Knowing Fidgeting: Should You Fidget?

Sitting on my revolving chair, thinking through the next article, I was shaking my legs endlessly. So much so that it breaks my concentration. Shaking legs is common and it feels satisfying to some. On doing some research, it became apparent that this is associated with Fidgeting. Though, I was aware about this buzz word, which has gained a lot of popularity recently, through the toy called fidget spinner, which happens to be a toy of the year 2017. Google trends show that the word fidget was sparsely searched before December 2016. Still, I was little amazed to find out that fidgeting itself has much wider boundary. Interestingly, fidgeting can be as simple as repetitive movements out of boredom or it can be a sign of serious mental disorder.

Intrigued, I searched for fidgeting, right from fun activity to some serious stuff and, it was worth looking.

Fidgeting is not new and all of us fidget sometime or the other, it's all in a day's work, then whether it is out of sheer boredom, nervousness or anxiety. Recently, fidgeting gains mass popularity. A hand held toy, "Fidget Spinner" made from varied range of materials, a kind of manual rotator or spinner, seemingly mundane object, which does nothing except spinning is now most popular among youngsters, specially teenagers, which in my opinion is mostly because of follow the herd nature. The glamour attached to it and coolness factor for the fidgetier, attracts most of the population. What more it is also, sold for stress busting, concentration enhancer and many other such claims.

As they become popular, and may be beneficial for an individual, they are mostly a distraction in seminars, meetings, classrooms. As a result, they are mostly banned in schools and structured meets.

What is fidgeting according to definition

The roots of the word fidget can be traced to 17th century, which evolved from the word fidge means to twitch. The word Fidget is a verb, which means, making small repetitive movements out of anxiety or impatience. We do more fidgeting in a day then we are aware of. It is a subconscious activity, which we do out of nervousness, frustration, agitation, boredom or a combination of these. Fidgeting may involve playing with various objects or tools like pen, rings or may be done with hand or leg movements. It comes to us naturally when brain tries to keep itself occupied or interested in something during the activity.

Fidget Toys

The class of Fidget Toys are not limited to just spinners, instead you will find number of fidgets with various moving parts, which have repetitive motions. The choice depends on the person as which type of fidgeting interest him most like fidget cubes, fidget spinners, and fidget pens, with various switches, spinners, joysticks, push buttons. There are multiple studies on these "fidget toys" regarding their claim to help students with autism or ADHD focus better. But, there is no concrete result in these studies. Scientists are divided in their opinion about the usability of the gadget.

These questions are rather difficult to answer, in black and white.

The black side

Some group of researchers and scientists feels that fidget can do more bad than good.

Focus Distraction

1.   According to one claim those who fidget a lot, are generally more prone to mind wandering and daydreaming. Fidgeting is claimed to work as mind training self-imposed exercise done subconsciously. This may help mind to retain consistencies or pattern in muscle movement, or keeping brain busy during the gap, in switching the task to maintain focus. Forming a habit of fidgeting can make your mind wander and perform below average in task. The studies have shown that the process of fidgeting, can affect memory and comprehension as well.

Social Behavior

2. Have you ever seen a fidgetier on a side walk or in metro during your travel or any public location for that matter. The will appear to have walking mindlessly, playing with fidget. No matter how cool it looks to fidgetier; this kind of social behavior make onlookers to deduce bored, frustrated, hyper or not paying attention type of personality for fidgetier. The studies have shown that this kind of body language does not  appear welcoming, and will not increase your coolness factor which most fidgetier thinks. Some of the Fidgeting movements can be a distraction to the people near by, this may cause un-necessary attention in unwanted way.

The good side

Not all are against fidgeting and some connection has been found between fidgeting and the memory.

Memory

1. Some of the supporting studies shows that the fidgeting help remembering details more accurately and in detail in comparison to the one without fidget specially in the case of ADHD.

Weight Management

2.  Other claim is on weight management. There was a study in 2000 in which it was shown that the subjects who are overfed with additional 1000 calories per day over a period, and allowed to fidget, tend to gain comparatively less or no additional weight due to fidgeting. The muscle movement cause some calories to burn which may add up to 100 to 800 calories per day, which I think is dependent on subject to subject body composition and frequency of fidgeting.

3.One other explanation though not substantiated, but has been theorized as coping mechanism for stress. By fidgeting, as theory suggest that it can help to increase self-focus and  concentration on situation at hand thereby, helping to release stress more effectively.

Why do we Fidget?

There is no exact science of fidgeting but there can be multitude of factors which can cause fidgeting. For environmental factors to our DNA. We should look for the factors like

Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Agitation, Irritable Mood, Tiredness, Fatigue, General Weakness etc.

Fidgeting can be a signal of underlying medical problem. Experts say that excessive fidgeting can be a sign of body or mental illness which needs to be diagnosed.

My Opinion

After, reading all the articles, in my opinion fidgeting is not confined to some spinning toys or clicking buttons, if we live, we will fidget. It may not be serious activity to an extent, but should be checked if it become uncontrolled obsession. I think the best way is to keep discipline on ourselves and be aware about our surrounding. I would suggest seeing a doctor if you think your fidgeting is going out of hand. Otherwise, let's spinnn....

Foot Note

My Blog: https://azblogs4u.blogspot.in/

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Credits

Articles

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https://www.bustle.com/articles/108528-7-signs-youre-feeling-anxious-but-dont-necessarily-have-an-anxiety-disorder

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