Do you always suffer from anxiety from work or at home? If so, then you may find stress balls a good relief to ease the tension. All you need to do is squeeze the ball. It’s simple and also very fun to do anytime.
A good stress ball should be comfortable to squeeze, durable, and non-toxic. There are many stress balls available on the market and finding the best stress ball for anxiety can be a bit overwhelming. For your convenience, we’ll review the top brands on the market today and share a helpful buying guide.
Quick Answer:
1. The Friendly Swede Hand Exercise Balls
The Friendly Swede Hand Exercise Balls reduce your anxiety, they also increase your focus and calm your mind with their squishy texture and attractive colors. The egg-shaped design fits comfortably in your hands. We love these exercise balls because they produce no annoying odor and they’re easy to clean.
Reduce anxiety while igniting your multiple senses through physical therapy and color therapy with the Serenelite Stress Ball. This ergonomic stress relief ball is made of non-stick fabric to strengthen your grip, reduce carpal tunnel, and improve blood circulation in your hand with each squeeze. Its subtle dual color allows you to fidget with it without attracting unnecessary attention .
3. Teacher Peach Motivational Stress Ball
These motivational stress balls are printed with inspirational quotes to make your days more positive. They’re made of polyurethane foam which is squishy enough to relieve anxiety and strong enough to last for a very long time. Available in six colors, including blue, green, and pink.
Editor’s Pick: Best Stress Ball For Anxiety
Stress Ball For Anxiety Buying Guide
Buying a stress ball isn’t easy, especially if you don’t know what to look for. In this section, we’ll help you find the best stress ball for your anxiety. We’ll also share some important information that you need to know about stress balls before you start using them.
What are the Benefits of Using a Stress Ball?
Stress balls are tiny egg-shaped objects that fit nicely in your hand. They’re either filled with foam or malleable gel. Squeezing this ball continuously will offer a lot of benefits, one of them is stress relieve . Aside from psychological benefits, these balls also help improve blood circulation, reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, and rehabilitate hand injuries.
Since these stress balls are small, you can store them in your bag and bring them to your office or anywhere you go. Pull the ball out whenever you start to feel stressed or anxious. When you lower your levels of anxiety, you can have better sleep, prevent illness, and improve your sense of well-being.
What To Look For
Material
Some stress balls are firm, others are squishy, while others are in-between. The material inside the stress ball may determine the density of the ball. The different materials that may make up the ball are foam, rubber, and gel.
Foam balls are squishy, but they may lose shape over time. Rubber balls, on the other hand, are firmer which makes them good for hand therapies. Stress balls made of a gel core offer both firmness and a bit of squishiness.
Size
Of course, size can also play a factor in the comfort and effectiveness of a stress ball. You’ll want a stress ball to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. Look for small balls, preferably 2-2.2 inches in diameter if you have small hands.
Smell
There should be no annoying plastic smell coming from your stress ball. If there is, then chances are that the ball may be made of toxic material. Some of the best stress balls are made of polyurethane rubber, which is skin-friendly and non-toxic.
Color and Design
Your choice of color and design may depend on your personal preference. Generally, stress balls are made of lively colors to stimulate the positive chemicals in your brain. Some even have motivational quotes printed on them to inspire you while others feature happy smiley faces to delight you.
6 Best Stress Balls Review
1. The Friendly Swede Hand Exercise Balls
The Friendly Swede offers three sets of egg-shaped exercise balls that can help reduce anxiety, relieve arthritis pain, and relieve stress on your wrists. They come in three different textures: soft (yellow), medium (red), and firm (blue). You can choose from three different sizes: small (2”x1.3”), medium (25”x1.75”), and large (3.0” x 2.2”).
These exercise balls are made of skin-safe thermoplastic rubber that doesn’t lose shape even after continuous hard compression. They’re great in training your fingers, handgrip, and wrists with some easy exercises. What’s more impressive is that Friendly Swede offers a lifetime warranty, this tells a lot about its durability.
PROS:
- Safe for both kids and adults
- Supports a lifetime warranty
- Fits comfortably in the palm
- Comes in different firmness to improve grip strength
- Maintains its shape for a long time
CONS:
- May collect dust and lint when dropped to the floor
Best For:
The Friendly Swede Hand Exercise Balls are best for building strength in your hands. Begin with the soft yellow ball, then proceed to the red and blue balls as your hands get stronger. Perfect for adults and kids above 5 years old.
2. Serenilite Stress Ball
The Serenilite Stress Ball is made of a durable gel core and smooth non-stick fabric to offer premium quality. It’s dual-color, meaning it combines two colors in one ball. It’s available in three dual colors: dark purple-dark red, royal blue-light blue, and light pink-light green.
This anxiety-relief stress ball measures around 5.1 cm or 2.25 inches in diameter, which fits nicely in small hands. It has the right amount of resistance to strengthen your grip and improve blood flow in every squeeze. Serenelite offers a lifetime warranty and a 30-day happiness guarantee for a risk-free purchase.
PROS:
- Lifetime warranty and 30-day happiness guarantee
- It has the right amount of resistance for grip strength
- Easy to store in a bag
- Fits nicely in small hands
- Appealing dual colors
CONS:
- A bit small for large hands
Best For:
The Serenelite Stress Ball is best for small hands of all ages. It’s great for reducing anxiety, as well as, minimizing carpal tunnel symptoms, improving blood flow, and reducing the physical discomfort.
3. Teacher Peach Motivational Stress Ball
The Teacher Peach Motivational Stress Ball Assortment is a pack of three stress relief toys suitable for all ages. Each stress ball is printed with an inspirational quote to make your day better. Such quotes include, “Be quiet. Be Calm. Be kind,” “Yes! I can do this!” and “Focus. Listen. Breathe.”
Each ball measures around 2.5 inches in diameter, which fits nicely into an adult-sized palm. It’s made of polyurethane foam which is squishy enough to reduce your anxiety. It’s a little firmer than ordinary foam, so it’ll last for a long time.
PROS:
- No noticeable plastic odor
- Great motivational quotes
- Fits nicely in the palm
- Many color options: blue, green, pink, purple, red, and teal
- Can hold its shape for a long time
CONS:
- A bit stiff to squeeze
Best For:
The Teacher Peach Motivational Stress Balls are good for physical therapy and recovering strength in your hands. They’re a perfect fit for adult-sized palms.
4. 321 STRONG Hand Therapy Grip Balls
The 321 Strong Grip Balls comes with three squishy balls to relieve your stress, strengthen your hand, and relieve arthritis. Every color represents a different resistance. For example, the blue one is soft, the yellow ball has medium resistance, and the lavender ball is firm.
These three balls are made of thermoplastic rubber, which is non-toxic and safe for your skin. They come with a nice carry bag for easy transportation and storage. You can follow some simple hand exercises and techniques with the 4k eBook that comes with the package.
PROS:
- Comes with three different resistances
- Made of non-toxic material
- Comes with a good carrying bag
- Available in nice colors
- Durable construction
CONS:
- The yellow and lavender balls are way too hard to squeeze
Best For:
The 321 Strong Hand Therapy Grip Balls is good for beginners. It comes with a 4k eBook which can help you learn some new hand exercise techniques to work on particular muscle groups.
5. StringyBall Stress Squeeze Ball
StringyBall is a single medium density stress ball that can help you reduce high anxiety levels as well as relieve arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many other health conditions. It’s attached to a flexible cord, making it easy to wear on your wrist. The manufacturer will also email you a 16-page exercise guide to help you learn the basic techniques of hand exercise.
These 2-inch diameter squeeze balls are made of high-quality thermoplastic rubber. They’re free from toxic ingredients like phthalates, BPA, latex, and annoying plastic odor. StringyBall offers a lifetime warranty, so when the balls get damaged due to a production defect, you can return it for free repair or replacement.
PROS:
- Comes with a nice comprehensive exercise guide
- Easy to take anywhere
- Durable, flexible cord
- The ball is more secured
- Made of skin-friendly and non-toxic material
CONS:
- The ball’s surface is a bit sticky
Best For:
The StringBall Stress Squeeze Ball is best for people on the go. Wear it around your wrist or hang it in your bag while traveling or almost anywhere. You don’t have to worry about the ball falling and rolling away.
6. Neliblu Smile Funny Face Stress Balls
This pack of 24 funny face stress balls has a cute happy smile face design to chase all your stress away. A simple thought of a smile can stimulate the happy chemicals in your brain. These yellow squeeze balls measure around 2 inches in diameter, which fits just right in your average-sized palm.
These foam-filled happy face balls are bouncy, spongy, and squeezable. You can take them anywhere to relieve stress, help you focus, and help children with autism. Neliblu offers a 10% money-back guarantee, so you can purchase these balls with confidence.
PROS:
- The happy face design makes you instantly happy
- Comes in a pack of 24 balls
- Spongy and bouncy
- Easy and comfortable to squeeze
- No foul smell
CONS:
- The smiley face may fade over time
Best For:
The Neliblu Smile Funny Face Stress Balls are perfect as gifts and party giveaways. They come in a pack of 24 balls which are more than enough for your self-consumption.
FAQs:
Q: Do stress balls work for anxiety?
Yes, stress balls can help reduce your anxiety, but it may not be a long term solution. The squeezing motion acts as a reminder to calm the muscles that are pressed tightly when you’re anxious. Relaxing these clenched muscles will help prevent complications, like headaches.
Q: How to use a stress ball properly
The general way is to squeeze the ball in the palm of your hand. Squeeze the ball as many times as you can until your anxiety subsides. For more variety, you can roll the ball on the table to and fro with your fingers and palm. You can also press the stress ball between your palms or pinch the ball between your fingers and thumb.
Q: Can stress balls build muscle?
Yes, a firm, simple squeeze on the stress ball can help strengthen the muscles in the wrists, forearms, and hands. It can even improve your grip.
Q: Can stress balls help with anger?
Yes, they certainly can help release your anger. Squeezing the ball while breathing rhythmically can help relax your arm muscles and your mind. Simply do this trick: breathe in and squeeze, then unclench as you breathe out.
Q: Are stress balls toxic?
If the manufacturers claim that their stress balls are non-toxic, then they’re not. Gel stress balls may break under heavy pressure or continued use over time. Although this gel may not be toxic, they may stain your clothing and may be dangerous when ingested.
Conclusion
The best stress ball for anxiety is the Friendly Swede Hand Exercise Balls because they do more than just reducing your anxiety. These egg-shaped hand exercise balls can also help strengthen your fingers, handgrip, and forearms. They’re comfortable to use and seem to last for a very long time.
If your hands are a bit small, a good alternative is the Serenelite Stress Ball. This anxiety-relief stress ball comes in attractive dual colors. It’s small, light, and convenient to store in your bag.
Allen Wei is someone who believes in living his best life, focusing on balance, happiness, and relaxation. He fosters a positive lifestyle in terms of his body, mind, and environment, and he is a huge proponent of learning to be balanced via relaxation techniques integrated into our busy lives.
