Activity One.
Left Hand, Stan.
Or right, but we are going to exercise the non dominate side of our brain for this activity! Let’s remember what it was like to discover our wide world and our capabilities as if we were kids. We are going to do the following exercises with our non dominant hand.
Things Needed:
1. Pen or pencil
2. Paper
Why This;Why Now?
Throughout this course, I will be asking you to stretch and think about things in a new way. I hope to take you out of your comfortable spaces, but in a way that encourages and in a way that broadens your horizons.
When I was an art student, we would sometimes do specific “right brain” exercises to engage the creative side of our brains. Since the right side of the brain controls the left hand and vice versa, I figured, “Why not cut to the chase and just use my left hand?”
That pine cone I chose to draw with my left hand (in sharpie marker!) is still one of my favorite drawings. Sometimes, you need to go for it. I went on to complete pages and pages of barely legible notes with my left hand throughout college. I loved the challenge.
Dive In!
1. First, try to draw a circle with your opposite hand. Then draw another. And another. I would like everyone to draw at least five. If this activity is quite difficult, go ahead and practice drawing circles for a minute or two. Time yourself.
2. Draw a triangle. This is a particularly good exercise, because you need to match up a few lines in order to make your shape. Same story here, draw at least five; draw for two minutes if it is a bit difficult.
As you do these exercises, remember what it was like when you were young and you started to learn something new. Keep going. You would never have mastered writing if not for all of that lined paper!
3. Draw your name —first and last if you are feeling confident; in cursive if you feel extra confident. Then, follow through as encouraged above.
Are you Ready?
Why not try brushing your teeth?
Commit to trying this at least once. If you have an electric toothbrush, this may get a little more complicated, but see if you can do it. Better yet, ditch it for an old toothbrush so that you can really practice this foreign motion. Commit to doing this simple task with your opposite hand for a week. Keep this practice up for an even greater challenge.
Curiosities and Conclusions:
Not so very long ago, I had a pretty debilitating wrist injury and was forced to use my opposite hand for a few months. I was absolutely grateful I used to switch up using my hands for fun as a youth!
This set of exercises may end up being quite frustrating for some of you, but see it more as a stretching and stimulating thing than anything of consequence. Once you move back to your dominant hand, you are going to feel like a writing and drawing champ.
PSA: My left hand handwriting has never gotten too much more legible, though I have definitely gained speed. Some would argue that handwriting with my dominate hand is not much better, but that’s another story. Take heart!
Quick Tip:
If you ever find yourself stuck in a rut, or if you feel like you cannot draw, switch hands real quick, and you will breath a sigh of relief once you switch back.
Next…