Ever wonder why you bounce your leg, drum your fingers or click and unclick your pen until your colleagues beg you to stop? Don't fight the fidget! It may be your body's way of telling you that "for whatever reason, you need movement right now," says Katy Bowman , a biomechanist and the author of the books Rethink Your Position and Movement Matters . So get up, switch positions, stretch or do some physical activity. Scientific support shows it's good for our health.
Fidgeting increases blood flow to our limbs , helps regulate blood sugar and reduces the risk of mortality from prolonged sitting. It can relieve stress and anxiety and improve attention, especially for some people with ADHD or other neurodivergent identities. But as many of us know, it can be a challenge to tear away from our computers in the middle of a workday.
Physical therapists and researchers break down our urge to fidget and offer office-friendly ways to satisfy the need for movement. Change your position (and don't worry too much about the "right posture") Fidgeting is a sign you need to break out of a stagnant posture, says Bowman. Even a position that feels comfortable at first can begin causing back pain, headaches or stiffness if you hold it long enough .
So listen to your body and mix things up. Alternate between sitting, standing, reclining and moving. That might mean opting to stand in the back of a conference room during a big staff meeting, taking a call while going on a walk or reading a report .