Skip to content

The Most Useful Thing I Learned This Month | Airdrie Chiropractor

Setting a reminder to improve posture while sitting at a desk

Clinic News

Time is going by quickly! Maybe it’s the nice weather we’ve lucked into? The doctors will be away for the Family Day long weekend February 14th through February 16th. Drs. Boyd and Bajor will also be away February 17th through February 20th. Dr. Hubert will be in the office for her regular hours. Massage, naturopath, and PFT lab appointments are ongoing. Happy Family Day!

The Most Useful Thing I Learned This Month for Better Posture

This month, the most useful thing I learned had nothing to do with new equipment, supplements, stretches, or complicated routines. I guess I should clarify: it’s not something ‘new’ that I learned; in my old age I remembered to start telling patients about it!

It was this: Set a timer to go off every 15 minutes while you’re sitting at your desk.

When the timer goes off, you don’t need to stand up.
You don’t need to stretch.
You don’t need to stop working.

You simply sit up a little taller—even if it’s only for a few seconds.

Then you go right back to what you were doing.

Why This Tiny Habit Matters

Most posture advice fails because it asks too much.

We’re told to:

  • Sit perfectly all day

  • Strengthen everything first

  • Buy special chairs, braces, or devices

The problem is posture isn’t something you “fix” all at once.

Posture is a habit, and habits are learned gradually by your nervous system. Posture, especially POOR posture at a desk can lead to many different symptoms, primarily neck pain, headaches, and back pain.

By briefly correcting your posture every 15 minutes, you interrupt long periods of slouching and gently remind your body what upright sitting feels like—without stress or effort.

You’re Teaching, Not Forcing, Your Spine

Even if you only sit up for 5–10 seconds when the reminder goes off, something important happens.

Your brain starts to recognize that upright position as familiar.

Over time:

  • Your spine spends less total time under strain

  • Postural muscles activate more often, but gently

  • Sitting upright begins to feel more natural and less forced

This works because your body responds better to frequent reminders than intense corrections.

Consistency beats intensity—every time.

Improving desk posture by sitting up straight while working at a computer

How Passive Posture Training Works

What makes this habit so effective is what it doesn’t require.You’re not:

  • Exerting extra effort

  • Paying for anything

  • Taking time out of your schedule

  • Consuming supplements or products

You’re simply using awareness to guide your posture.

That’s passive posture training—small corrections, repeated often, allowing your body to adapt naturally over time.

The Health Benefits of Better Posture

Better posture isn’t about looking rigid or “perfect.”
It’s about reducing unnecessary stress on your body.

Many people notice improvements such as:

  • Less neck and shoulder tension

  • Reduced mid- and low-back fatigue

  • Easier, deeper breathing

  • Better focus and energy while working

  • Fewer aches at the end of the day

Posture affects how your joints load, how your muscles work, and how efficiently you breathe. Small improvements, repeated often, can have a meaningful impact on overall comfort and well-being.

Timer reminder used while sitting at a desk to improve posture awareness

Why a 15-Minute Reminder Works Best

Fifteen minutes is short enough to:

  • Prevent long, uninterrupted slouching

  • Fit easily into busy workdays

  • Build awareness without becoming disruptive

You can use:

  • A phone timer

  • A smartwatch

  • A simple computer reminder

No apps required. No purchases needed.

A Simple Posture Habit You Can Start Today

You don’t need to overhaul your routine to improve your posture. You just need:

  • A reminder

  • A few seconds of attention

  • Consistency

Set a timer. Sit up tall. Let your body learn.

Sometimes the smallest habits lead to the biggest long-term changes.

Simple Baked Chicken Meatballs

Servings

35

meatballs
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes

These are simple, light-tasting, and healthy meatballs that you can serve with spaghetti sauce or alongside potatoes or rice!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (two packages) ground chicken

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 tsps Worcestershire Sauce

  • ⅓ to ½ cup breadcrumbs (depends on wetness)

  • ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)

  • 2 cloves minced garlic

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1 tsp black pepper

  • 1 tsp onion powder

  • 1 tsp dried oregano

  • 1 tsp dried parsley

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Mix all ingredients into a bowl. Using an ice cream scoop (with the trigger), scoop into round balls. Depending on size of your scoop it should make around 30-35 meatballs.

  • Bake for 20 minutes. Serve with your choice of pasta, potatoes, or rice, or throw them into spaghetti sauce! Enjoy!

     
    •  

    Please feel free to visit our Facebook pageInstagram page, and Tiktok channels! Drs. Jacqueline Boyd and Paul Bajor are the only husband and wife chiropractic team in Airdrie, Alberta. Their practice, Access Chiropractic and Wellness, is located at #120, 52 Gateway Drive NE in the north of Airdrie. They have been in practice in Airdrie since 2004 and in practice since 2001. They have two kids named Liam and Julia and have one of the largest family practices in Airdrie. They have a vested interest in keeping Airdrie and surrounding communities healthy because Airdrie is also their home.

    Drs. Jacqueline Boyd and Paul Bajor are also both registered and active members of the ICPA (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association). Dr. Boyd is also the chair of the Chiropractic Association of Alberta.

    Facebook
    Twitter
    LinkedIn
    Pinterest