How fidgeting helps you focus

AND MAYBE EVEN LIVE LONGER.

I’M SHORT, SO I invariably end up swinging my legs (unconsciously) while I’m sitting, which, according to my mother, is impolite and unladylike. I’d never consider myself a fidgeter, but put a pen in my hand and I have to keep clicking it. Fidget toys mean the trend is growing in popularity across all ages, but are are these truly beneficial or is their popularity just one big marketing ploy?

The short answer is yes. Over the last few years, numerous studies have been conducted on how fidgeting helps people with ADHD concentrate better. Extrapolate that data and scientists realised there were millions of ‘regular’ people who could benefit from twirling their hair or tapping their feet. And it turns out fidgeting isn’t just good for the mind, it’s good for the body, too.

BRAIN FODDER

Research has shown that even a few moments of fidgeting — requiring minimal concentration — can increase neuro-transmitters in the brain, which, in turn, increases our ability to focus. Research conducted at Purdue University supports this sentiment. A study, conducted by Professor Sydney Zentall on children suffering from ADHD, found no evidence that fidget distractions resulted in errors while performing tasks or while learning. On the contrary, it helped the child concentrate and learn better by effectively removing boredom.

There are theories that promote the idea of fidgeting being a coping mechanism during times of stress. An experiment conducted in 2013 found men who fidgeted while undergoing

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a maths test in front of strangers fared better than those who didn’t.

BETTER HEALTH

Unconscious movements may be annoying to those around us, but it also ensures your muscles aren’t idle for too long. Research published in the American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology found that vascular function improves when we swing or tap our feet. Vascular function is a great indicator of arterial health — the better the blood flow through your system, the healthier your arteries.

In this study, participants were asked to sit for three hours at a desk with one leg completely still while tapping the heel of the other for a full minute and resting for four, then repeating the fidget cycle. The researchers found that blood flow decreased significantly in the still leg, but improved in the tapping one. It’s a known fact that standing is healthier than sitting for long periods of time, so if your job involves a lot of sitting down, you could negate some of the ill effects by fidgeting.

BURNING BODY

A study published in the journal Science in 2000 demonstrated that fidgeting can help burn up to 800 calories. Fidgeting while sitting can increase the amount of calories burnt by 29%, and doing the same while standing can burn up to 38% more as compared to lying still. That said, don’t get lazy and skip your daily exercise routine. Fidgeting doesn’t burn enough to lose weight or get fit.

LONGER LIFE

Sitting for long periods of time has also been known to decrease lifespans, thanks to reduced blood flow and poor vascular functionality. Sedentary people have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and early death. A study conducted in the UK in 2016 on a group of 12,800 women has shown that sitting for seven hours or more each day increases risk of an early death, while fidgeters were found to be healthier in general, with a lower risk of heart disease and longer lifespans.

FIDGETING ISN’T FOR EVERYONE

Despite the benefits of fidgeting, not everyone seems to be comfortable in the act. There is some talk of fidgeting being a genetic or physiological phenomenon, making some people born fidgeters, while others find it harder to even keep tapping their heels while sitting. A few studies have shown that levels of spontaneous physical activity are similar amongst family members, especially twins, but there aren’t any definitive answers.

It’s also possible that the hypothalamus — the part of the brain that controls body functions — could be responsible. Stimulating the hypothalamus in mice has been found to elevate activity levels. If you’re someone with a naturally low metabolism, chances are you aren’t much of a fidgeter. So don’t go rushing off to buy a fidget toy because it’s good for you: figure out if you’re a fidgeter first by keeping tabs on how long you can tap your feet, swing your legs or twirl your hair (even play with a pen) before you join the fidget spinner craze.