It’s not a joke or an exaggeration—sitting on your wallet for hours a day can truly do some long-term damage to your body.
We’ve become so accustomed to keeping a back-pocket wallet that it seems like no big deal. We saw our fathers keep their wallets there, and the practice has been repeated over and over on television and in the movies.
They also smoked cigarettes in the movies back in the day, but we know better than that now! Some old traditions are better left in the past, and constantly sitting on your wallet is just one of those things we need to bury for good.
It’s time to get real and change how we store our cash and cards from day to day. Take that wallet out of your back pocket once and for all and rethink your everyday carry.
Problems Caused By Your Back-Pocket Wallet
If you’ve been sitting on your wallet for a while, you may not even know the harm you’re causing. The skeletal and muscular systems of the body are highly adaptive, and over time we become adjusted to the situations we put ourselves in each day.
Think about the daily routines of a bodybuilder, a gymnast, or any other type of intense athlete. They put immense pressure on their bodies to perform, and over many months and years, they adapt to the conditions, becoming far stronger and more flexible.
Those are positive examples of the body’s adaptive abilities, but poor posture and other forms of physical neglect can have the opposite effect.
When you sit on your wallet for extended lengths of time, a few bad things happen. First, your pelvis and spine get thrown out of alignment. Slowly but surely, this adds unwanted curvature to the base of the spine and can leave you with persistent lower back pain.
Considering that 80 percent of Americans suffer from lower back pain every year, you don’t want to be part of that majority. Occasional pain can quickly become chronic, and before you know it, you could be seeking help from medical professionals to remedy this preventable problem.
Constantly sitting on an uneven surface can also trigger the sciatic nerve, which can send shooting pain down your leg or even cause numbing in the extremities. This can be scary to experience, and the damage may be long-term if you don’t handle it ASAP.
Don’t Wait Another Day
Back problems aren’t like cuts, scrapes, or injuries at the gym—they occur slowly and sneak up on you over time. If you wait too long to address the root of the problem, it’s too late. You could do permanent damage.
It’s time to take matters into your own hands and ditch that big, bulky wallet wreaking havoc on your body from your back pants pocket.
Yes, even a couple of inches worth of wallet is enough to lead to recurring spine issues. Don’t become one of the millions of people every year who seeks medical treatment in the form of surgery or prescription meds.
Here are a handful of alternative cash and card storage options that you can try out to finally rid yourself of that uncomfortable wallet and realign your spine once again.
Try Out A Minimal Money Clip
Take a good look at your wallet and ask yourself what you really need on a daily basis. Do you walk around with a pocket full of cash? Is it necessary to have all of those cards with you for every waking hour? Be honest with yourself and do a full wallet audit.
More likely than not, you’ll find that you don’t need much to get you through the average day in terms of cash and cards. If you’re committed to leaving the back-pocket wallet behind, consider starting out with a simple cash clip.
This is the most minimal and simplified way to carry cash around, and you can even squeeze a couple of cards in there for good measure. It may not suffice for longer journeys or big nights out, but give it a try on an average workday, and you could be satisfied with the look and feel.
Level Up Your iPhone Case
You wouldn’t leave the house without your phone. You can barely even go to the bathroom without it! ! Make the transition away from back-pocket wallets by storing cash and cards right along with your phone in the form of a modular folio case.
Not only does this reduce the size and scope of your everyday carry, but it also prevents you from sitting on a big bulky wallet as you navigate your day.
Most of us keep our phones in a front pocket or jacket pocket anyway, so you won’t run the risk of falling back into bad habits. Look for a phone case wallet with various magnetic attachments so you can modify your carrying unit as needed for the situation.
Again, it will take some time to get used to the feel of grabbing cash and cards from your phone case, but before long, you will learn to love the speed and simplicity of it all.
Switch To A Front-Pocket Wallet
We’ve touched on a couple of solid alternatives to the back-pocket wallet already, but they don’t exactly provide that classic wallet feel that we all want from time to time.
Thankfully, you can find a wide range of great wallets that retain that slim form factor and sit comfortably in any front pocket. You can load them up with cards and cash with no worries about running out of space.
The latest and greatest smart wallets, for instance, come equipped with a concealed card storage compartment that you can quickly access with the click of a button. No more thumbing through a bunch of random cards—just flick the switch, and it’s all there.
Other front-pocket solutions include leather or aluminum cardholders that further streamline and simplify your carry. Remember, this isn’t a temporary solution. It’s a lifestyle shift that deserves real investment, so opt for a high-quality product that will last a lifetime.
Take Exercise And Stretching More Seriously
Once you’ve made the commitment to leave the back-pocket wallet behind and you’ve upgraded to a front-pocket alternative, you can start to work out the kinks and tweaks in your spine that have built up over the years.
You may need to visit a chiropractor or attend yoga classes. It’s also worth considering adding extra stretching to your evening routine to regain that full range of motion. Don’t forget to hit the gym a few times a week to strengthen the spine and toughen up those lower back muscles.
Finally, remind yourself each day to maintain proper posture at work and when relaxing at home. Keep those shoulders back and try not to hunch over your desk.
It will take a while to brush away those deep-seated habits, but when you start feeling stronger, lighter, and pain-free, it will all be worth the effort.
Conclusion
Don’t let something as simple as sitting on your wallet lead to long-term physical problems. Promise yourself that you’ll seek a smarter way to carry your daily essentials, sharpen up your exercise routine, and lead a healthier, happier life overall.
Sources:
https://www.trinitychiroaz.com/how-sitting-on-your-wallet-is-hurting-your-back
