There are many factors that can lead to bad posture. One of the most common, though, is sitting for long hours. Whether you have an office job in or outside of Singapore, you’re bound to sit for almost the whole day. We usually don’t even notice that we slouch already. But then again, having good posture is actually more important than we consider it to be. Here are some reasons why.

It keeps our bones and muscles healthy

Naturally, when you have bad posture, your bones and muscles are not positioned as they are supposed to be. This gives constant tension and unnecessary stress to your skeletal system, your muscles, and some joints as well.

If you stick to a bad posture in the long-term, you’ll definitely see its effects as you grow older. That’s why good posture is important if you don’t want your bones and muscles to deteriorate quickly over time.

Helps one avoid or relieve back pain

Lower back pain is already a very common problem nowadays. One of the main reasons we get back pain is simply because we have bad posture. Again, this is because our bones and muscles are not positioned correctly when we neglect our posture too much.

That, in turn, causes stiffness and eventually pain. When you have good posture, it will be very unlikely that you’ll get back pain as you get older. Unless, of course, other factors come into play.

Improved breathing and lung capacity

Because we don’t see what’s happening inside our bodies, we tend not to pay attention to our organs. But having good posture can actually help your lungs. You’ll hardly notice it but when you slouch, your lungs are being compressed. Of course, that means you’re breathing will be limited. So maintaining good posture can at least help you inhale and exhale air more effectively.

Increased energy

If your muscles and bones are in the right position, they take less energy to do certain movements. This is because the muscles are positioned as they should be, so they can move as naturally as possible. Because your muscles won’t have to work as hard as they are supposed to, you’ll feel more energetic and less fatigued.

It can give one confidence

For one, having a good posture can make you appear taller. For some, that can already be a great confidence booster. Just try to observe how different it is when you walk around slouching and when you’re standing upright.

Not only does it also help one’s self-confidence, it also makes one appear more confident to others. This, of course, will help you in many aspects of life from your health, to your career, and even your relationships.

We don’t want to alarm you, but the swimsuit season is just around the corner. But while we’re all excited for the arrival of summer, there’s one thing that most of us are not so keen with – swimsuit shopping, and on the internet. Unlike buying a new cocktail dress online, purchasing swimwear has its own set of challenges. To help you get over these challenges, we listed down some top tips for purchasing swimsuit online this season.

Make Great Use of Instagram

Instagram is an endless source of inspiration – a go-to place if you want to check how various people are rocking a particular trend. Swimwear designers recommend using social networking apps, such as Instagram and Pinterest to check what a certain style looks like on different body shapes. If possible, visit the label’s Instagram page and see which photos that particular brand has been tagged in. This way, you’ll get a good mix of real women sharing their thoughts on the swimwear, instead of just the photos that the brand chose to post.

Purchase Separates

Most women are not perfectly proportioned, which means you might be size 10 bikini top, but a size 12 bottom. For that reason, we suggest purchasing bikinis that are sold in separates so you could tailor its size to your body. Choose brands that sell their products as separates, as they tend to encourage their customers to mix and match their swimwear and make it their own.

Search for Online Promotions

Swimwear brands often offer discounts and free shipping for their products. A key time to look for such promotions is during the holidays. All you’ve got to do is Google search the brand name along with words like “offer” or “discount code” to find available offers that are not publicized on the homepage of the shopping site.

Study the Sizing Chart

Most designers recommend to always check the sizing chart to cross reference your size, since each brand provide a different size run. Look for a sizing chart to ensure that you’re dealing with the right sizing. If you’re unsure about the measurements that you see online, simply contact the customer care and request for the measurements to ensure that you know exactly what you’re getting. After all, you wouldn’t want to wear an ill-fitting swimwear.

Check the Shop’s Return Policy

When purchasing swimwear online, it’s crucial that you check the return policy being implemented by the shop. Not every shop offers exchanges or returns, so ensure that you’re 100 percent set on what you’re choosing before making any necessary purchases. Most online stores won’t accept returns on swimsuits, while others require that the hygiene strip be left intact along with the tags for it to be valid for a refund or an exchange.

Purchasing a swimwear in person can be challenging, but buying one online is much trickier. To ensure that you purchased the right piece, be sure to follow these tips in making online swimwear purchases.