Desk stimming
Stimming is great for focus. Mod K.A.’s post here lists heaps of options for hand stim toys that can still be used when you need to type or write. I wanted to make a post focusing on stim toys that are made to be used as part of sitting, or that can be used with your feet.
A pedal exerciser is made of just the pedals of an exercise bike and can sit underneath a desk. (AU $33.60, ships from Australia.)
[Image description: Photo of a black pedal exerciser, which has two pedals attached to a thin plastic block about 50cm/1.5 feet tall, with a digital display and several buttons.]
A bouncy band is an elastic band that sits between the front legs of your chair. You can rest your feet on it, behind it, or in front of it, and fidget with it. I think it would be very easy to by a length of elastic from a craft shop to try a DIY option. It may not be as durable, but it could give you an idea of whether this is an option that will work for you. (The one in the link is AU $23.59, shipping from Australia.)
(Note: I’d try the knock-off TheraBands available from K-Mart over elastic - Stretch Bands, $8 AUD for a pack of three bands with different resistances. These are much wider than elastic and will give your foot something to cup against, plus you can fold them over to thicken them up. Be warned that they absolutely reek of chemical plastic odour. I don’t think these are natural latex like proper TheraBands, but wouldn’t recommend them for folks with latex allergies or chemical sensitivities, to be safe. Mine are airing out, but slowly. Also see our TheraBand tag for where to find the real thing. - Mod. K.A.)
If you are able to be barefoot, there’s lots of different ways you can stim with your feet:
There’s a traditional foot massager, made of rolling, wooden beads with spikes. (AU $6.95, ships internationally from China.)
This plastic foot massage mat is made up of lots of really interesting textures. (AU $7.78, ships internationally  from Hong Kong and China.)
Spiky massage balls are interesting for all sorts of stimming, and are often recommended for pain in the arch of your foot. (AU $2 at K-Mart Australia, often found in toy stores, cheap stores and stores that specialise in Occupational Therapy and stim toys.)
You can find interesting textures in plenty of different places for DIY stim toys. Smooth river rocks, a fluffy rug or a wooden bath mat are some of the options that appeal to me. (Bamboo bath mat is AU $39.95, ships from Australia.)
[Image description: Six plastic foot massage mats locked together, in blue, pink, purple, green, red and yellow. A person can be seen standing on them from the knees down. Each mat has about 150 raised plastic hemispheres which are covered in bumps. In the centre is a large bump surrounded by a circle of medium bumps. The ebay listing describes it as 27cm x 28cm.]
You can also consider how you’re sitting. An office chair is an option that’s often already in your environment. You can rock, spin, or twist side to side. Gym balls are often recommended as a replacement for chairs because they’re good for posture, but they’re also good for gently rocking and bouncing on. You also can’t recline into a lazy, slouched position like you can on a chair, so you always have to keep a little bit of focus on staying in the right position. (AU $10 from K-Mart Australia, often available in department stores or for more expensive in sports and fitness stores.)
A less dramatic option is something like this spiky tactile cushion, which inflates and has spikes one side and nubs the other. Like sitting on a gym ball, it encourages you to move around a bit. The texture of the seat also provides tactile input. (US $30.99, ships internationally from the US.)
I’m sure there are other seating options you could think of. Sitting on a stool or working from a standing desk? Sitting on a range of different cushions through the day to keep you focused? Let me know what you come up with!
