Here we’ve listed 25 ways that may help to alleviate fidgeting:
- Practice deep breathing exercises to calm your nerves and reduce fidgeting.
- Try to focus on an object in front of you, such as a plant or picture, and concentrate on its details.
- Stretch your muscles to relieve tension and reduce the urge to fidget. You can
- Hold a stress ball or fidget toy to occupy your hands. Examples include a fidget spinner or a fidget blanket for individuals with late-stage dementia, or even bubble wrap.
- Write down your thoughts and ideas in a journal to help keep your mind occupied.
- Take a walk or engage in physical activity to expend nervous energy.
- Drink a glass of water or have a snack to help refocus your attention.
- Try mindfulness meditation techniques to calm your mind and body.
- Listen to music or an audiobook to distract yourself from fidgeting.
- Count backwards from 100 or recite the alphabet to occupy your mind.
- Use aromatherapy with essential oils to relax and reduce stress.
- Practice progressive muscle relaxation by tensing and relaxing different muscle groups.
- Do a puzzle or play a game to keep your mind engaged. There are jigsaw puzzles that have only 35 pieces for ease-of-play, for instance here. Jigsaw pieces can vary from as few as a couple of pieces, to up to 100 pieces depending on the stage of dementia.
- Take a break and go outside for some fresh air.
- Try doing a simple task with your hands, such as knitting or drawing. Coloring books like this one are a great addition to an arts and crafts library.
- Read a book or magazine to distract yourself from fidgeting.
- Get up and move around, go for a short walk or do some light stretching.
- Focus on your breathing and try to slow it down.
- Try to find a comfortable position and stay still for a few minutes.
- Use a fidget mat or other sensory tool to provide stimulation for your hands.
- Practice yoga or other forms of exercise to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Distract yourself with a different task, such as cleaning or organizing.
- Visualize a calm and relaxing scene in your mind.
- Engage in a hobby, such as photography or gardening, to keep your hands busy.
- Try deep tissue massage or other forms of physical therapy to reduce stress and tension in your body.
I realize some of these might be a bit too all-encompassing to just deal with fidgeting. You can also just try living with your fidgeting and learning to love yourself and accept yourself.
- Make a conscious effort to notice when you’re fidgeting and try to be mindful of it.
- Remind yourself of the reasons why you want to stop fidgeting.
- Imagine yourself as a calm and collected person who doesn’t fidget.
- Surround yourself with positive affirmations and encouraging messages.
- Find humor in the situation and try to laugh it off.
- Use positive visualization techniques to picture yourself succeeding at stopping fidgeting.
- Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations and encouraging words.
- Surround yourself with supportive friends and family who believe in you.
- Focus on the present moment and don’t worry about what has happened in the past or what might happen in the future.
- Take breaks when you need them and try not to beat yourself up if you slip up and start fidgeting.
- Remember that everyone has their own quirks and imperfections, and it’s okay to have habits like fidgeting.
- Practice self-care and self-compassion to build confidence and reduce stress.
- Try to stay positive and optimistic, even when things are tough.
- Reward yourself for your progress and successes, no matter how small they may be.
- Surround yourself with positive and uplifting things, such as art, music, and nature.
- Focus on the things you’re grateful for and try to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
- Find a healthy outlet for your energy, such as exercise or creative pursuits.
- Seek out professional help if needed, such as therapy or counseling.
- Try to embrace the things that make you unique, even if they may seem quirky or unconventional to others.
- Believe in yourself and your ability to overcome challenges.
We hope these are helpful and useful to you! Please share in the comments below what techniques and tools worked well in your experience.
