Don’t be fooled by their fun colors or whimsical packaging. Fidget and sensory toys aren’t just for kids. In fact, according to psychotherapist Grace Huntley, keeping a stress ball, fidget toy or other sensory items around can help you stay calm and process emotions, from anger to anxiety.
“Our bodies crave balance and homeostasis. When we’re emotional, the right side of our brain is especially activated,” Huntley told HuffPost. “Grounding ourselves in our bodies and doing things that are orderly or sequential helps us to bring the left side of our brains more online to re-establish that balance.”
Anita A. Chlipala, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Chicago, said that sensory items can create a sense of self-soothing. This soothing can help you work through stress and anxiety and can also help you remain composed or focused if you are having feelings come up during work or social time.
“Using sensory items can put a pin in the worry, bring the person back to the moment, and do what needs to get done in the present,” Chlipala told HuffPost. “It’s not about never dealing with the worry, stress, anxiety, or the decisions that need to be made, but refocusing on the sensation of the item to help you build tolerance for the uncomfortable feelings [and] move on with your day.”
Further, keeping stress balls or sensory items around your workspace can help you stay focused.
“Stress balls and sensory toys can increase concentration and reduce stress by providing an outlet for nervous energy,” said Carla Marie Manly, a psychologist and author of “Joy from Fear: Create the Life of Your Dreams by Making Fear Your Friend.” “Although you might not be able to control a stressful deadline for a big work project, you can control your interaction with a stress ball.”
If you tend to get overwhelmed, unfocused or consumed with emotions, all three experts recommended keeping a variety of stress balls or sensory items around your workspace, in your bag and around the house, so you can easily grab one at a moment’s notice.
To help you find the best items for your, the experts shared their favorite stress balls, fidget toys and sensory items for adults.
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Stress balls
If you need a heavy-duty stress ball that can take a hard squeeze, we chose this set of three that has a ton of five-star reviews stating how durable and helpful they are.
“Whether we you are gently squeezing a stress ball, clenching it firmly, or tossing it side to side, your attention is geared toward sensation and movement rather than stressful thoughts or interactions,” she said. “A stress ball offers a sense of immediate tactile satisfaction and control that can reduce heightened emotions such as irritability and nervousness.”
If you crave something more rough than soft, you’ll love these handmade “Emotional Support Potatoes” we found that are knit with acrylic yarn.
These octopus stress balls we chose are made from fluffy velvet yarn, cotton and dry polyester filling.
We chose this set of four balls filled with dried lavender that offer a soothing smell and feel.
Fidget toys and items
If you want a fidget spinner that’s as aesthetically pleasing as it is soothing, try this set of three iridescent toys we found on Amazon.
“I especially like their… magnet balls,” Huntley said. “They come in a variety of colors and provide both tactile and auditory stimulation. Keep it next to the couch the next time you’re going for a movie marathon.”
“The Appash Fidget cube is another great option,” she said. “Equipped with 6+ ways to engage, this nondescript black cube is perfect for your desk or your purse.”
While Chlipala doesn’t have a particular bracelet she prefers, this option on Etsy has a ton of five-star reviews, comes in over a dozen colors and looks just like a regular piece of jewelry. You can spin and move the metal beads around the bracelet or just feel the glass beads in your hands.
Sensory items
“One of my favorite sensory items is an electronic hand warmer,” she said. “It’s rechargeable comes with a storage bag, and is a great way to ground yourself during those long meetings.”
Huntley recommends this reviewer-favorite hand warmer from Amazon. It’s earned 4.6 stars across over 27,000 ratings.
This plush rug comes in three calming colors and boasts a ton of five-star reviews noting its softness.
“Clients often enjoy choosing one of these cool, soothing stones to reduce anxiety and stress,” she said.
If you don’t live near a beach or other area with stones, you can order them online. On Etsy, we found this set of 12 striped stones that come in a variety of sizes.