Actually, David, this isn’t as tiny a thing as you’d imagine. I don’t think it’s part of human nature to take objective looks at oneself and ask “What am I doing wrong?” without outside prompting (and even then…) Especially the movement patterns etc we do “automatically” and assume they can’t be changed.
For myself, I got a heads-up on this during physical therapy after my foot surgery. The orthopod’s prescription was for exercises to improve balance, ankle flexibility, and proprioception among otherthings. “No biggie,” sez I “I got this”…thinking of the workshops I’d attended, training tools and toys I’d purchased along with personal practice to make sure I could use them. Well, I didn’t “got this”. I obviously hadn’t practised some of the range of motion moves enough to develop the sort of muscle memory to make my “disorientated” foot work. My PT sessions were initially a sea of frustration and pain. Just for the heck of it one day, I tried them on the other, “unsurgurised” foot…and, lo, couldn’t hack them with that foot either. I’d actually allowed the skills to diminish over time so I was actually dealing with a double whammy after the surgery.
My PT sessions took off after that realisation and with me taking the steps to remedy the deficiencies. I discussed the revelation with the physical therapist and we both agreed that incorporating the remedial stuff I was doing into the average person’s day preemptively, and at an early enough age, would be a gift that gave back big time.
Basic self tests/activity drills for balance and proprioception…
Stand on one leg for 30 seconds. Add eyes shut. On unstable surface (per photos upstream)
Stand with feet “in tandem”…progress as above.
Sit to stand (no arm assist). Low chair. Sit-squat to stand. One legged sit to stand (struggling a bit with this myself)
Or…ignore all the above and sit down until the proactive feeling passes.