Reduce Your Stress With Stress Balls

Of all the methods of stress elimination used, the most popular methods is through good old stress balls. The simple act of squeezing something in your hand can help you ease a few of your concerns, release some built-up tension, and make you feel like you are at least doing something rather than brooding upon everything that has you down. Fortunately, stress balls are easy to find and they can be very effective for some quick relief.

The most common stress balls are the beanbag type that can be picked up at job fairs and industry gatherings. They are very effective, they provide enough resistance to make you feel good and they give off a relieving noise that tells you that something is happening. Sure it is just some sort of filler grating against itself, but darn it, it’s something! And when you are stressed, the simple feeling of doing something, anything is its own reward. Plus, you are getting a little bit of a workout for your hands and even this form of exercise can give you some benefits.

As well, there are some liquid filled stress balls that can be very good for relieving your worries. They usually do not give as much resistance as the beanbag type, but they do still provide you with something that will give your hands a workout. This can be a good thing if you tend to squeeze the stress ball a lot, simply because your hands will not get tired as quickly. As well, they tend to squeeze out much more than the beanbag type, so they give you a bit more of a feeling of doing something. However, they also tend to make a serious mess if you happen to break them, since the contents cannot be vacuumed up. But, if you are going to be spending a lot of time squeezing the stress ball, this might just suit your fancy.

However, not all stress balls are the squeezable kind. There are also Chinese stress balls that are made out of very hard materials that are not meant for squeezing. Rather, they come in pairs so that you can roll them around in your hand in order to relieve stress. Also, these stress balls sometimes come with some sort of noisemaker inside that provides a soothing sound other than the noise of the balls banging and rubbing against each other. However, this form of stress ball is usually not very good to use at work, since they do tend to make some noise. But, if you are sitting at home and you want to relieve a little tension, they can be very soothing.

When using stress balls, it is best to treat them as a form of meditation. That is, you concentrate on the stress balls so that you are not worrying about anything else. Feel them in your hand and notice the weight. When you are either squeezing them or rolling them around in your hand, notice how they feel in your palm and in your fingers. Concentrate on putting your concerns into your hand, then putting them into the stress balls, as though they are absorbing all that stress and taking it away. By placing all your thoughts into your stress balls, you can push away all those concerns and worries and put them into an inanimate object that does not notice the stress. Then, once you are done, you should feel as though a burden has been lifted and your mind is cleared.

However, you should also be careful with stress balls, as the squeezable kind can break. Yes, it takes a lot of effort, time and strength to break them, but it can be done. Thus, if you notice any leaks in your stress ball, or you notice that weak spots are starting to appear, you should throw it out and get a new one. After all, the stress of cleaning up some sort of fluid or vaccuuming up a large quantity of small, grainy material can stress you out too. Thus, do not squeeze a stress ball over a computer keyboard. If it does break, you will have a lot of problems that you would much rather avoid — such as the need to run out and buy and new keyboard.

Used properly, stress balls can have a very beneficial effect on your mind and body. Though the only workout you are getting from them is in your hands, it is at least something. And those people who have to type constantly could also get a nice break from pecking at a keyboard and, by exercising their hands in a different way, will be able to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. So see what is out there, see what you like, and let some stress balls take away those petty concerns for you.

About the Author

LowerYourStress.com: for everything to do with stress. Get a free ebook to help with your stress levels:
http://www.loweryourstress.com/stress-book.html

Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac Computer Field Test

Thermos Nissan 34-Ounce Vacuum Insulated Stainless-Steel Gourmet Coffee Press $25.99 Stainless steel coffee press…

Thermos Insulated Service 2qt Glass Vacuum Pump Pot Gray Metallic – Thermos PP1920TRI2 $19.00 Thermos Insulated Service 2qt Glass Vacuum Pump Pot Gray Metallic – Thermos PP1920TRI2….

The Sharper Image Wsi-vs100 Automatic Wine Vacuum Sealer, Black $25.18 Preserve the original flavor of your favorite fruit of the vine with this ingenious vacuum sealer. This compact device automatically pumps the air out of unfinished bottles to preserve the wine’s taste, aroma and color. An easy-to-read LCD screen displays the wine temperature, sealing status and counts the days. Attractive design has no-slip, no-scratch soft touch grip. Powered by 2 AAA batteries …

Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 0.75-HP Electric Duster 120-Volt $55.89 …

Hoover 40201160 Windtunnel Agitator Belts, Hoover 38528033 2-Pack $0.01 A package of 2 replacement vacuum belts for use with the U5445-900 vacuum…

Black & Decker CHV1410 Dustbuster 14.4-Volt Cordless Cyclonic Hand Vac $32.88 ROTATING SLIM NOZZLE TARGETS DIRT IN TIGHT SPACESFEATURES 50% MORE REACH THAN THE PREVIOUS DUSTBUSTER DESIGN FOR LESS BENDING & BETTER ACCESSIBILITYBRUSH & CREVICE TOOL ACCESSORIES ARE LOCATED ON-BOARD SO THERE ARE NO LOOSE ITEMS TO MISPLACEWIDE-MOUTH DESIGN MEANS IT CAN EFFORTLESSLY SCOOP UP LARGE DEBRISCYCLONIC ACTION SPINS DUST & DEBRIS AWAY FROM THE FILTER SO SUCTION POWER STAYS STRONGFEATURES…

Panasonic ER430K Vacuum Nose/Facial Hair Trimmer, Black $29.99 Panasonic ER430K – Wet/Dry Vacuum Nose And Ear Hair Trimmer…

Philips Norelco Qt4050 Vacuum Beard, Stubble and Moustach Trimmer, Black $37.99 Featuring an integrated vacuum system, the Philips Norelco Vacuum Beard and Stubble Trimmer Plus makes it easy to trim your facial hair without leaving a mess in the sink. Equipped with multiple length settings and a contour-following comb, the trimmer offers everything you need for an even, precise cut. For convenience, the trimmer includes a lithium-ion battery for long-lasting cordless use and …

Electric Duster (Black) $62.00 The compact, hand-held Electric Duster has a steel constructed body and is far less expensive and safer for the environment than canned air. It quickly and easily blows dust, lint, and debris off keyboards, computers, printers, disk drives, fax machines, and other photographic and high-tech equipment. This helps prevent costly downtime and computer malfunctions. The duster includes a convenient 1…

Metro Vacuum MDV-1BA DataVac Pro 4.5-AMP Computer Vac/Blower $59.99 Stop having to fret over the cleanliness of your computer and let this vacuum cleaner/blower do all the work. Powered by a .5 HP motor this electronic vacuum cleaner removes hair dust debris and paper from intricate and tight crevices in a wide range of office equipment. Features a disposable bag for quick and easy cleaning. Lightweight design (3 lbs.) shoulder strap and sturdy steel design make i…