1. Poor ergonomic environments.
2. 
   
   Many environments are ergonomically poor in the first place – they’re designed for maximum profit, not for maximum comfort. As a result, they tend to encourage bad posture, and make correction difficult.
   
   For example, most people work at very small (or narrow) desks, forcing them to use their keyboards without adequate support for their wrists or forearms. In addition to this, all of the desks and monitors are positioned at the same height, irrespective of the individual user – most people tip their head forwards, compromising their neck, upper back and shoulders.
   
   
3. Lack of conscious awareness.
4. 
   
   People are often completely unaware of their posture. This applies equally to ‘passive’ activities, such as sitting down, and dynamic activities such as lifting, walking, or rolling over in bed.
   
   Modern life tends to compound this problem. For example, many of our chosen (or enforced) activities are very absorbing – it isn’t surprising that posture deteriorates when people are driving, watching the TV, or sitting at the computer. These activities tend to focus our attention on the activity itself, rather than how it’s done.
   
   
5. Lack of foresight.
6. 
   
   The effects of bad posture aren’t immediately apparent – it may take a number of years, or even decades, for pain, stiffness and other symptoms to develop. As a result, people tend to focus on more pressing matters (or, at least, matters which they perceive to be more pressing).
   
   
7. Lack of instant gratification.
8. 
   
   The results of good posture aren’t immediate, or even quick. Just as it takes years to develop bad posture, so it can take months (or even years) to learn, and then reinforce, the techniques that lead to good posture. People often become frustrated, and give up too soon.
   
   For example, sitting at your computer, with your head and neck in the right position, in an upright position (but without over-arching your lower back), whilst ensuring that your hands and wrists are fully supported, might be easy to achieve once or twice. But doing it as a matter of course, when your attention is elsewhere, is something else.
   
   
9. Over-correction and/or strain.
10. 
    
    Adopting the right posture is conceptually easy; in practise, however, most people equate sheer, physical effort with the end result – they often strain to achieve their ‘desired’ form, either tensing their muscles too much, or over-correcting (or both).
    
    For example, when people are told not to slouch, they often arch their lower back too much, whilst straining to bring their shoulders back – the result is muscle fatigue and strain (leading to stiffness, soreness and pain).

So, that’s the bad news – most people tend to apply themselves badly, or not at all. And modern lifestyles add to the problem (often substantially). But the good news is this – we are, to a large extent, in control of our own posture; and we can learn several important lessons from the mistakes highlighted above: