4 Wellness Tips for Left-Handed People
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Being left-handed certainly makes you special. About 10 percent of the world’s population is left-handed. Ten U.S. presidents have been either left- or mixed-handed, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Oprah Winfrey, LeBron James, Whoopi Goldberg, and Morgan Freeman are all lefties. Left-handers are considered to be very creative, great fighters thanks to that southpaw, and really good at sports. They even have their own holiday (August 13)!
But there are also some downsides to being a lefty. In some parts of the world, it’s considered rude or disrespectful to use one’s left hand. Being left-handed can have subtle effects on your mental and physical health. Not to mention left-handed people often feeling like the odd one out.
4 Wellness Tips For Left-Handed People
Existing and creating in a world that’s not necessarily built for you can’t be easy. But fret not, lefties! Below are four surprising health facts about being left-handed along with methods to practice self-care for your whole body, mind, and spirit.
SEE ALSO: Low-Cost Ways to Practice Self-Care
1. Being left-handed is harder for school-aged children
Left-handed children have been shown to have delayed development of vocabulary, reading, writing, social development, and fine motor skills. This is likely due to most early reading and writing teaching techniques being oriented toward teaching right handers. Left-handed children are also more likely to develop learning disabilities like dyslexia.
Left-handedness develops in the womb and is largely influenced by genetics. While being born a lefty doesn’t necessarily guarantee trouble in school, parents can help left-handed children better adjust to an early classroom environment by practicing lefty handwriting techniques and purchasing special school supplies such as left-handed binders and pens that glide easily across the page and don’t leave ink resident on skin or clothing, and practicing reading at home to help children get better oriented with reading from left to right.
2. Being left-handed makes you more creative
Chris McManus, professor and author of the book Right Hand, Left Hand says: “If you are left-handed you might find yourself with a slightly unusual way your brain is organized and suddenly that gives you skills that other people don’t have.” A 1995 study found left-handed men tended to do more “divergent thinking” than right-handed men, meaning they explore more options to solve a problem than ones that may seem obvious or readily available.
If you find you tend to have frequent bursts of creativity, the key is to not get burned out. Get involved in outlets for your creativity like classes or art projects. Protect your peace of mind by sticking to a schedule, setting boundaries, and practicing wellness techniques like mindfulness and meditation to help you stay grounded and focused on the tasks in front of you.
3. Being left-handed puts you at a higher risk for some health problems
A 2007 study published in the British Journal of Cancer found that left-handers had a higher risk of breast cancer than right-handers. A different study found that lefties are twice as likely to suffer from bowel problems such as IBS or colitis. Even sleeping can be difficult for lefties who are more likely to suffer from periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) where people involuntarily kick and jerk their arms and legs while sleeping.
If you’re a lefty, it’s important to take care of your physical health as well as your mental wellbeing. Exercise regularly, left-handed folks might actually find that some sports that require hand-eye coordination actually come easier to them. Careful managing of your diet and regular visit to your doctor can also help offset any predispositions for disease. If you find that you are experiencing some adverse health, no need to worry. There are treatments and medications available for all, not just right-handed folks.
4. Being left-handed can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation
Being left-handed in a world created for right-hand users can leave you feeling pretty ostracized. Desks, scissors, cooking utensils, binders and notebooks are all made with right-handed people in mind and can make day-to-day life really frustrating. Plus, there are a lot of stereotypes and misrepresentations of lefties in the media, in the education system, in the medical field, and even in language.
Thankfully, there are stores that specifically sell items for left-handed people. What’s more important is to cultivate a sense of community through strong relationships with friends and family who build you up and accept you.
The most important thing to remember about right-handedness versus left-handedness is that at the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter. Your life is what you make it. Pay attention to how your body is feeling, take care of your mental health, keep respectful and kind people around you and who knows, you might be president someday.
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4 Wellness Tips for Left-Handed People was originally published on elev8.com
