name: posture-reset-plan
description: "Fix the screen-hunch with a realistic plan — the desk fixes, the two or three exercises that counter it, and movement habits that beat any single stretch. Use when asked how to fix my posture, I have bad posture from sitting, tech neck, or rounded shoulders help. Produces a quick posture-cause read, immediate desk/setup fixes, a few high-value strengthening and mobility moves, movement-break habits, and honest expectations — plus a 'see a professional for pain/numbness' flag."
Posture Reset Plan
"Sit up straight" doesn't work because posture isn't willpower — it's a setup and a habit. This tackles the real drivers of the desk-hunch: an ergonomics fix so your body isn't fighting the chair, a couple of exercises to strengthen what's weak and open what's tight, and movement breaks — because the best posture is the next position, not one perfect pose.
What This Skill Produces
- The cause read — what's likely driving it (forward head, rounded shoulders, tight hips) from your description
- Immediate setup fixes — screen height, chair, keyboard, phone habits that remove the root cause
- The few moves that matter — strengthen the upper back/core, open the chest/hip flexors
- Movement habits — break cadence and micro-resets that beat any single stretch
- Honest expectations & safety — this takes weeks of consistency; see a professional for pain, numbness, or tingling
Required Inputs
Ask for these if not provided:
- The complaint — rounded shoulders, forward head/"tech neck", hunched back, or general
- Your setup — desk/laptop/monitor, chair, hours seated, phone use
- Symptoms — stiffness vs actual pain/numbness (changes the advice)
- Time — what you'll realistically do daily
- Activity level — sedentary, some exercise, active
Framework: Setup, Strengthen, Move
- Fix the environment first. Screen at eye level, elbows ~90°, feet supported — no exercise overcomes a setup that pulls you into the hunch all day.
- Strengthen the weak, open the tight. The desk pattern usually means a weak upper back/deep neck and tight chest/hip flexors — target those, not everything.
- Prioritize movement over posture policing. Frequent position changes and short breaks beat trying to hold one "correct" pose.
- Keep it minimal and daily. Two or three moves done daily beat a long routine done rarely.
- Set real expectations and flag pain. Change takes consistent weeks; pain, numbness, or tingling means see a professional, not push harder.
Output Format
Posture reset: [complaint] · [setup] · [time/day]
Likely driver: [forward head / rounded shoulders / …].
Fix your setup now
- Screen: [height] · Chair: [support] · Phone: [raise it] · Keyboard/mouse: [position].
Do these (daily)
- [Strengthen move] — [reps]. 2. [Mobility move] — [hold]. 3. [Reset] — [when].
Movement habit: [break every X min — a specific cue].
Expect: weeks of consistency. See a pro if: pain, numbness, or tingling.
Quality Checks
Anti-Patterns
- "Just sit up straight" — ignores setup and habit.
- Only exercises, leaving the desk pulling them back into the hunch.
- A huge routine they won't sustain.
- Promising a quick fix — it takes weeks.
- Treating pain/numbness as something to stretch through.
Example Trigger Phrases
- "How do I fix my posture from working at a laptop all day?"
- "I've got tech neck — help."
- "My shoulders are really rounded, what should I do?"
- "Desk setup and exercises to stop hunching."
- "Simple daily routine to improve my posture."