A new crop of stress toys is here to take over where fidget spinners left off
Reaching for your phone as a distraction from uncomfortable situations has become a reflex at this point. It’s a handy tactic to avoid eye contact in public, but bolting to social media or even self-care apps when you’re stressed or anxious could subconsciously be making you feel worse.
It’s time we find something to focus our energy that’s more productive than listening for Twitter’s refresh “pop” sound every five minutes.
Mindfulness and the focus on focus aren’t new by any means, but have increasingly been in the spotlight due to a mass fixation on self care. Sure, being open and curious about the present without judging other ideas rattling your brain sounds great, but here’s the thing: It doesn’t come easy for everyone. Mastering mindfulness can take time — and the right level of expectations. For those who aren’t ready to hop on the meditation train, there are other options to help you chill out. Some might consider a product like THC gummies to be the next big thing when it comes to self-care, but varying laws around the world mean that these are not an option for everyone.
SEE ALSO: This is why mindfulness isn’t working for you
Enter: stress toys. When social media has become a dumpster fire and self-care apps just aren’t cutting it, something as simple as a physical toy can help you decompress. And while the fidget spinner is now just a memory rolling around on the floor of your car, its short life had a bigger impact than making Toys R Us airfreight tens of thousands of them to meet demand: It opened up the conversation about stress, nervous energy, and how seemingly useless little toys can affect how we focus.
There hasn’t been a lot of peer-reviewed scientific research done on the science of fidgeting, but the mass obsession with the fidget spinner leads us to believe that stress toys are something people really want — and is hopefully opening the door for more research on the benefits. Forbes journalist Bruce Y. Lee dove into the idea of fidgeting:
“One thought is that fidgeting may occupy parts of your brain that otherwise would distract the rest of your brain with random thoughts. […] Fidgeting may prevent your mind from being occupied by obsessive and unhealthy thoughts such aswhat is the meaning of life,what do other people think of you,why aren’t you more attractive,why do others seem more successful on Facebook than you, andwhy isn’t Justin Beiber [SIC] returning your phone call?”
The modern stress toy market has expanded past fidget spinners and long beloved stress balls in an attempt to satisfy all the different ways we can work through this excess energy: Whether that’s squeezing, squishing, spinning, rolling, molding, building, or a mix. Similar to the way meditation apps guide you through breathing or have you stare at bubbles, these toys provide a way to regather yourself during an overwhelming situation or to simply channel some nervous energy.
A few seconds of focusing your energy on a stress toy — or simply giving your fingers something to do that’s not nervously biting your nails or picking at your skin — can help you slow down. Toys may not free you of other thoughts like meditation aims to, but they’re something that can help you pause when everything else is spinning. Plus, they’re perfect for daily use.
TL;DR: Everyone needs an outlet for stress sometimes, and it’s totally fine if yours is a stress toy. Here are eight of the best new stress toys you can buy on the internet.
Best squishy toy
Stimulates multiple senses at once • Nine scent options
Reviews mention receiving the wrong size
Knead your worries away with this pliable dough that feels great on your hands and smells good, too.
1. Pinch Me Therapy Dough
Knead your worries away with this pliable dough that feels great on your hands and smells good, too.
- Stress-relief method:Squishing, molding
- Scent options:Spa, beach, melon, spice, ocean, sun, citrus, chill, tropics
Pinch Me Therapy Dough comes packed in perfectly portable jars and is designed to release tension via kneading, squishing, and rolling. Available in nine colors and scents, like lavender, spice, and melon, you’ll be able to squish your way to inner peace and enjoy some calming aromatherapy in the process – you could even add your own myrcene terpenes into the dough in order to enhance the aroma and potentially provide even more stress-relieving benefits. Aromatherapy’s whole thing is about using scents to promote relaxation and general wellbeing, but we can’t prove that it actually works. However, getting a whiff of something pleasant while sitting at your mundane office job could definitely be comforting.
Best for subtlety
Something you can wear every day • Unique gear design
Pricey for a stress toy
Keep your fingers busy without whipping out a toy with this mesmerizing spinning gear ring.
2. Spinning Gear Ring
The gears in this stainless steel ring move in unison and subtly keep your fingers busy.
- Stress-relief method:Spinning
- Options::Stainless steel, gold, rose gold, gunmetal
Unlike other spinning rings that work with a smaller band inside a larger one, these micro-precision gears actually turn in unison like the gears in a bike. Just watching the video is hypnotizing, and seeing it IRL is guaranteed to have people asking to try it on. (But if you let them, you might not get it back.)
Best for creativity
Adds an element of creativity • 31 color options
May be even smaller than you expect • Individual balls are easy to lose
Speks has found a way to make magnetic balls squishy, and with 31 color options, the possibilities are endless.
3. Speks Magnetic Balls
Meet the tiny magnetic balls that squish like dough and can create limitless geometric designs.
- Stress-relief method:Squishing, molding
- Options:31 colors to choose from, sizes range from 512 balls to 1,000 balls
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