8 Tips on How to Carry a Heavy Bag and Look Fabulous ...

1 Get Clean

The first step in how to carry a heavy bag is to clean it out! You don’t have to take everything out but I’ll bet that you’re carrying around some items that are just adding extra weight to your already heavy bag! I once cleaned out my purse to find 2 full water bottles, fruit and a book. Obviously those aren’t on my list of must-have items so cleaning it out was a nice break for my shoulder! Try to clean out your purse daily if not weekly to prevent too many items from accumulating!

2 Lighten up

Heavy bags might be stylish, but not so easy to carry around; case in point, Alexander Wang’s Rocco Duffel. The Rocco is so dang chic but it can be heavy and if you fill it up, it can be a nightmare for your shoulders and necks! Choose purses that are sturdy yet light and when you fill it up make sure your bag weighs no more than 10% of your body weight.

3 Strap on

Carrying a heavy purse is a necessary evil at times but we can still be choosy about the purses we carry! Look for bags with wide, flat straps that are much easier on the shoulder and neck area. You might be having visions of ugly, outdated purses dancing in your head but for everyday purposes, stay away from super thin chain or round straps.

4 Switch Sides

Start and maintain the good habit of switching the sides you wear your purse on. Constantly wearing your bag on one side of your body causes uneven weight distribution across your back as well as other areas. Even with purses with short handles you carry in your hand, it’s still a good idea to switch hands. Doing so will prevent muscle overuse, restricted blood flow and pain.

5 Stand Tall

Sometimes when carrying a heavy purse, it literally weighs us down to the point we have poor posture. Combat this effect by trying your best to always walk with correct posture by keeping your head up and shoulders down. Of course the best thing would be to lighten you load but if you just can’t do it, keep reminding yourself to walk tall!

6 Work It out

Carrying heavy bags might seem like a good workout for your body but it’s not so great for your neck and shoulders! Do neck and shoulder exercises to prevent pain and further suffering. Try shoulder row exercises, start by standing tall with arms straight out in front of you. Next, pull arms back like you’re rowing a boat and squeeze your shoulder blades together while slightly lifting your chin. Repeat this step 10 times and for more exercises, check out senderspediatrics.com, it’s a pediatrics website but there’s good info on exercises!

7 Wear Good Shoes

Aside from having good posture, another easy way to help prevent injury and look good while toting around your oversized bag is to wear good shoes. Wearing flimsy sandals or flip flops and slinging a heavy bag across your shoulder is a recipe for trouble! Keep your spine and joints happy by wearing rubber soled shoes to protect and support your body!

8 Waiting Game

So far we’ve been talking about what we can do to prevent injury from carrying a heavy purse but it is possible that some damage has already been done. If you’re experiencing pain, stiffness, or aching in your neck, shoulder or back area, don’t wait to get treatment! Prevent injuries from getting worse and feel better by seeking treatment early on!

There are lots of lifestyle changes we can make to prevent injury from carrying a heavy bag and these are just some of little changes that can make a big difference in how you look and feel! Do what you can to give your body a break from carrying a heavy bag and don’t forget to put smaller bags in your rotation also! Do you carry a big, heavy bag? Do you have any tips on carrying a heavy purse?