Stress and anxiety are a common experience for many Americans. In fact, anxiety affects 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population. It can have a negative impact on our physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. For example, stress and anxiety can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating or smoking, or can also make it difficult to concentrate or sleep. Furthermore, stress and anxiety can take a toll on our relationships with others. If you're feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, remember that you're not alone.
Fortunately, there are some things that we can do to manage stress and anxiety. One popular method of relieving these feelings is through using fidget tools.
What is fidgeting?
We all fidget from time to time without really knowing why. Whether it's drumming your fingers on a desk at work, spinning a pen, bouncing your leg, chewing, or biting your fingernails, almost everyone has done it. It might be because we're bored, or anxious, or trying to release pent-up energy. But there's actually a scientific reason behind fidgeting.
When we fidget, we're actually helping our bodies to combat stress. That's because when we're stressed, our bodies produce a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, but it can also have negative effects on our health if it's present in high levels for too long. Fidgeting helps to lower cortisol levels, which can improve our mood and overall sense of well-being. What else does cortisol do though? Interestingly, it affects how we learn. This means that fidgeting also helps us learn.
Another benefit to fidgeting - it helps us to pay attention. When our mind wanders, fidgeting helps to bring us back to the task at hand. In fact, research has shown that fidgeting could be a self-regulation mechanism to actually improve our focus and performance. So next time you find yourself fidgeting, don't fight it - it just means your brain is trying to stay sharp!
Why fidget tools might help
But what if people at work are complaining about you picking at your nails while they're trying to eat their lunch? Or if your child keeps distracting others? That's where fidget tools come in.
Fidget tools are simple, portable objects that you can fidget with in your hands. They're often used to help people focus or calm down when they're feeling anxious, stressed, or restless. Fidgeting is a natural way to release excess energy, and fidget tools can help redirect that energy in a positive way. Common fidget tools include stress balls, worry stones, fidget spinners, fidget cubes, and fidget rings. Even bubble wrap is a fidget tool!
So what are the benefits of fidgeting when we’re stressed? And how can you incorporate fidget tools into your work, school and everyday life?
Let’s find out.
Muscle Tension and boredom
When we're stressed out, our muscles tend to tense up, and fidgeting helps to release that tension. Shaking your leg under the desk or clicking your pen constantly without you realizing are just examples of ways that we release that tension or boredom. Fidgeting also may help to increase blood flow and circulation, and burn off excess energy, which can help us to feel calmer and more relaxed.
In fact, it's proven in a study that over one minute of popping bubble packaging provides stress relief equivalent to a 33 minute massage.
However, if you don’t fancy being sat in the office with a sheet of bubble wrap (or a whole roll if your day is that bad) then a tool such as our Pop Fidget Bottle will do the trick. Through silicone bubbles built into the handle, the Iconic Pop Fidget Bottle is a unique and fun way to relieve stress while staying hydrated. It's also a great way to keep your hands busy and your mind focused.
Concentration
Have you ever found yourself getting distracted from whatever task you're in the middle of? Studies have shown that fidget toys can help children with attention or anxiety issues to stay focused and calm in the classroom.
This means that fidgeting could help with concentration by distracting you from your nervous or hyperactive thoughts. The repetitive movements help you to focus your attention so that you can better cope with the stressor, and especially helps those with ADHD, Anxiety or OCD who use fidgeting as a coping mechanism.
This also helps transfer all the nervous energy you're experiencing through movement, which creates a calming effect. Even if you're not particularly stressed, it's still a great way to focus on a long task, or a school project in a positive way.
It's satisfying!
At some point, let's face it, we've all found popping bubble wrap super satisfying. Have you ever wondered why?
This could be due to the fact that chemicals like dopamine, which is a hormone that makes you feel happier, are released after popping bubble wrap.
The same goes for the Pop bottle. There's just something about it that makes it so satisfying. Maybe it's the fact that you can control how much pressure is released at any given time. Or maybe it's because it's such a simple and easy thing that anyone can do.
Pop one at a time, or all at once. It's completely up to you! But either way, that satisfying "pop" noise and feeling is always there to fill you with joy.
Why the Pop bottle is the perfect fidget tool
There's also no denying that fidgeting can be a great way to relieve stress. When we fidget, we're essentially giving our brain a break from whatever it is we're focused on. We're allowing ourselves to take a mental break, and that can be incredibly helpful when we're feeling stressed out.
Fidget tools can help us to do this in a more controlled way. By giving our hands something to fiddle with, we can help to ease our stress and anxiety.
Our silicone bubble handle on the Pop bottle has many features that make it the perfect way to release stress, have fun, and stay hydrated all at once! These include:
- - A fully removable silicone handle, with bubbles to pop away at your heart’s content!
- - Anti-microbial drinking spout that keeps your bottle clean
- - A removable non-slip silicone bottom, so that it stays secure wherever you are
So, if you’re looking for a way to relieve stress, the Pop bottle is just for you!
Check out the Fidget Pop bottle here
https://www.liveelemental.com/collections/iconicpop
