How Does a Stress Ball Help to Relieve Stress?
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They distract you
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While you are squeezing a stress ball, you can concentrate on what your hands are doing instead of on the source of your tension. This can help to shrink your worry down to a manageable size because it won't be the only thing occupying your mind.
They provide a mini workout
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Squeezing the ball is a form of exercise for your arm. It helps to improve your circulation and increases the flow of oxygen to the brain. This can relieve a racing heart rate and help to steady your breathing: two common physical symptoms of a heavy amount of stress.
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They can make you happy
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Whether stress balls have novelty shapes or whimsical sayings on them, they can cheer you up, at least for a brief period of time. This mood boost can help to calm you down.
They can help you meditate
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If you squeeze the ball tightly and then let go, you're actually tightening and then relaxing your arm muscle. This can be a good source of meditation if you keep your focus on the movement and squeeze and release for at least 5 minutes. Meditation has long been known as one of the most effective ways to relieve stress.
They open up communication inside your nervous system
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With repeated squeezing, your nerves in your hands will become active. Then they'll send a message to your brain that could result in endorphins being released. These endorphins can not only help to relieve stress, but they can also temporarily cheer you up.
They can help you heal
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Physical therapists recommend stress balls to their patients with joint pain and repetitive use injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. This proves that squeezing a stress ball can help you with problems caused by physical stress just as it can with emotional ones.
They can bring your company more business
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Okay, so this is not as hands-on as the other reasons, but if you gain sales from using a stress ball as a promotion, this can certainly reduce stress that is caused by lack of corporate funds. Money problems are consistently cited as one of the biggest causes of stress, so it certainly couldn't hurt.
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