. After all habits are hard to break and humans are creatures of habit.

I hope that helped.

Always have your back against a chair! Chairs are designed to make good posture. Do an gymnastics bridge every once and awhile. Bend and touch your toes do a few of those. Torque your torso to the left and to the right a few times. That should keep your back in a good condition. You could do some Yoga moves too. All depends on the time you want to spend. One way to stand up right it push your pelvic more forward (tighten your buns) and walk with your abs.

Pretend there's a string going down your back. Also try to image that your wearing a super-hero cape. If lifting weights, make sure to balance your front and back with the same amount of weight lifted.

pretent there is a coat hanger still in your shirt