Thats because campus is filled with skinnyfat beta faggots. Instead of comparing yourself to everyone, look at the tall, jacked, top 20% dudes. They rarely ever have bad posture.

Do deadlifts and it will feel normal.

Yes doing deadlifts is good advice, but it's not going to fix your problem 100%. You still have to consciously straighten yourself. I'm 6'3, and after years of being submissive and slouching down to match everyone else, it was very difficult for me to subconsciously stand up straight. I'd have to keep catching myself all the time and it was exhausting. over time, standing up straight became easier and I'd catch myself slouching less and less.

I began being more conscious of my posture like a year and a half ago. It was pretty bad, but now, I have a decent posture overall (when I'm not actively focused on it) but now instinctively when I see a girl or person walking towards me, or I feel someone looking at me, etc. I automatically straighten up. Just be conscious of it and it'll get better.

Posture and lifting go hand in hand. If you don’t do shit that demands you have good posture then your body won’t adapt.

Most bad posture is because of "slouching over a computer, or a smartphone, or books". Unfortunately, if you have a white collar job, or go to college you probably are slouching for hours and hours every day.

Best way counter to this is to workout your upper back, (deadlifts, rows, pull ups, etc...).

I noticed I had perfect posture, yet felt very natural when:

1. I worked out my back intensely for few weeks....

2. I took a long vacation, traveling in different countries, and away from the computer...

Every time I have long working weeks, and don't hit my gym, the rounded shoulders appear. That is simply the body adapting to its stress.

Every-time I do concentrate on working out (my back especially), the rounded shoulders disappear, and staying straight is just natural.

Exactly.

Now imagine you are one of the rare people around the campus with great posture and shoulders pushed back.

Go lift.

I’ve started walking around with straight posture and people that know me that haven’t seen me in a while ask me if I’ve grown. I’m 26 and have been the same height since high school.

Read becoming a supple Leopord and Deskbound both by Kelly Starrett. Also check out mobility wod on YouTube by him. You should deadlift and do rows too. Chiropractic adjustments and massaged are nice but you need to do self care to fix the issue.

Your posture will automatically stay perfect when your muscles are strengthened. If you do all your back training like you should, your muscles will hold your spine upright.

To make a lasting change in posture you need to change your motor recruitment. I suggest Pilates. Just trying to pull yourself up wont last and is probably far from perfect hence the pain. Deadlifts if done with correct form are good too

Yes. Strengthen your back/neck/shoulder muscles

It sure does! And feels good too.

Lifting only gets you so far. And often gets you douche posture either over done pecs so you are hunched up, or over done back so you swagger arms back like a, well, douche.

There's a fair bit of technique to good posture. My ballroom dance teacher has made the most difference.

Stop blaming the computer for bad posture. I know bricklayers that can't spell PC that hunch over like Quasimoto.