This Mental Health Habit Is Under-Appreciated — And These Discreet Products Can Help You Tap Into Its Benefits

Drumming your fingers or clicking your pen during a meeting that’s run long. Jiggling your leg or wrapping your hair around a finger while listening to the radio or watching TV .

These small, often subtle repetitive movements are all examples of fidgeting. While fidgeting is frequently associated with the younger set — like kids in a classroom — the practice is common among adults and considered perfectly healthy. What’s more, in contrast to its popular depiction as a purposeless habit, fidgeting is surprisingly useful, and its benefits are more versatile than many may realize.

“[Fidgeting] can energize us, kind of like [how] walking can boost energy [and] get blood flowing,” therapist David Ibrahim explained. Ibrahim specializes in adult ADHD, autism and trauma, among other matters, and runs the Los Angeles-based trauma therapy clinic Glendale Counseling Services .

It can also be a helpful calming outlet, Ibrahim added, especially for folks who are neurodivergent, like those with autism or ADHD. Studies show that fidgeting can help relax the body and support focus and attention, he noted.

And for those living with anxiety or trauma, emotions may express themselves somatically and “bubble up as a form of fidgeting [and] nervous energy,” Ibrahim wrote.

To support fidgeting in a fun way, fidget toys can be quite helpful — so much so that Ibrahim explained he often provides them to patients, plus makes use of them himself. Many of today’s fidget toys are also impressively discreet, which may be appealing to those in a work setting or who otherwise prefer low-profile fidgeting.

If you enjoy fidgeting, don’t let others prevent you from using it as a tool to care for yourself, Ibrahim emphasized. Your self-care is too important — and how you self-regulate is your own private business. “Be yourself.”

We’ve selected some of the most popular adult fidget toys on the Internet, including the subtle, the viral and the just plain fun. Read on for our favorite picks, plus more from Ibrahim.

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.