We tend to think of our posture and physical habits as entirely our own. A personal battle to be won with individual willpower.
But we don’t exist in a vacuum.
The people we spend our time with—our family, friends, and colleagues—have a quiet but powerful influence on how we hold ourselves and how we move. Our spinal health is not just a personal journey; it’s a social one.
Have you ever noticed that you’ve crossed your arms at the exact same time as the person you’re talking to?
This is a natural human tendency called mirroring. We subconsciously imitate the body language, gestures, and even the posture of those around us to build connection and rapport.
It’s a powerful tool for bonding. But it also means that if your entire team is hunched over their keyboards, or your family slumps into the sofa every evening, you’re very likely to do the same without even thinking about it.
If our environment shapes us, then the logical step is to shape our environment.
This doesn’t have to be a big, formal announcement. It can start with small, gentle suggestions. At work, you could propose a two-minute group stretch before a long meeting. At home, you could arrange the living room cushions to offer better back support for everyone.
When you make it a shared, collaborative effort, it stops being about one person’s “bad back” and becomes a collective move towards better well-being.
Sometimes, being the first to make a change can feel a little awkward.
You might be the only one who stands up during a phone call, or the person who suggests a walk instead of another coffee break. This is social friction.
The key is to frame your choices in a positive, non-judgemental way. Instead of saying, “Sitting is so bad for us,” you could try, “I find I can think so much more clearly when I move around a bit.”
By focusing on your own positive experience, you invite curiosity rather than defensiveness.
It’s one thing to make a promise to yourself. It’s another thing entirely to make a promise to someone else.
This is the power of accountability.
When you agree to be a “walking buddy” with a colleague at lunchtime, you’re far more likely to stick with it on a day when your motivation is low. When you and your partner decide to do a five-minute stretching routine together before bed, you hold each other to that commitment.
It’s not about pressure. It’s about mutual support.
Change often starts with one person.
When you begin chiropractic care, you learn about how your spine and nervous system work. You become more aware of your body and the impact of your daily habits.
This knowledge naturally ripples outwards. You might share a tip with a family member or explain to a friend why you’re adjusting your workstation.
Slowly, you help to shift the “cultural norm” in your immediate circle. Good posture and regular movement become part of the group’s shared understanding, making it easier for everyone to succeed.
Our health habits are contagious. The good news is that this means positive habits can be just as infectious as negative ones.
By becoming more aware of our social influences and making small, collective changes, we can create an environment that supports not just our own spine, but the spines of the people we care about most. It’s a shared journey, and we’re all in it together.
We are based in three locations and share buildings with Prestige Dental Care.
