16 Best Fidget Toys for Adults With Anxiety

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Do you often fidget whenever you feel nervous or uncomfortable?

Is your attention span so short that it affects your focus and concentration?

Fret not. In this article, we share with you 16 fidget toys that can help you deal with your anxiety. You may not know the reason behind your fidgeting, but you surely need a solution to get rid of it.

But before we proceed to the top products, let’s first discuss what fidget toys are and how they can help with mental and emotional issues such as anxiety and ADHD.

(Side note: Want a simple way to reduce your stress and anxiety? Then try writing these 35 mindfulness journaling prompts to live more in the present moment).

What Are Fidget Toys?

Fidget toys are commonly used to improve focus, attention, and concentration. They come in different types, forms, shapes, and designs. Research shows that they are most helpful for those who always feel restless, anxious, and panicky.

Note, however, that the act of fidgeting did not start with spinners and balls. Have you ever clicked a ballpoint pen over and over again because you were worried about your exams? You were fidgeting then!

Whatever it is you play with in order to have a more relaxed and aware state of mind can actas your fidget toy.

How do fidget toys help people? Let's find out…

Benefits of Fidget Toys

According to Dr. Pillar Trelles, a psychiatrist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, fidget toys “offer a less harmful way to expend nervous energy.” Fidget toys like stress balls and spinners lower anxiety levels by 18% and pain by 22%.

Dr. Trelles emphasizes, however, that the effectiveness of fidget toys depends on the type of person using them. Since anxiety, autism, ADHD, and other mental issues are on a spectrum, the effectiveness of any fidget will also follow that spectrum. But regardless of your situation, fidget toys are a soothing way to relax and stay calm and focused.

Usually, fidget toys are meant to help children with anxiety and attention problems. There is no definitive study yet regarding the impact of these toys, but a preliminary study shows that they significantly enhance the attitude, attention, peer-interaction, and writing abilities of children.

For adults, there is also a minimal amount of research regarding the benefits of fidget toys. However, many people who have tried using them have reported that they are indeed helpful in achieving a state of calmness. As such, they contribute to an individual’s work productivity.

Now, are you ready to check out the best fidget toys for adults? Let’s get to it!

1. Magnetic Sculpture Magnet Building Blocks

This stress relief toy has a dual purpose: stress relief during office hours and home décor. It includes building magnets that tests your patience and creativity. You can build and decorate shapes and structures without limit.

A cool gadget for both men and women, this fidget toy can boost your intelligence and imagination. If you are someone who is fond of geometric patterns, it is most probably the perfect toy for your worries and anxieties. Just remember to keep it away from pets and children who are 13 years old and below due to the ease of swallowing the small individual balls.

2. Tangle Jr. Original Fidget Toy

The Tangle Jr. comes in a set of three different colors, which are all bright and vibrant. You can mix them all together to make your play more fun and exciting. It is recommended for both adults and kids—particularly those who want to unplug and do away with electronic devices.

Tangles are made to keep your hands busy while you are idle. They are based on the concept of continuous motion, which brings a calming sensation to the mind and body. Once you start playing with them, you’ll be able to come up with many different patterns. This, in turn, boosts your creativity and imagination.

3. Chuchik Fidget Cube Toys

This wooden fidget toy from Chuchik is for those who want to stay more focused and less distracted at work or school. It is primarily branded as reducing anxiety and stress, and also relieves the symptoms of autism, ADD, ADHD, and OCD. Since it is small and portable, you can play with it anywhere and anytime.

There are a lot of things you can do with this toy. You can flip, roll, glide, spin, and click. In addition to stress relief and improving attention, it also relieves tension and reduces anger. If your mind becomes chaotic, just play with this fidget toy and you’ll be able to achieve peace in an instant.

4. ForeverSpin Titanium Spinning Top

Spinning tops are designed to boost your focus and creativity. They keep your thought process and productivity working, especially while on your desk. This ForeverSpin fidget spinning toy is an elegant piece that can perfectly match your well-organized work station.

To make your play more fun and exciting, you can challenge yourself to beat your spin times. If you want, you may also compete with your friends and see who can spin the top the longest.

Spinning tops do not just provide calm and relaxation—they also improve in-hand manipulation and hand-eye coordination.

5. Infinity Cube Fidget Toy

This product from Small Fish is perfect for kids and adults. It is a good way to release tension and relieve stress and anxiety. If you want to address your nail-biting, leg-shaking, and other fidgeting issues, you may want to try this toy.

In addition to its fidgeting benefits, this cube toy can also improve your fingers’ flexibility. It serves as a tool to develop your fine motor skills. You can use it anywhere, anytime, even at work while thinking or at school while listening.

6. Tom’s Fidgets Flippy Chain Fidget Toy

This chain fidget toy comes in different colors. It is made out of stainless steel that splits the rings and links the chains without the risk of corroding or breaking. If you want to quit smoking, regulate stress and anxiety levels, or release tension during events or gatherings, you can try this product.

Tom’s Fidgets Flippy Chain is branded as a toy that is “silent yet satisfying.” The manufacturer takes pride in the product’s non-distracting quality. You can play and fidget all you want without drawing too much attention from the people around you.

7. Crazy Aaron’s Super Scarab Thinking Putty

Made from safe and non-toxic silicone, this product from Crazy Aaron’s does not dry out easily. It comes in different colors, sizes, and smells. You can stretch, bounce, tear, or sculpt it any way you want.

While this product is especially made for children, it also serves as a stress reliever for adults. The manufacturer claims that it hones mindfulness, focus, and concentration. Its main purpose is to help intellectually and physically challenged individuals to conquer their disabilities.

8. Pilpoc theFube Fidget Cube

This fidget cube is made out of sturdy plastic and has soft silicone rubber buttons. It is mostly played through clicks, but you can always get rid of the sound if you are in a meeting or a seminar. It is also very portable, so you can take it with you anywhere.

The product has 12 sides, each with a different fidget activity. If you want to keep yourself calm and relaxed, or if you want to improve your focus and concentration, check out this item from Pilpoc.

9. Spiky Sensory Finger Rings

This is a rather unique fidget toy, and a good alternative to the usual ones. You put it on your finger and roll it back and forth. The product is made out of 100% high-quality stainless steel, which makes it safe for both adults and appropriately aged kids.

In addition to stress relief, these spiky finger rings are also excellent for acupressure. Acupressure helps in moving the positive energy in your body. It also aids in treating depression, pain, and nausea.

10. Stretchy String Fidget

These fidget strings are hypoallergenic and non-toxic. They are free from harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and latex. They can stretch from 10 inches to 8 feet, and they come in a variety of colors.

For your fidgeting pleasure, you can stretch, pull, twirl, wrap, and squeeze these strings. Then, enjoy watching them bounce back to their original form. These fidget toys provide a sense of relaxation, reduced anxiety levels, and increased concentration.

11. Fidget Dodecagon

This fidget toy is composed of 12 different sides that will keep your worries away and your anxieties at bay. Each side is specially constructed to keep your mind and hands busy, relieving your stress and allowing you to better focus and concentrate. It is lightweight and small, so you can take it anywhere you go.

The manufacturer claims that this product can be a great toy for both adults and children who have ADD, ADHD, autism, and other mental conditions that require the brain to focus. It is also good for those who often wander and daydream.

12. BunMo Magnetic Fidget Rings

These magnetic fidget rings from BunMo provide instant stress and anxiety relief. Like all the other fidget toys already mentioned, their purpose is to help people with mental conditions keep their minds and fingers busy and engaged. They also help you break free from bad habits like nail-biting or leg-shaking.

These rings are easy to use and play with. You can spin, separate, connect, and whirl them any way your fingers want to. As the product’s tagline says, “Your imagination is the limit with this magnetic spinner ring.” You can even use them to play billiards or hockey.

13. ONO Roller Black

The ONO Roller Black from the ONO Store is very clear in the things it wants to achieve: help relieve stress and anxiety, help the mind find focus and clarity, and help people limit or totally eliminate their bad habits. It has been carefully designed for exactly these purposes.

This product claims to be one of the best ways to keep your fingers busy while your mind does what it needs to do. It is designed to fit perfectly in your palms. Furthermore, it helps relieve any pain your hand may be feeling due to texting, writing, or typing.

14. Appash Fidget Cube

This fidget cube is a product from Appash and it is one of Amazon’s best choices when it comes to fidget toys that relieve stress and anxiety. It has six sides with different features, including click, glide, flip, breathe, roll, and spin. All these features work well to help your mind focus and concentrate.

Made out of high-quality ABS plastic and other fine materials, this fidget cube is a great gift idea. If you have friends or family members who have fidgeting habits, they will surely appreciate receiving a fidget cube. The toy is available in many different colors, so you can choose which one best suits your or your recipient’s preferences.

15. Anti-Anxiety Fidget Spinner

This anti-anxiety fidget spinner from the Duomishu Store claims that it is a “killer of stress,” as it is great for relieving anxiety and exhaustion. It is also claims to help alleviate the symptoms of autism, ADD, and other attention-related disorders. Its design is based on the Chaos Theory, or the “double pendulum and random motion” theory.

The product available at this link is the updated version of the original spinner. It is built with stainless steel, making it durable and strong. Ceramic precision bearings are used to move the pendulum, so the rotation is smooth and frictionless. If you are looking for an elegant gift, this could be a great option.

16. The Original Fidget Retro

Like most of the fidget toys found on this list, the original Fidget Retro from the WTYCD Store is one of Amazon’s best choices when it comes to relieving stress and breaking bad habits. It is easy to use, small, and lightweight, making it great for taking with you on the go. Although simple to look at, this fidget toy has eight functions, including a joystick, buttons, a never-ending gear roller, a grip-textured massage roller, a clickable switch, a spinnable dial, a spring-loaded slider, and a grip-textured Zen section. It is perfect for anyone, regardless of age and fidgeting habits.

Final Words

Fidgeting isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, a new study claims that fidgeting is actually good for your health, particularly if you are exposed to prolonged sitting.

However, we acknowledge the fact that fidgeting can annoy some co-workers or family members. So, in order to fidget without interrupting everyone else in the room, you need alternatives in the form of fidget toys.

We hope that the items we provided above can help you deal with your fidget habits. Rather than pressuring yourself to stop fidgeting, find a constructive way to do so!

Finally, if you want a simple way to reduce your stress and anxiety, then try writing these 35 mindfulness journaling prompts to live more in the present moment.

Featured Image Photo Credits: Philips Wei