Ask HN: What habit have you dropped or picked up that improved your life?

Re:Ask HN: What habit have you dropped or picked up that imp... by read on Tuesday November 26, 2013 @08:19AM (#6800959)

Using your non-dominant hand challenges the brain to coordinate a new movement. The brain is not an expert in this new movement. It has to work hard to get it right and does a bad job initially. Since it's bad at it, you have to stick with it to complete the movement. It takes longer, and during the process you have an urge to drop it and continue with the dominant hand.

Fighting off this urge and continuing to use the non-dominand hand at something you are bad at improves self-control. You put yourself in a position where you don't quit when something works poorly for you. You make a habit of sticking with things to get better. It's worth cultivating habits that get you exploring things you're bad at.

I admit shaving with the non-dominand hand gets dangerous. But you can witness this effect by trying something simpler like stirring a glass of milk or brushing your teeth.

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Re:Ask HN: What habit have you dropped or picked up that imp... by hansy on Tuesday November 26, 2013 @02:06PM (#6803401)

I guess I never thought about it this way. The only time I ever did anything significant with my non-dominant hand was when I used to play lacrosse, and I had to shoot and throw the ball using both my left and right hands. Of course the purpose of this was trite; become harder to defend.

Anyway, using my non-dominant hand for trivial activities sounds fun. At the very least, should I lose my dominant hand in a light saber duel in the future with a man who claims to be my father, I'll know I've got an adequate backup.

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