These are the toys that will make you smarter at work
Antsy LabsWho doesn't love a new toy? Better yet, fidget widget desk accessories might give you a creative edge. Here's our pick of the best.
Even among adults, who doesn't love a new toy? But did you know that tinkering with a so-called “fidget widget” might be a secret weapon to improved work performance?
Science suggests some desk toys might provide a brief distraction from more arduous tasks, thus allowing workers to relax, while other toys may encourage a productive type of fidgeting, even as you focus on something else.
A 2010 study that tested the memory of 84 students by using flashing numbers showed that those who were distracted remembered more than those who weren’t interrupted with brief mental breaks, according to research from Alejandro Lleras from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US.
Forget the boring stress ball of old. A new crop of desk accessories aimed at reducing anxiety, while sparking creativity, could be the perfect holiday gift.
Here’s a look at the latest gadgets that will help you build, spin, sling, stretch and doodle your way to productivity.
MoMa Design StoreHelicone
Spinning the layers of this desk toy can turn into an addictive exercise away from the screen. The sculpture transforms into various shapes providing a hands-on diversion, according to the Helicone’s designer John Edmark, a Stanford University professor who designed the kinetic sculpture. The 38 pieces of laser-cut plywood are attached to a brass tube and can be spun into either a helix or something resembling a pine cone.
(amazon.com, $60)
3Doodler3Doodler Create
Have a doodler in your life? Help them to up their creative game with a three-dimensional printing pen. A far cry from the ballpoint, the electric pen draws with heated bendable plastic to create cool designs in mid-air. The result is a 3D-artwork that can bring any types of doodles to life.
(the3doodler.com, $99)
Uncommon GoodsGnome-Be-Gone Decision Maker
Having a debate with your colleague? Let a gnome settle it. Just give the Gnome-Be-Gone Decision Maker a spin to find your next answer. The pencil holder is made of recycled steel and spins to answer all of your executive decisions including “have a meeting,” “take personal day,” “ask HR” and “form focus group.”
(uncommongoods.com, $90)
MoMa Design StoreSnaak Construction Toy
Forget the Rubik’s cube or a Lego set. The Snaak construction toy has 64 interlocking cubes that can be twisted and shifted into endless possibilities. The pieces are attached with an elastic shock cord, so there are no parts to lose. The cube allows for an almost infinite number of shapes for the constant fidgeter — creating anything from sunglasses to robots is possible.
(store.moma.org, $28)
MoMa Design StoreMuji Mini Penguin Bowling Set
Need to lighten up a challenging project? You don’t need to leave your office. Tiny penguin-shaped bowling pins can turn a simple desk-side chat into a friendly mini-bowling match. Just remember to keep a scoreboard nearby.
(store.moma.org, $25)
Personal CreationsWood Sling Shot
For the kid in all of us comes this deluxe slingshot, which sits on a walnut base and can be personalised with initials. The sling can easily shoot crumpled paper all the way across a room (or into a nearby rubbish bin). And you’ll never run out of ammunition.
(personalcreations.com, $49)
AreawareBalancing Blocks
Fidgeting while thinking through complex problems can help you get unstuck. Use the blocks to find balance in just the right places or see how one wrong move can derail the rest. The oak stones have 10 facets for endless sculpture making.
(Areaware.com, $48)
Fat Brain ToysHanayama Padlock
Bored at work? The extra difficult padlock puzzle may be a welcome distraction and could unlock ideas while you fiddle with it. Rated a Level 5 in terms of difficulty by the company (on a scale from 1 to 6), the metal puzzle, designed to look like a padlock, can turn into a sufficient challenge over a period of weeks. Solving it feels like hitting the jackpot.
(Fatbraintoys.com, $12)
Antsy LabsFidget Cube
After raising a sizeable $6.5m on Kickstarter, the Fidget Cube is already a tiny but mighty success. The cube allows users to spin, click or glide the various features and is specifically aimed at promoting productivity while reducing anxiety. Users are encouraged to experiment with one of the six sides in order to refocus their energy. There’s currently a waitlist — the company is taking pre-orders but says the next batch of cubes will be shipped in February 2017.
(antsylabs.com to pre-order, $22)
