There's been a song stuck in my head for as long as I can remember (decades) that only comes out of the recesses of my brain when I'm alone, and I hum it over and over. Usually this is during driving or focusing on coding. Kinda frustrating that I don't even know if it's a real song or just something my brain is doing for fun. (It sounds a bit like the civil war song, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, I guess?) I'm too self-conscious to do it around other people.
Finding a soft lock of my hair and twirling it around my fingers. Both for the softness and the gentle tugging at my scalp. And as a bonus it's fairly socially acceptable.
As an adult it is a mix of leg jiggling and rubbing my finger nails against my thumbs. As a child I used to tap out rhythms with my heels and toes, much to the chagrin of my teachers and classmates.
I'm a hair twirler/puller, also nail biter. I have a fidget slider toy too, the one looking like two playing cards, but it has limited use in a setting where others need to concentrate. Rubik's cubes are nice in those scenarios, like a 2x2, quick solve, quick scramble, repeat
I love drumming my fingers on the table/desk. And I can tell by the sound when it's time to trim my nails, because the tapping sound of nails hitting wood sets my teeth on edge.
Thumb to finger taps. I do this often, more when getting nervous. I tap teeth to each other, too, feeling like I'm tapping one top to one bottom at a time. Going all the way around to tap all my teeth. I realized I'm tapping multiple teeth each time, but it's a tap for each pair of teeth.
Usually when I notice I'm doing something (stroking my beard or moving my legs are the most common ones) and I have to be discreet, I try to focus on moving my toes
When COVID hit and I started working from home, I decided to try growing a beard. After all, I didn't need to look 100% presentable during that awkward phase when it looks like you just forgot to shave a few days in a row.
Now, it's become a permanent part of my face and I love stroking it or pulling at the hairs (not enough to pull them out, just enough to play with them).
When my feet are available for this, such as laying down or dangling, I like to push one down while pushing it up with the other foot, then switching feet.
Rotate left & right on my desk chair
Pacing around my living room puffing on my nicotine vape & talking to myself
Stroking my walrus mustace (I blame Jamie Hyneman lol)
I do this too. I actually keep a pair of metal cuticle nippers nearby for just this purpose. Using those means that I get a cleaner cut and am less likely to bleed afterwards.
I also have some chain finger toys. It's a small ring sized circle of bike chain with rubber on each section. You can put it on a fingertip and roll it around. It puts pressure on the cuticle area and gives a sensation which fills the need for stimulation in that area without ripping off skin.
I like putting pressure on the arch of my feet. (Or where my arch would be as I have extremely flat feet.)
I actually bought a small wooden foot massager for this. As I'm working, I can just put my feet on this and roll them back and forth. I get the sensory input that I'm craving without needing to stop working to find something to press my feet against.
34 Comments
tourist@community.destinovate.com · 9 pts · 3y
I like to pull the corner of my phone case off and snap it back on
I_like_cats@lemmy.one · 2 pts · 3y
Yes. I do that too. Also clicking the latch on my wrist watch
rabythin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
Same
Persen@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 2y
I broke multiple cases doing this, so i am forcing myself to not do it.
lukecooperatus@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 3y
There's been a song stuck in my head for as long as I can remember (decades) that only comes out of the recesses of my brain when I'm alone, and I hum it over and over. Usually this is during driving or focusing on coding. Kinda frustrating that I don't even know if it's a real song or just something my brain is doing for fun. (It sounds a bit like the civil war song, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, I guess?) I'm too self-conscious to do it around other people.
funkajunk@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 3y
Have you tried using something like SoundHound? I've hummed songs using it and had pretty good success.
Tzayad@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3y
Not exactly my favorite, but my most done is biting/peeling my lips.
Stretching is probably my favorite. Like those good ones after waking up
kapx132@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
Tzayad@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
It's more just biting off already dry/dead skin, doesn't seem like I'm doing any damage
Psaldorn@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 3y
avirse@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 3y
Finding a soft lock of my hair and twirling it around my fingers. Both for the softness and the gentle tugging at my scalp. And as a bonus it's fairly socially acceptable.
Inky@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 3y
As an adult it is a mix of leg jiggling and rubbing my finger nails against my thumbs. As a child I used to tap out rhythms with my heels and toes, much to the chagrin of my teachers and classmates.
OnlyAwfulNamesLeft@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 3y
I trace the outline of my thumbnail with the pad of my index finger..
finkrat@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 3y
I'm a hair twirler/puller, also nail biter. I have a fidget slider toy too, the one looking like two playing cards, but it has limited use in a setting where others need to concentrate. Rubik's cubes are nice in those scenarios, like a 2x2, quick solve, quick scramble, repeat
neurodivergentAF@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 3y
Rocking, shaking my leg, tapping my finger, watching YouTube even when there’s nothing interesting on.
OnlyAwfulNamesLeft@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 3y
I love drumming my fingers on the table/desk. And I can tell by the sound when it's time to trim my nails, because the tapping sound of nails hitting wood sets my teeth on edge.
contextual_somebody@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Rubbing my head. I keep it buzzed and it’s 👌🏻
uzziah0@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Thumb to finger taps. I do this often, more when getting nervous. I tap teeth to each other, too, feeling like I'm tapping one top to one bottom at a time. Going all the way around to tap all my teeth. I realized I'm tapping multiple teeth each time, but it's a tap for each pair of teeth.
Bloodwoodsrisen@lemmy.tf · 2 pts · 3y
Bouncing my foot, rocking, or playing with my hair
readthemessage@lemmy.eco.br · 2 pts · 3y
Usually when I notice I'm doing something (stroking my beard or moving my legs are the most common ones) and I have to be discreet, I try to focus on moving my toes
TechyDad@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
When COVID hit and I started working from home, I decided to try growing a beard. After all, I didn't need to look 100% presentable during that awkward phase when it looks like you just forgot to shave a few days in a row.
Now, it's become a permanent part of my face and I love stroking it or pulling at the hairs (not enough to pull them out, just enough to play with them).
kapx132@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
BackOnMyBS@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
When my feet are available for this, such as laying down or dangling, I like to push one down while pushing it up with the other foot, then switching feet.
Chucklefunk@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
kerneltux@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Rotate left & right on my desk chair Pacing around my living room puffing on my nicotine vape & talking to myself Stroking my walrus mustace (I blame Jamie Hyneman lol)
Iam@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 3y
TechyDad@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
I do this too. I actually keep a pair of metal cuticle nippers nearby for just this purpose. Using those means that I get a cleaner cut and am less likely to bleed afterwards.
I also have some chain finger toys. It's a small ring sized circle of bike chain with rubber on each section. You can put it on a fingertip and roll it around. It puts pressure on the cuticle area and gives a sensation which fills the need for stimulation in that area without ripping off skin.
OptimusPhillip@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Toys. I have a speedcube and several Transformers by my computer at all times.
kresten@feddit.dk · 2 pts · 3y
Probably shaking my leg slightly, or stretching
JunctionSystem@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
Cat: We wiggle our knees in and out. Feels good.
SeeMinusMinus@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
poppets!
Kolanaki@yiffit.net · 1 pts · 3y
I'm a leg bouncer.
I also like those toggle switches with the super tactile click. I'll flip one of those back and forth a bunch if I had one on hand.
TechyDad@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
I like putting pressure on the arch of my feet. (Or where my arch would be as I have extremely flat feet.)
I actually bought a small wooden foot massager for this. As I'm working, I can just put my feet on this and roll them back and forth. I get the sensory input that I'm craving without needing to stop working to find something to press my feet against.
guangming@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
me, a person who's recently begun to suspect i might be autistic:
óoooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
yep.
rabythin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y