Fidgeting: Meaning, Causes, Ways to Control It

Fidgeting is a common habit that most of us have experienced at some point or another. It refers to the small movements we make with our hands and feet without thinking about it. This could include tapping your foot, drumming your fingers, tapping a pencil, and so on.

Fidgeting is believed to be a physical reaction to stress or concentration. In fact, fidgeting may allow your brain to concentrate on a difficult task longer. It may also be a response to a stressful situation, such as speaking in front of a crowd. It can also be a symptom of a chronic health problem like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or restless legs syndrome (RLS).

What to Know About Fidgeting - Illustration by Joules Garcia — Verywell / Joules Garcia

This article discusses some of the known causes of fidgeting, as well as tips for how to control it.

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This video has been medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD

What Is Fidgeting?

Fidgeting often happens without you realizing it. Research shows that fidgeting is a physical reaction to stress or concentration.

Characteristics of Fidgeting

There are several different ways to fidget. Common signs of fidgeting include:

Tapping your feet
Drumming your fingers
Tapping a pencil
Shifting in your seat
Blinking your eyes
Adjusting your position
Crossing and uncrossing your legs

Causes of Fidgeting

Fidgeting has been linked to stress and anxiety. It may also be caused by an underlying health condition.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can lead to increased fidgeting behaviors. The higher your anxiety level, the more you may fidget in response. A 2017 study of individuals with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa found that an increased amount of fidgeting was associated with greater levels of anxiety and depression.

Fidgeting is a common physical response to stress. It may even be a tool for sustaining your focus as stress increases. The more time you spend concentrating on a project, the more you will start to fidget.

Sustaining focus over a long period of time can increase stress in the brain. For example, it is difficult to maintain your focus for an entire three-hour lecture. Fidgeting may reveal how much discomfort you are experiencing while trying to stay engaged with a task. It may also be a sign that it’s time to take a break and come back to it later.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD, a common chronic condition often diagnosed in children that produces symptoms of hyperactivity, difficulty paying attention, and being impulsive, can cause excessive movements and difficulty sitting still. Children and adults with ADHD commonly fidget throughout the day. Other symptoms of ADHD include:

Squirming while seated
Difficulty finishing a quiet task
Excessive talking
Interrupting others

Does fidgeting mean someone isn't listening?

No, fidgeting does not mean that someone is not listening to you. Studies show that fidgeting may even improve the retention of new information.

Managing ADHD and ODD When They Occur Together

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

RLS, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a chronic neurological condition that produces a strong desire to move the legs and feet. Symptoms usually happen at night when you are trying to sleep or during other times when you must stay still, such as during a long car ride. Walking or moving the legs usually relieves the discomfort, but it often comes back once you stop moving.

If you have noticed that your fidgeting usually involves only your legs and happens at nighttime, talk with your healthcare provider and ask about restless leg syndrome.

Mild fidgeting is common and usually occurs as a reaction to needing to concentrate. As long as it does not interfere with your life, no treatment is needed. Severe fidgeting that feels outside your control may be a sign of a more serious health problem that needs to be addressed.

How to Treat Fidgeting

Because fidgeting is often a subconscious habit, it may not be possible to completely eliminate it from your life. However, there are steps that you can take to reduce your fidgeting. This is especially important if it has begun to affect your ability to work or live your life.

First, work with your healthcare provider to determine if there is a cause. Treating an underlying condition like ADHD or RLS could improve your fidgeting behaviors.

Retraining Your Focus

It may be more realistic to harness your fidgeting, rather than stopping it. This refers to purposely engaging in physical activity during times of stress or concentration to reduce involuntary fidgeting.

For example, you may be better able to keep your hands busy writing notes by hand rather than typing. Plus, a 2014 study found that writing by hand helps us to process and retain information better than typing.

Other strategies that may help include:

Practicing mindfulness
Avoiding caffeinated beverages and foods
Keeping your hands folded

Standing desks don’t affect fidgeting but may improve concentration among schoolchildren.

Medication

If you have ADHD, medications that treat this condition may help reduce fidgeting:

Ritalin (methylphenidate)
Adderall (amphetamine)

Depending on the cause of your symptoms, your healthcare provider may also prescribe antianxiety medication or antidepressants.

If your fidgeting is related to RLS, your healthcare provider may recommend medications such as:

Iron supplements
Anti-seizure drugs
Benzodiazepines
Dopaminergic medications

Benefits of Fidgeting

It’s also important to note that not all fidgeting is negative, and these behaviors may have some health benefits. Fidgeting may even reverse some of the negative health outcomes of sitting. Sitting for long periods of time is known to decrease blood flow to the legs, leading to an increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) and hardening of the blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis).

A 2016 study found that fidgeting with your legs and feet while sitting increases the blood flow to the legs and improves blood vessel functioning.

Fidgeting may also lead to improved information retention. A 2015 study found that when children with ADHD were allowed to fidget and squirm during a learning task, their retention rates improved.

Fidget Spinners

Fidget spinner toys have been marketed as a helpful tool for learning. Unfortunately, the use of fidget spinners has been found to negatively affect attentiveness in children. Fidget spinners can be distracting and make concentration more difficult.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

For most people, occasional fidgeting is normal and does not require intervention. It’s time to see a healthcare provider when fidgeting has begun to interfere with your life, such as your ability to perform your job or participate in school.

It’s important to remember that frequent fidgeting does not necessarily mean that you have a health problem. Lifestyle factors such as skipping meals or not getting enough sleep can result in increased stress and fidgeting symptoms.

Children may fidget in school if the learning materials are too advanced or not challenging enough. If you are concerned by you or your child’s fidgeting behaviors, talk with your healthcare provider.

Should you tell employers/teachers about your ADHD fidgeting?

You are not legally required to disclose your ADHD diagnosis to your employer. If you are concerned that your fidgeting behaviors may lead your manager or coworkers to assume that you are not paying attention at work, then you may want to consider talking with them about it.

Summary

Fidgeting refers to the small movements we make with our hands and feet without realizing it. Most people experience fidgeting from time to time. Common signs include tapping your foot, drumming your fingers, or shifting in your seat. Fidgeting may be a physical reaction to stress or concentration. It could also be caused by an underlying health condition like ADHD or restless legs syndrome.

People who fidget tend to retain more new information than those who do not. Fidgeting may have health benefits as well. If you are concerned about your level of fidgeting, talk with your healthcare provider.

If you tend to fidget, you may find the habit frustrating. Because others may interpret your fidgeting as a lack of attention, you may have experienced negative outcomes because of it.

15 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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By Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH
Madormo is a health writer with over a decade of experience as a registered nurse. She has worked in pediatrics, oncology, chronic pain, and public health.

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