I love Rubik's Cubes!

I recently wrote about my dog Rubix who was sick. I assure you, he is doing better now: lying beside me, still on antibiotics for a while. But what you don't know is how much I enjoy doing Rubik's cubes. I love them to the extent that I called my two dogs Rubix and Cube. I guess this article could serve as a testimony of my love to my fur babies as well.

I am not sure to what extent this has to do with my dyslexia, neurodivergence, or simply anxiety but the fact is these fascinating little cubes intersect quite well with cognitive strengths and preferences of many colleagues. I've time and time come across neuro-distinct individuals who love Rubik's like myself. They help with my stress and my anxiety. They also help me focus and concentrate.

Why do I love Rubik's you may ask?

In my case, they are a stress reliever. My own personal fidget toy. They require me to focus on something else and put my concentration elsewhere all while fidgeting with it.

There are many ways to complete a Rubik, but there are some main patterns. Dyslexics tend to see patterns more easily and rapidly than others. This is my case: it is quite easy for me to recognize patterns. I also love being able to find the various patterns on a cube.

Solving them requires a range of cognitive skills, including visual-spatial reasoning, attention to detail, memory, and sequential thinking: all things neuro-divers individuals tend to thrive in. It's no wonder that so many of us love them.

Here are other fidgety things that aren't fidget toys that have helped me with my anxiety and perhaps are from my neuro superpower.

I love to knit. There is something very soothing in knitting to me: it's a repetitive movement that requires me to concentrate on something if not I may make a mistake. There is a pattern to follow. I've also come across many neuro-distinct individuals who like to knit.

Younger in school, I would get in trouble for doing origami or doodling in my books. I still occasionally get around to the art of folding paper, mainly making cranes and stars now. Let's not even talk about my notebooks! They are filled with doodles. I also have unreadable post-its all around me.

Playing with a stress ball has also been a bit less judgmental by my peers later on in life, but I've found this to be less satisfying as it doesn't really require any cognitive skills and my brain can't wander off as easily.

One huge part of my life is sports, whether it is stretching, running, or swimming. I tend to love sports which push me to focus on my breathing and repetitive movements. Running is very therapeutic and again it allows me to get away from my thoughts for a moment which tend to never stop.

I know that fidget toys have gained in popularity but they've never quite done it for me. Today what I hope is that we start to normalize fidgeting and stimming. The stigma and negative associations attached to these behaviors have no place to be and on the contrary this type of behavior can help many of us. Let's try to promote understanding and acceptance of these and embrace our quirks!

For certain, it's a question of self-regulation and stress-relief (like it is for myself). For others, it may help in concentration, stay engaged, or simply be a coping mechanism. Ultimately, creating an environment that supports individual needs and choices (neurotypical or neuro-atypical) contributes to a more inclusive and understanding society.

P.S if you see any mistake, don't hesitate to let me know and welcome to my dyslexic brain.