Your posture plays a large role in making a good first impression. According to The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette, it “indicates to the outside world how you feel about yourself…If you sit up straight, shoulders back, chest out, eyes forward, meeting the world head on, others will perceive you as someone who is confident…”

During conversation or in a learning environment, sitting up straight indicates you are interested in what a speaker says, and that he has your undivided attention. This also means that you most likely understand how to be a good listener—a skill lacked by many in today’s world. In some cultures, correct posture is also a sign of good breeding.

Maintaining good posture takes a little thinking and training, but if you continue to work at it, eventually it will become “second nature.” Consider these pointers:

• It is always good etiquette to sit up straight at the dinner table. Good posture helps digestion—avoids crushing your stomach under your ribs—and diminishes the chances of you ending a meal with food on your chest. Additionally, remember to keep your elbows off the table throughout the meal. If you forget, let a commonly known rhyme act as a reminder: “John, John, strong and able, Keep your elbows off the table.” (Put your name in place of “John.”)
• The correct way to sit according to the Spondylitis Association of America, an educational organization that aims to prevent spinal arthritis, is to, “Hold your head in a balanced manner over the trunk in a sitting or standing position. The chin should be horizontal and parallel to the floor, drawn back slightly and centered. Try to stand, walk and sit ‘tall’ at all times.”
•  Specific “core” exercises (information on these exercises can be found at the library and on the Internet) can help you develop strength to maintain good posture. If necessary, “Give someone close to you permission to nag. Agree on a code word. Soon you won’t need reminding not to slouch” (Etiquette Lessons).

Make an effort to straighten up, even when no one appears to be watching. It will not only help you put good manners into practice, but will also benefit your health—and your back—in the future!