You see them in dollar stores, at the cash registers at some stores. Most people think of a stress ball as something pointless to buy…but what about making your own?
The act of even just making your own stress ball can be a de-stressor. Having set instructions, that are easy to follow, and no way to really vary from them can be a nice change, no need to think of the “best way” to accomplish something, it is already done for you. I know for myself when I am doing something that has a set plan (as an example making a cake which has a set recipe, crocheting a blanket that has a set pattern) let’s me feel like I can have a break from over thinking, and stressing.
So how do you make, and what do you need to make a stress ball?
Materials:
- Several balloons (the type used at parties is just fine)
- Sand, sesame seeds, flour, rice, or birdseed
- About a tablespoon of cornstarch
- A funnel (you can create a funnel by cutting the top off of a soda or water bottle)
- A Sharpie
Instructions:
- Take one balloon and blow it up, then let the air out. This will stretch the balloon out and make it easier to fill.
- Use a funnel to fill it with sand, sesame seeds, flour, rice, or birdseed until it is about the size of a baseball.
- Tie a knot to close the balloon once it is full, trying to leave as little of a “tail” as possible.
- Dust the surface of this balloon lightly with cornstarch, to make the surface less sticky.
- Blow up and deflate a second balloon.
- Decorate the second balloon however you’d like.
- Cut off the narrow end of the second balloon and stuff the first filled balloon into the second decorated balloon.
Have you ever used a stress ball? has it helped? did you try to make your own?
Diminish The Stigma 