To fidget or not to fidget?

Spinners and putty and cubes, oh my! You do not have to look far to see a large variety of fidget options.  I would imagine many of us have a variety, whether on our desks at work, tucked into our purses and bags or tucked into various corners of the house.  Maybe you even have your go to favorites.  But, have you stopped to wonder why we use fidgets? 

Are you someone who naturally fidgets? Maybe you move around in your chair a lot or always seem to find a pen cap or other random object to play with.  You likely don’t think much about it but some theorists suggest that our body is constantly seeking to find that “just right” state.  Like Goldilocks and the three bears, not too much sensory input, not too little; just right.  Now I can focus on the task and feel secure.  Fidgeting is your body’s natural way of doing just that, calibrating your energy and focus through sensory input and output.  While the jury is still out on all the scientific merits and concerns about fidget tools what we do know is they can be a source of regulation for our body when we feel restless, bored, excited, distracted, or anxious.  At the same time, they can also be a source of distraction that actually interrupts our learning and focus.

To help get the most out of our fidgets keep these three things in mind:

1.     Keep them low noise/distraction.

Why? So often we are using fidgets in a social space to support our own needs which is great! I love that we have grown in our awareness that brains think differently and thrive with unique resources so lets make space for those differences.  AND this awareness does best when paired with thoughtfulness for the impact we have on one another.  What is soothing for me has the potential to be distracting for you.  We can build inclusive work spaces by choosing fidgets that support my needs without causing unnecessary distraction for those around me.

2.     Keep them purposeful.

Why? Fidgets can serve different purposes for us depending on how our body and mind are engaged in a particular setting. Example: what helps on a work call may be very different from what helps while discussing a painful subject in therapy! Keep in mind that (for our purposes here) fidgets are a tool not a toy, keeping them simple (low tech) and connected to our needs helps them stay supportive in keeping us on task.

3.     Keep them low distraction. 

Why? If you have to think about how ithe fidget works or are distracted by its colors than its distracting you rather than supporting your attention, the best fidgets for you are the ones that blend into the background and you can use unconsciously.

With these principles in mind I encourage you to think about the purpose fidgeting serves for you, explore the vast options available and find the one(s) that work for you.  Consider sharing with us a favorite or check out one of our favorites, the Ono roller!