Spinning a piece of plastic between your fingers over and over again? I just don't get it. Squishing and stretching an adorable cat's little belly whenever I'm feeling stressed? That makes sense to me.
Forget fidget spinners [1], and embrace the mini animals you can squeeze whenever you're feeling anxious, or who you can glance at throughout the day if you just need something silly to give you a smile.
My coworker (who is well aware of my less-than-chill approach to life in addition to my obsession with cats) gifted me a mini animal squishy toy to help me manage my stress, and I have to say that pressing the tiny squishy tummy or looking over to see the little cat propped up on my desk is a small reminder to relax and breathe a little. Squeezing the toy is also just really, really satisfying. If you're not a cat person, don't worry! There are a variety of animals you can choose, including pigs, pandas, sheep, bunnies, and more. Here are some squishy animal stress relievers you can get from Amazon, and they're all very affordable.