How Using Your Non-Dominant Hand Can Support Mental Wellness

Author: Ashleigh Diserio

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Diserio Consulting highlights small, actionable practices that support everyday well-being. One tool that might surprise you is using your non-dominant hand for tasks.

It sounds simple, and it is, but don’t underestimate its impact. Here’s why this brain-based strategy is worth trying:

1. Disrupts Autopilot & Brings You to the Present
When you brush your teeth or stir your coffee with your non-dominant hand, your brain can’t rely on routine. It has to pay attention. This break in “autopilot mode” pulls you into the here and now, a skill in managing anxiety and reducing overthinking. This kind of present-moment awareness is also a cornerstone of mindfulness, which has been shown to decrease stress and improve focus.

2. Activates New Neural Pathways
Challenging your brain with unfamiliar tasks helps develop neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to rewire itself. Neuroplasticity improves mental flexibility, increasing your capacity to cope with stress and change. Think of it like strength training for your brain. Whenever you switch hands, you give it a mini workout.

3. Encourages Slowing Down
You’ll quickly notice that using your non-dominant hand means you move more slowly and intentionally. That’s not a drawback, it’s a benefit. Slowing down gives your nervous system space to reset. In a culture that pushes for constant productivity, being forced to pause, even briefly, can have powerful mental health effects.

Try It Out:
Here are a few ways to put this into practice:
1. Brush your teeth, run the vacuum, clean your car, and do other daily activities with your non-dominant hand.
2. Stir your coffee or eat a snack using it.
3. Open doors or turn on lights with the opposite hand.
4. Doodle, draw, or write a few words.
5. Use your mouse or phone with the other hand for a few minutes.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, try something different. It might feel awkward initially, but growth starts there!

If your organization is ready to prioritize mental wellness, we’d love to partner with you. Whether it’s stress reduction techniques, brain-based tools for resilience, or nature-based experiences like awe walks, forest bathing, and nature journaling, our workshops are designed to be practical, engaging, and backed by research. All we need is your team, we’ll bring the rest.

Contact us today to learn how we can meaningfully and memorably support your staff's well-being.