Experts Say Fidget Rings Are Powerful Tools For Outsmarting Stress — Here Are 15 Styles We Love

Whether you’re fielding a deluge of emails or worrying about finances, you feel like your anxieties are multiplying by the day. And trust us, you’re not alone. According to a new poll by anxiety tracking app AQ, the pressures of contemporary life are affecting us more than ever. “Tensions like bankxiety, stress over the cost of living; pingxiety from endless messages on our devices are making us feel feel more overwhelmed,” explains neuropsychologist Shaun Nanavati, PhD, Chief Science Officer of AQ. “We’re also wrestling with more bodyxiety, or insecurity about the way we look — often from comparisons on social media — and planxiety sparked by too many to-dos or over extending ourselves.”

We’re experiencing an uptick in worry because our nervous system isn’t equipped to address so many modern stressors, says psychiatrist Ellen Vora, MD, author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. “We evolved in communities of 100 to 200 people, and our brain is calibrated to absorb smaller doses of information,” she says. “But between our devices and the constant bad news cycle, we’re hyper aware of everything wrong in the world, and it damages mental health.”

The good news is you can break your worry cycle and enjoy more peace of mind. “The takeaway of our findings is that it’s not you, it’s your environment,” says Nanavati. “Anxiety isn’t static — there’s an ebb and flow to it throughout the day — and once you’re aware of your triggers, you can do something about them.”

Luckily, a new, portable solution has emerged that does just that: it grounds you in the moment to relieve these new stressors. The best part? You can always have one “on hand.”

The clever solution for new anxieties: Fidget rings

Bling that beats stress? Sounds almost too good to be true! Fidget rings (aka anxiety rings) are jewelry with beads or moving parts that you spin with your finger to calm frayed nerves and boost mindfulness in the moment.

No matter the kind of new anxiety — bankxiety, bodyxiety, planxiety, pingxiety — you’re facing, this trendy tool melts stress in the moment. It’s also a great sign of just how far we’ve come in de-stigmatizing mental health, observes Chivonna Childs PhD, psychologist and clinical assistant professor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.

“While we used to feel like we had to hide our anxiety or depression, these rings let us say, ‘I’m anxious right now, and that’s okay. I have this tool that will help me through this moment.’ And I personally love that that they’re portable, fun and pretty,” she says. After all, why shouldn’t self-care be fashionable?

Fidget rings are a natural outgrowth of historical prayer techniques

They may be the hot new self-care tool on the block, but the roots of fidget rings stretch back thousands of years. Tibetan Buddhists, for example, used spinning cylinders or prayer wheels in their mediation practices to melt worries. By providing a physical outlet to pent up anxiety, prayer beads and rosary beads that work in similar ways.

From ancient monks to modern moguls: “[Entrepreneur and record executive] Russel Simmons, is a Buddhist and he always has prayer beads — if you watch him, sometimes he’ll twist, rub or count them,” observes Childs.

She points out that while this isn’t exactly the same as a fidget ring, the concept is strikingly similar: We can use the soothing power of touch and rhythmic movement to calm stress in the moment. That’s something that any knitter can confirm!

How does a fidget ring work?

When your mind is reeling from worries, a fidget ring gives you a steady focal point that anchors you in the moment, explains Childs. In fact, researchers at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that fidget rings decreased anxiety by 24 percent.

“You can just run your finger over the band or beads in a stressful work meeting, for instance,” says Childs. And the fact that this soothing, tactile experience is literally at your fingertips gives the rings a leg up on fidget spinners.

While a spinner is something external you hold in your hand, “a fidget ring is literally on you — you can empower yourself in yourself because you’re grounded in your body,” Childs explains. This added dimension makes anxiety rings more personal, more intimate, and arguably more effective than other “fidget fads.”

The 15 best fidget rings

It isn’t enough for jewelry to calm your nerves — it needs to express your personality. From delicate minimalism to show stopping maximalism, we rounded up a few options that’ll fit your style as much as your self-care goals.

Here are 15 functional and fashionable styles for you and your loved ones: