Stress is no joke, and as a human being, I’m sure you’ve experienced plenty of it. Between job pressure, relationship issues, financial stress, and stress from school, there are a million reasons to feel stressed out! According to the American Institute of Stress, 77% of people report experiencing physical symptoms of stress.
With so many people experiencing daily stress and overwhelm, it’s no surprise that people are searching for solutions to manage and relieve their stress. One of those solutions is by using stress relief toys!
Stress relief toys have been gaining in popularity in the office, at home, and anywhere else stress commonly strikes. Stress relief toys are useful because they’ll decrease your stress and anxiety, increase your focus, and help you feel calm and grounded. Plus, they are a great way to ditch your bad habits like pen-clicking, nail-biting, or hair-twisting!
In this post, we’ll go over the common symptoms of stress, how stress relief toys will benefit you, and some of the best ones to buy for instant stress relief!
*I’m not a licensed mental health therapist. To find a professional, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit Betterhelp to get matched with a therapist for affordable online therapy anywhere, at any time. This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.
The Symptoms and Dangers of Stress
Stress can manifest in your life in a many different ways including physically, emotionally, and cognitively. When you’re stressed out, it can affect everything from muscle tension, to your mood, to your thoughts. Stress can totally run your life, ruin your relationships, and cause you to feel burnt out and exhausted.
Physical Symptoms of Stress
Here are a few ways stress can manifest physically:
- Weakness and fatigue
- Low energy
- Headaches, muscle aches, tension
- Anxiety, shaking, nervousness
- Insomnia
- Panic attacks
- Digestive issues
Emotional Symptoms of Stress
Here are a few ways stress can manifest emotionally:
- Low self esteem
- Mood swings
- Overwhelmed
- Feelings of losing control
- Short temper and irritability
Cognitive Symptoms of Stress
Here are a few ways stress can manifest cognitively:
- Negative mindset
- Racing, worrisome thoughts
- Disorganization, forgetfulness
- Trouble concentrating
Do any of these stress symptoms look familiar to you? I know they look familiar to me! While excessive stress can cause us to feel like our lives are spiraling out of control, there are some ways to manage it and help you feel calm and grounded. Stress relief toys are an affordable, easy, and instant solution that you can use anywhere and any time!
What are stress relief toys and how do they relieve stress?
Stress relief toys are a fun way to relieve stress at work, at home, and anywhere else you need to manage stress or anxiety in order to relax. These small toys are meant to be fidgeted with and can come in the form of stress balls, putty, little cubes, and more.
Since stress at work is extremely common, many of the toys listed below are perfect office toys and gadgets to keep on your desk!
How do stress relief toys work? When we are stressed and overwhelmed, our brains tend to get overloaded and we can get really stuck “in our heads.” You may start experiencing racing, worrisome thoughts and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Playing with a stress relief toy can help us get “out of our heads” and back “into our bodies”. It’s really a mindfulness technique because we stop being so focused on our racing thoughts, and we begin focusing instead, on the sensations we feel in our hands.
This can give our brains a break, and help us feel more grounded and focused.
What are the benefits of stress relief toys?
Here are a few benefits you’ll experience by using a stress relief toy:
- They reduce tension. Squeezing a stress relief ball, for example, will help you release negative tension and energy you have built up inside your body
- Increased mental clarity and focus
- They will improve your mood by getting your mind off of what’s causing you stress so you can move forward in a more positive way
- Improved sleep and relaxation
10 Best Stress Relief Toys for Adults
1. Infinity Fidget Cube
With over 1,000 positive reviews on Amazon, this stress relief cube is a perfect pocket-size toy to manage stress.
PROS:
- This cube is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand so you can fidget with one hand, while keeping the other hand free for making phone calls, studying, or anything else!
- You can flip and fold this toy and it won’t make any noise.
- It has a smooth surface and is easy and light on the wrists and hands
CONS:
- The few negative reviews on Amazon are people who reported getting a different item than advertised. If you decide to get this cube, make sure to only buy from this company and not a different seller, because you risk getting a replica!
2. Stress Balls for Adults
Stress balls are probably the most popular stress relief toy because they are simple, but effective at reducing tension and stress. The one above, Serenilite, is a top rated stress ball with a 4.5 star rating and over 800 positive reviews on Amazon. Many claim it’s the best stress ball for releasing tension.
The reason I personally love stress balls is because fidgeting with a toy as an adult might seem uncomfortable or awkward for some people, especially if you’re in a professional setting at work. But a stress ball is a small, simple, and subtle way to relax.
PROS:
- This ball comes in a variety of colors and even has some heart-shaped options!
- Stress ball benefits include reduced stress, improved hand strength, and increase blood flow and circulation.
- It’s soft, squeezable, and comfortable
CONS:
- It’s a smaller size, so if you want something that’s going to fit in the palm of your hand, look for a bigger size.
- If you are a more fidgety person, you may benefit for a more interactive toy since the only thing you can do with a stress ball is squeeze it.
3. Chuchik Fidget Cube
This little cube is perfect for those with extra energy or who have high stress. You can click and fidget with the little buttons and levers, helping improve your concentration and focus and calm your nerves. It’s perfect for those with a pen clicking habit
PROS:
- It’s made of silicone and plastic, giving it a smooth, rubbery texture.
- It has 6 unique features which will keep your mind busy for a while!
- This cube doesn’t make noise so you can click and fidget all you want without bothering anyone else around you.
CONS:
- The joystick part of the cube has been known to get jammed.
4. Magnetic Desk Sculpture
This fun stress relief toy is perfect for keeping on your desk at work! It allows you to creatively build a structure, provide stress relief and entertainment, and also serves as an interesting art sculpture.
PROS:
- It’s a fun brain game because you have to think about how you want to design the structure and how you want it to look in the end.
- There are limitless ways to create a sculpture, keeping you busy for as long as you want!
- It’s a fun way to relieve stress at work.
CONS:
- It’s a lot of small pieces so if you aren’t careful, they could end up all over the place.
5. Stress Putty Kit
Putty is a fun way to relieve stress and keep your mind and fingers busy. This stress relief kit not only helps you relax, but also helps improve your grip strength. It comes with four different levels of firmness so you can work your way up. It has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon and over 500 positive reviews!
PROS:
- Squeezing it and playing with it will help strengthen your hand muscles, improve motor skills, and relieve tension and stress.
- You can test each strength and find one that feels best for you.
- This putty is odorless and non-toxic.
CONS:
- Putty does run the risk of getting easily dirty or dried out if you aren’t careful. But if you can be careful to not drop it and to always put the cover on tight, it can be a really entertaining toy.
6. Foot Massage Roller for Stress Relief
Depending on the kind of job you have, this foot massager could be a good item to keep under your desk. If you can’t use it at work, you could always keep it at home to use while sitting on the couch watching TV or reading a book. You could even use it to massage your hands and arms as well!
PROS:
- The rolls and grooves were designed to stimulate deep tissue and target trigger points. This will release stress and tension and improve blood circulation.
- It’s small, light, portable, and can be used on any flat surface.
CONS:
- It’s made out of wood, so it could be too hard to use consistently. It might be best used for just 3-5 minutes per day depending on how sensitive your feet are.
7. Tangle Stress Relief Toy
These fun little toys twist and turn to create different shapes in your hand. The fluid movement helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and can even promote creativity. It has 4 stars and over 900 positive reviews on Amazon.
PROS:
- It has a nice, rubbery texture making it easy and comfortable to grip
- Tangle Therapy has been approved by the FDA for improving hand motion, restoring motion or joints, improving muscle performance, strengthening finger muscles, and rehabilitation hand muscles.
- The twisting and turning of the toy helps focus and calm you mind, ideal for use during an anxiety attack or when you have extra energy.
CONS:
- Although the pieces are meant to come apart, it can be difficult to snap them back into place at times.
8. Zen Garden Sandbox
If the ocean is your happy place, consider getting this zen garden with sea creatures! Practice mindfulness by playing with the sand and reduce stress by drawing designs and feeling the different textures. Ideal for keeping on a desk or table!
PROS:
- It’s a beautiful little garden full of unique creatures and bright, aqua blue sand.
- There’s been research on the use of sand for therapeutic benefit that suggests it can help calm your mind
- The various shapes, sizes, textures, and colors make it the perfect way to practice mindfulness
CONS:
- It’s more expensive than most other stress relief toys
9. Stress Less Cards
These cards come with 50 Inspirational mindfulness and meditation exercises that help relieve stress. Consider them your stress and anxiety first aid kit to help empower you to take control of your stress. Pull them out or memorize your favorites whenever you need a little inspiration and relaxation.
PROS:
- The exercises are based on powerful techniques known to reduce anxiety and stop the stress response.
- With these cards, you’ll be able to practice mindful breathing, effective visualizations, and positive thinking.
- It’s small size makes it easy to carry anywhere you want to take it.
CONS:
- The font is small and may not be ideal for those with poor eyesight.
10. Fidget Sensory Rings
Keep these rings on your fingers to fidget with at home, the office, work, school, college, during your travels, while driving, while reading, and more! Fidgeting with the the little sensory spikes help direct your mind away from stress, anxiety, or overwhelm.
PROS:
- You keep it on your finger so you can continue to complete other tasks while fidgeting with it
- The rings are discrete and won’t make any noise, so they won’t be distracting
- They fit children’s fingers and expand to fit adults fingers too
CONS:
- Some users say the metal is uncomfortable after wearing for too long
While stress can affect our health, mentally, emotionally, and physically, stress relief toys can be the perfect solution to help us manage it. By directing our focus away from what’s bothering us, we can gain mental clarity, reduce tension and stress, and feel more peaceful and relaxed.
Whether you’d like something simple like a stress ball or something more involved like a zen garden, I hope you found a stress relieving toy that’s perfect for you!
Let me know in the comments below: have you ever tried a stress relief toy? Which one is your favorite?