Whether it’s a shoulder bag or sports bag, a briefcase or a backpack, a laptop bag, or any other device to carry anything, the wrong carrying of a bag can harm your health. If your burden is too heavy or improperly worn, it can cause pain in the head, neck, shoulders.
Bags often lie right on the floor, when you contact them you can pick up harmful microbes and, worse, something to get infected. This article lists the 5 most common bad habits of carrying bags, as well as recommendations on how to avoid them.
So, it’s wrong:
5. Constantly carry a heavy bag on one shoulder
The weight of the bag should not exceed 10% of your body weight. If it is heavier, and the more you wear it constantly on the same shoulder, it can cause pain in the back and shoulder. Bags of impressive weight can cause a headache.
People think that they have a migraine, but in fact it’s all to blame for the heavy bag. Too much pressure on the trapezius muscle that goes to the back of the neck to the skull can cause severe headaches.
To avoid this, alternate the sides of carrying the bag every quarter or two. Most of us carry bags on one side for 20-30 years, arguing that it is so convenient. Introduce the habit of changing the sides of carrying bags, then headaches can be avoided.
4. Wear a bag with thin straps
Bags or backpacks with thin straps, especially heavy enough, cut into the shoulder muscles, causing wild pain. Belts with metal attachments further worsen the situation. Wider and thicker straps distribute weight better.
A little lifhak: if you have to walk all day with a bag, the straps of which are thin enough, and your shoulder hurts because of it, move the bag forward, picking up your hands like a child. So it will be possible to lower pressure on the shoulders at least for a while.
3. Wearing a backpack too low
If you decide to wear a backpack in order to evenly distribute weight, make sure that you wear it properly. Wear it like a backpack, and not shifted to one shoulder. Also check that the backpack does not hang too low. Ideally, it should be located in the lower part of the chest, and not at the waist.
2. Put the bag on the floor
Bags travel no less than ourselves: from the bedroom to the car (bus, train, plane), then to the office or store, to the cafe or bar, even to the public restroom and, finally, back home – straight to the kitchen table. Now do you understand what I mean? In addition to the fact that your bag gets dirty faster when you put it on the floor, you collect a lot of bacteria, such as staphylococcus and E. coli, which can cause infection. Try not to put, not to throw the bag on the floor and wipe it from the bottom daily.
1. Use the same bag everywhere
Avoid wearing the same bag everywhere you go. Otherwise, your burden will become harder and harder every day, as more and more new things will appear there. Get one bag for the gym, another for the second shoe, a third for the shopping trip. Distribute weight instead of loading everything into one big bag.
Advice: do not carry water. After all, the bottles weigh a lot. When you need to drink water, it is better to spend on it accumulated for a day or two of small items from your pocket.
3 tips: what to look for when buying bags
Do you have a backache from the bag? Follow these tips if you want to purchase not just a practical, but not a cute bag:
Pay attention to the weight of the bag itself
Some modern bags are decorated with metal rivets, buckles and chains. The skin also adds weight to the bag. These bags are heavy in themselves. Feel how much your bag weighs when it is empty to assess how much it will weigh with all those things that you carry with you every day.
Take a closer look at pens or straps
Choose not sliding handles. Give preference to bags with small straps, like a briefcase, to hold it in your hands, not on your shoulder. Well distribute the weight of also Messenger bags or postman bags.
Make sure that the bag really suits you (in height)
Believe it or not – it’s your thing, but some bags may really not suit you. When buying, pay attention to the height of its location. If the bag is too short, you can not swing your arms, and if it’s too long, it spoils your gait. The bag should be right at the level of your waist.
Do you have your own special secrets of choosing or wearing bags, especially heavy ones? If so, tell us about them in the comments!
Photo: Shutterstock
