Tossing and turning all night, staring at the ceiling while your mind races-does this sound familiar? Many adults struggle to quiet their thoughts and fall asleep at bedtime. While counting sheep may work for some, others need more active engagement to lull their busy brains to sleep. This is where fidget toys can help.
Fidget toys are small, handheld objects that you can play with to keep your hands busy. The act of manipulating a fidget provides just enough sensory input and distraction to calm your thoughts when you’re trying to relax and fall asleep. From simple stress balls to elaborate puzzle toys, there’s a fidget for every preference and sleep struggle. Read on to learn how these toys can help you snooze more soundly.
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Relieve Anxiety and Stress
A restless mind full of worry and anxiety is a recipe for wakefulness. Fidget toys can help manage these feelings by giving you something else to focus on. The repetitive motion of clicking, squeezing, or spinning a fidget provides a meditative outlet for nervous energy. As your hands play, your mind is able to let go of stressful thoughts that keep you up at night.
Something as simple as squeezing a squishy ball in your hand or running your fingers over a textured surface helps activate your sense of touch to soothe your thoughts. Fidget cubes offer multiple tactile options like buttons, switches, and clickers, so you can try different sensations to see what works best.
Quiet Mental Chatter
It’s hard to relax when your brain is buzzing with thoughts about tomorrow’s to-do list or regrets about today. Fidget toys provide the ideal distraction when you want to quiet your mental chatter at bedtime.
Having an object to manipulate redirects your focus away from intrusive thoughts and onto the motions of your hands. Visually interesting fidget spinners or pendulums create a meditative point of focus to clear your mind. Puzzle-like tactile toys engage your logic and reasoning to fully immerse you in the present moment.
Before you know it, those persistent thoughts fade into the background, letting you rest more calmly and easily. The physical and mental occupation helps replace racing thoughts with peaceful serenity ideal for drifting off.
Expand Nervous Energy
That restless feeling when you lie down at night but just can’t seem to settle? You’re not alone. Many people struggle with nervous energy and fidgeting when trying to fall asleep.
Rather than fight the urge to move, embrace it with a fidget toy. Having an outlet for your excited movements gives your body an acceptable way to expend energy. You may find that a few minutes of vigorous clicking or spinning helps spend that anxious urge to fidget so you can relax and still your body.
Fidget toys allow you to direct your kinetic agitation into specific motions that eventually tire out. Like giving a child a stuffed animal to squeeze before bed, having an object for your hands manipulates away the urge to toss and turn.
Limit Screen Time
Do you find yourself lying in bed scrolling on your phone when you just can’t fall asleep? You’re not alone – but the blue light emitted from screens actually stimulates your brain and makes it harder to doze off. Fidget toys provide a non-digital alternative to keep your hands engaged and distracted while avoiding sleep-disrupting blue light.
Rather than reaching for your phone out of habit, try keeping a fidget on your nightstand to use instead when wakeful. Physical engagement can prevent digital temptation and light exposure that can negatively impact your circadian rhythms.
Promote Relaxation
Any parent knows the soothing power of rocking a fussy baby or letting them play with a rattle to calm down before bed. Fidget toys tap into this same relaxing effect for adults. Simple repetitive motions have been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote relaxation.
Kneading a stress ball, spinning a ring, or clicking a fidget can trigger that same calming response in your body. The familiar motions signal safety and relaxation, preparing you for rest. Starting this habit right before bed each night conditions your body for sleep.
Over time, manipulating your go-to fidget sends the message to your brain that it’s time to unwind and get cozy. You can eventually use your fidget for just a few minutes each night as a cue for rest.
Choose The Right Fidget For You
With so many fidget toys available, how do you choose which one is right for you? Considerations like noise level, simplicity, and tactile feel are key. Having options on your nightstand will allow you to experiment and tailor your experience. Here are some top options for bedtime:
- Stress balls – these silent squeezable balls allow tension release without noise. Varied textures and resistances give different tactile sensations to try.
- Fidget cubes – packed with options like silent switches, clicking buttons, and spinning rings, these allow you to try different fidget motions in one small toy.
- Finger rings – spinning, clicking, and textured rings keep hands busy without sound, and their small size makes them convenient on a nightstand.
- Tactile balls – rubbery spikes, beads, and patterns provide sensory stimulation with just your fingertips without requiring active manipulation.
- Worry stones – these smooth polished stones fit subtly in your palm and offer a soothing texture to stroke mindlessly with your thumb or fingers.
Whatever you choose, look for fidgets that are quiet, easy to manipulate in the dark, and texturally interesting. Having a selection on hand will help you find your perfect bedtime fidget friend.
Quiet Your Mind, Not Your Partner
If you share a bed with someone, be courteous by selecting a fidget that won’t disturb them. Avoid anything too noisy, bright, or large that could disrupt a bedmate. Opt for subtle tactile toys that won’t make noise or movements that could steal your partner’s slumber.
To foster good sleep habits together, involve your partner in the search for the ideal shared fidget. Compromise on something you both can feel comfortable using in your shared space. With some trial and error, you’ll find something that works.
Say Goodnight to Sleepless Nights
Bedtime fidgeting helps quiet racing minds, reduces stress, and improves relaxation so you can drift off peacefully. Fidget toys provide the ideal mindless distraction for anxious hands and thoughts when restlessness strikes at night. With so many options, you can discover the perfect bedtime fidget to help you sleep better.
