Well, I didn’t plan on breaking my right wrist in several places, but here we are. If life is about learning, then let’s just say I’ve been given a crash course in left-handed survival.
How's it going, you ask? Let’s just say Stress Away and Valor have been in heavy diffuser rotation in recent days—especially when I drop the peanut butter jar trying to open it one-handed... again. But as much as I’d love to sit here and complain to you about how hard it is to apply peanut butter to toast with my non-dominant hand, I’ve decided instead to take this as an unexpected opportunity to grow—because apparently, forcing your brain to do things differently has some serious perks. Who knew?
The Science-y Bit (But I'll Make It Fun)
There’s actually a lot of research on the benefits of using your non-dominant hand. I read something about this over a year ago, found it interesting, tried to brush my teeth left-handed several times, then gave up... my right hand kept hovering and trying to take over... it was there when I read the article and knew I was auditioning my left hand for the lead part. I have been happily brushing my teeth right-handed ever since. Well, until my tumble onto that uneven sidewalk.
It seems that when you switch things up, you engage different neural pathways in your brain and encourage neuroplasticity—a fancy way of saying your brain starts making new connections. Think of it like giving your brain a surprise workout. It’s like when you suddenly decide to take a different route home and end up discovering a cute coffee shop you never knew existed. Except in this case, you’re discovering how to put toothpaste on your toothbrush without making a mess (spoiler: it’s harder than it looks).
We’re not kids anymore (no more fresh-out-of-the-box knees!), but our brains still love to stretch and flex. Neuroplasticity is how we keep our minds sharp, and switching things up—even unintentionally—can help protect against memory decline.
8 Benefits of Using Your Non-Dominant Hand
1. Improves coordination and motor skills:
Practicing with your non-dominant hand engages your motor cortex in a new way, refining fine motor skills and increasing dexterity. Over time, you may notice improved coordination in both hands. Once I'm healed up - watch out World!
2. Strengthens neural connections, potentially boosting memory and problem-solving skills:
Your dominant hand has well-established neural pathways, but using your non-dominant hand forces your brain to create new ones. This strengthens communication between the two hemispheres of your brain, improving overall brain function.
3. Increases patience and persistence:
Let’s be real—using your left hand for writing or eating can be frustrating at first! But this practice builds patience and resilience, qualities that benefit many areas of life. Until recently, I'd thought of myself as a rather patient person. Judging by the number of f-bombs I've dropped since my accident, I might need to reassess.
4. Boosts Cognitive Flexibility:
Switching hands forces your brain to adapt, which enhances cognitive flexibility—the ability to switch between tasks and think creatively. This can help with problem-solving and adaptability in daily life.
5. Enhances Creativity:
Because the right hemisphere of the brain is more associated with creativity, using your left hand may engage different thought processes, helping you think outside the box and come up with fresh ideas.
6. Encourages Mindfulness:
Using your left hand for activities like brushing your teeth or eating requires more focus and attention. Much more, in my case. This mindfulness can help improve concentration and reduce stress. I used to multitask like a champ—text, sip tea, and scroll Pinterest all at once. Now I’m just proud if I don’t drop my phone trying to unlock it... and as it turns out, quitting multitasking is a good thing!
7. Engages the Corpus Callosum:
The corpus callosum is the bridge between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. When you use your non-dominant hand, you activate and strengthen this connection, leading to better overall brain communication.
8. May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline:
Some research suggests that regularly challenging your brain with novel tasks, like using your non-dominant hand, may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and keep your brain sharp as you age. Sounds to me like another case of "use it or lose it!"
Real-Life Struggles (AKA, Why This Isn’t Easy)
Look, I won’t lie—this has been an adventure. Here are a few things I’ve learned in my first few days of left-handed life:
• Eating like a toddler is my new reality. Cutting food? Not happening. Holding a fork without looking like I’m confused? Also questionable. Finger foods are definitely much more simple.
• Writing feels like I’m back in kindergarten. My signature now looks like a cryptic ransom note and all of my journaling is being done digitally for the time being.
• Buttoning jeans is an Olympic event. Let’s just say comfy clothes and leggings are my new best friends. For the sake of this blog, we're going to pretend that I didn't already wear leggings at least 3 days a week... now I have a great excuse to wear them every single day!
But in the midst all the awkwardness, there’s something kind of cool about rewiring my brain on the fly. It’s like a weird, unexpected life hack—one that came with surgery, internal hardware - unfortunately NOT bionic, a brace, and a whole new appreciation for what my left hand can do.
Growth usually shows up looking like discomfort.
The Silver Lining
Instead of getting frustrated (okay, I was frustrated at first and it sneaks back at times), I’ve started to look at this as a challenge. If using my left hand is giving my brain a boost, then maybe this is actually a great time to embrace some other “let’s shake things up” habits. Maybe I’ll try brushing my teeth with my left hand and standing on one foot (hello, balance training). Or maybe I’ll finally learn to use chopsticks properly... ambitious, but hey, I have time and wouldn't that be something if I'm actually better at it left-handed?
So yes, it’s inconvenient. Yes, it’s awkward. And yes, I now have a whole new respect for people who can write legibly with both hands. I wouldn’t have chosen this situation, but I’m also kind of thankful for it. It’s reminded me that growth doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be attempted and that's what I've been all about lately. This experience is also a reminder that growth usually shows up looking like discomfort.
Want to give your brain a little workout? Pick one task to do today with your non-dominant hand and let me know how it goes! (Bonus points if it involves toothpaste.) Let’s celebrate the messiness of trying, the humor in adapting, and the beauty of a brain that's always learning.
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