I have a very odd habit...?!

I have a very odd habit...?

Whenever I hear a song, I'll start trying to play it out on my fingers, each note switches back and forth between my left and right hands. I'll just start tapping away at a near surface without thinking about it.

Another wierd thing is, if it changes key or something like that, I'll keep on trying to make it land on my left hand, even though I'm right-handed.

Any Ideas?

Sounds to me like it's just a little game/habit that's amusing to you. It gives you some kind of enjoyment- maybe a little challenge, a sense of participating in the music, a mini workout for the musical part of your brain. Try just noticing how you feel when you're doing it -that might give you some more clues about it.

Habits are so weird- it seems that once the brain develops one, it's a kind of neurological shortcut. The brain automatically responds with the habit whenever the "cue" appears- in your case, a song. I think it's a way the brain saves energy- by not having to decide how to act every time.

The only problem is if you're trying to break one. I find it amazing that trying to break a simple habit can cause anxiety- like what terrible thing is going to happen if I don't chew my fingernails? I guess the brain just gets settled and comfy in its routines, and change feels scary, even on little things. Sometimes it helps to replace the habit with a behavior that meets the same need in a more helpful way. The automatic nature of the thing can be hard to get around, too. I start the habitual actions before I even realize I 'm doing it!

Don't know if you want to quit this habit- it sounds harmless enough and even pleasant- but the topic is interesting...