The left and right hemispheres of our brains are as important to mental health as the two wheels of a bike. Our different brain regions are used to undertake different aspects of a task, for instance. Our right hemisphere is used to help us “brainstorm” new ideas, and build up enthusiasm for starting things. Our left hemisphere is set up to help us plan through things logically, and deal with completion and detail.

Having an “unbalanced” brain can not only make us inefficient, it can also make us obsess over one type, or part, of an activity. It’s affect on mental health and obsession is so great, one reader once wrote:

Ever since I learnt this lesson (of having a balanced left/right hemisphere activity), I realize how critical it is to me. The times I am happiest are the times they are most aligned, and the times i am lest happy are when they are out of skew. The feeling of being on track is closely aligned with being in balance.

You can check how unbalanced your brain use is by downloading some simple (and fun) Brainworks software (coming soon to Obsess Obsess).

Here are some tips to achieving a more balanced tendency between both hemispheres of your brain

• Undertake a simple visualization meditation. After achieving a quiet state, picture a large see-saw in your head, stretching from left to right. Allow it to swing, and stay where it wants to stay. Usually this will be tipped to one side - the left or the right. For some, it may lie completely to one of these extremes. Now imagine taking a big weight of the overtipped end, allowing the see-saw to find equinimity. Once it does, allow yourself to remain with the picture of the balanced see-saw, and the feelin gof peace that results.

• Exercise. The left part of the brain is responsible for moving our right side of our body, and our right part the left. Exercise requires us to coordinate both sides of our body, which in turn stimulates both sides of our brains. The best types of exercises will require us to learn unfamiliar or difficult tasks on both our left and right sides. Some of these types of activities include rock climbing, tennis (forehand and backhand), and dancing - you might be able to think of others. If you are a walker, try using different style of “walks” (skips, backwards walking) that encourage you to pay attention to both sides of your body.

• Even when you are not able to exercise, simple hobbies like knitting, learning to juggle, or bouncing and catching a ball (in alternating hands), can have a similar effect.

Some of the other tips mentioned on Obsess Obsess will further help brain optimization, such as meditation, goal planning, and general fitness.