The first thing you need to know about me, I am neuro-diverse with Severe ADHD, Autism, OCD, Depression, and anxiety disorder, and to top it all off. I am dyslexic. So, it’s safe to say that I understand some of the hardships of neuro-diverse people. But since this is primarily a film blog. I wanted to try something different and suggest/Review some products. Also, how these products can help people such as myself. Work on sets with strangers, and different environments, yet remain calm and in control. Believe it or not, one of the best ways is to fidget. The only issue is there are times and places, but for people who need to fidget, it becomes harder when we cannot do it, hence why we have fidget toys. Now a fidget toy cannot cure you or make you do your work. However, it can help reduce some urges and improve procrastination, or when in an event filled with people to distract your mind from overwhelming thoughts.
To make life easier, I will give three examples of fidget toys. Out of those three, I will pick the best one. Although each one mentioned in this post is excellent and worthy of the number one spot, this one stood out more to me and was more valuable to me in my field. So, whichever you pick, it’s a win-win situation. Especially if it helps you in your day-to-day life. I REPEAT! This is my opinion. Everyone is different, so we all must try other treatments and tools. That allows us to work better. After all, you are not dumb, you are not weird, and you are not strange.
I say this through experience. It feels that you are not able to finish anything, or you wish you were able to feel normal. The thing is, you are. Perhaps after decades of reinforcement of negative comments, bullying, and self-doubt, you think the is no hope or it’s too late. Which never is. Fun fact: For people who have ADHD, when doing a task they like, the brain chemistry is the same as someone doing a line of cocaine. This explains how people with ADHD are happy doing something they love and can hyperfocus on it easily. So, that’s why my God Mother (Who also has ADHD.) always told me, “I don’t need drugs or alcohol. I am the drugs and Alcohol!”
Now that we understand that we are all people- amazing people, to be exact. Let’s see what Fidget toys can help you in your day-to-day lives.
Number 3 - The stress balls
Perhaps the most common toy on this list. Yet, you are probably thinking, why is this on the list? It’s a stress ball, not really a fidget toy. Correct in some points. The goal of a fidget toy is to help you focus, relieve stress symptoms, and relax you. A stress ball does everything a fidget toy claims to do and more. If you are like me and decide to get a rugby-shaped ball. It becomes one of the most fun toys, since in your free time, you can play with it, do tricks, throw it, and many people won’t judge you. In most cases, your co-worker will want to hold it and play with it. So, in a way, it can be pretty distracting for others and annoying for you due to everyone wanting to play with it.
Another problem is the size. Stress balls are large and not the best toy to put in your pockets. Plus, if you have Neuro-diversity, it can tick only one or two boxes for your sensations. When stressed or feeling overwhelmed, squeezing the stress ball does help due to some pressure points in your palm, forcing the blood to flow better once released. The only real negative comes from the size and only focusing on one of the reliving senses.
Number 2 - The Infinity Cube
I own a heavy white cube, and the function of the cube is to fold in such a way that every fold will allow it to return to its original form. One benefit of the cube is the changing shape, Unlike the Stress Ball. This fits much easier in your pockets. Like the others, you can fidget with it one-handed and do some tricks. The appeal is also quite catchy. Depending on the colour you get. I prefer clean colours: White, black, and grey. So, I don’t bring too much attention to the workplace. Fun tip, it’s a great conversation starter. Got a co-worker’s number through it. Guess double points for the cube. In cube form, you can leave it on your desk, and it looks stylish. But, like all things in the universe, it is not perfect. Over time the joints holding the cube can feel loose: depending on the material, it can make a lot of sounds due to the constant folding and clapping of the materials. Another sad truth is over time, it gets boring. I once even got distracted by it due to my trying to do a folding trick, and since it’s a cube or a rectangle, when folded flat, it sometimes takes a lot of space in your hand and pockets. So, if you are like me and need to be ready for every call, you want something to fit quickly in your pocket or away. Overall, a lot of fun, a great chat opener and fun for a short while. Negatives: over time, it will feel loose, can cause parts to feel like they are breaking, and can make quite a lot of sound if not careful.
Number 1 - Fidget Pad
Now this will appeal to any gamer out there. The layout is based on a pad controller with its pad-like design resembling retro controls. The left has a tiny thumbstick, and the right side has four buttons: two, which are clicky and two, which are soft. But that’s not all! The fidget pad has two rollers, one that goes all around and has more of a grip sensation and the second a softer grip sensation. If that’s not enough, the fidget pad has two more options. One being a clicker/Switch and a spinner. What’s fantastic about this fidget pad is its size. It’s compact, not too eye-catching and looks professional. The only issue with the pad is like most fidget toys. The build is made of cheap plastic, and it can easily wear out over time. Some buttons fill as if they are getting stuck, and some people may find it annoying due to the sounds they can make. It’s probably best to read the environment before going on a clicky rampage, but that’s why it has the other features.
Overall, the fidget pad is my absolute favourite. It’s compact design and rich in features: Buttons, rollers, switches and thumbsticks. Makes this the best fidget toy for both adults and children. Don’t forget that everyone is different and has different preferences for what helps them deal with their anxiety or stress relief. So, each one of my top three is a good choice, but you have to decide what's best for you.
Hope you enjoyed this quick post about Fidget Toys and what I think could help you in your day-to-day life. Tell me which one you have and why you chose that one. Leave a like and share if you want to.
BJS cha people.
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