How hard can it be...

TO BECOME AMBIDEXTROUS

A handy skill? Or more of a handicap?

Apparently fewer than 1% are naturally ambidextrous, around 10% left-handed and the rest of us are right-handed, and it’s decided by the time we’re around four. After years of practice, our preference is not easily altered (nor would you necessarily want to: research has suggested that ambidexterity mightn’t be brilliant for the way our brains are wired. That doesn’t stop the internet commentators, however, who suggest training ideas from wearing your watch on the alternate arm, to drinking with your other hand, to tying your hand behind your back. It’ll take months to improve (and countless tea stains) and to what end?

Instead, focus your efforts on where it might be useful – sporty types might like to try throwing or hitting with their alternate hand; scribes giving handwriting a go. Advice from those who have had to adapt to using their other hand amounts to practice, and gentle build up, for example tracing letter shapes before free-handing them.

One internet suggestion we do approve of, however: alternating your mouse between hands. It lessens risk of RSI and means you can click away while doing something useful with your other hand (such as swigging the tea).