TE
TechEcho
Home24h TopNewestBestAskShowJobs
GitHubTwitter
Home

TechEcho

A tech news platform built with Next.js, providing global tech news and discussions.

GitHubTwitter

Home

HomeNewestBestAskShowJobs

Resources

HackerNews APIOriginal HackerNewsNext.js

© 2025 TechEcho. All rights reserved.

Ask HN: Using non-dominant hand for mouse and dominant for note taking?

10 pointsby 83457almost 5 years ago
I like to have a notepad beside me while I work to keep lists and notes. However, the mouse and notepad often compete for space, even with a compact keyboard, and I end up not note taking as much as I might otherwise. I also prefer a mouse when possible over a touchpad, when something can&#x27;t be done with keyboard at least. I recently noticed that a left handed coworker who used the mouse on right would keep perfect notes and todo lists with left hand without having to even put down her pencil&#x2F;pen to click around.<p>Do any right-handers here use left hand for mouse in order to take notes more easily with right hand? Seems like such a simple idea but I had never considered it before.

7 comments

matt_the_bassalmost 5 years ago
I switch mouse hands throughout the day to reduce arm stress. A little practice goes a long way, quickly.
mmerlinalmost 5 years ago
I am right handed but 20 years ago swapped mouse to left hand due to right hand temporary injury.<p>Took a few months of practice to feel natural and after my right hand was 100% again I decided to keep using left hand for mouse ever since.<p>It is handy leaving my right hand free for note taking.
sloakenalmost 5 years ago
I changed a number of years ago, because my right wrist and elbow hurt all the time. I use a trackball with the ball on top. Key thing I had to do was switch the buttons.<p>At work I still keep a conventional mouse (right side, buttons normal), for when others want to show me something on my computer.
_ahalmost 5 years ago
Severe RSI forced me to learn mousing with my non-dominant hand. Now I am &quot;ambimoustrous&quot; and switch back and forth throughout the day. When I start a new job, the first thing I request is a second mouse so that I have one available at all times on both sides of the keyboard and can switch easily.
samizdisalmost 5 years ago
Right-handed, but use trackpad with left if using pen&#x2F;pencil to take notes (well, doodle). Usually use a mouse rather than trackpad when not holding a pen, but my left-handed mouse skills are terrible. I have tried, but l-h trackpad works for me.
gshdgalmost 5 years ago
I also mostly mouse non-dominant because of RSI. Took less than a day to get to 75% capability, and about a week to 98%.<p>Now I’m just as good with a mouse lefty as righty except for a few things like drawing. Which may just be a matter of practice.
drl42almost 5 years ago
You can get a split keyboard (eg Kinesis Freestyle 2) and put a notepad in between.