Sometimes caregivers need help to relax
Taking short breaks is a great way to reduce caregiver stress, improve health and well-being, and help you stay calm and patient.
The challenge is that when you get a few minutes to yourself, it can be difficult to truly relax and stop thinking and worrying about your older adult.
We found something perfect for stress relief for caregivers – a mobile app with free relaxation programs that help you step away from caregiving thoughts and worries and into the relaxation zone.
We explain how the Calm app works and share our favorite free programs.
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Calm is a free app that helps you de-stress
The Calm mobile app is perfect for quick stress reduction breaks anywhere, anytime – even if you’re hiding in the bathroom to get a moment of peace.
The app is simple to use and sign-up is optional.
The Calm mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android smartphones. (In the screenshots below, we’re using this app on an iPhone.)
The app’s basics are free to use
Calm has helpful basics that are completely free to use. And, they’re fast and effective at relieving stress.
The majority of the programs do require a paid subscription, but feel free to ignore them and stick with the free stuff. The paid programs are marked with a small lock icon in the corner.
Calm home screen
How to use the Calm mobile app
When you first download the app, there will be a few setup screens asking you to create an account and subscribe to the Premium (paid) service.
This is optional – skip these screens by tapping the “X” at the top corner.
If you’d like to save your favorite programs for easy access or track how often you meditate or use other programs, you’ll need to sign up for a free account.
You don’t have to decide anything right away – give the app a try first to see if you like it.
If you decide that you’d like to sign up for an account to save your progress, use the menu along the bottom to go to your Profile.
When you open the app, you’ll see a peaceful nature scene, hear soothing background sounds, and see a menu along the bottom – Home, Discover, Profile, and Premium.
Just above that bottom menu, you’ll see buttons with labels like “Meditation,” “Sleep,” “Music,” and more. Scroll this area right and left to see all the options.
Here, we’ll explain how to use the free features.
Meditation section
Meditation Tapping the Meditation button takes you to a variety of meditation programs.
Our favorite helpful free programs include:
How to Meditate – find it in the For Beginners section
7 Days of Calm – find it in the For Beginners section
7 Days of Sleep – find it in the Sleep Better section
7 Days of Calming Anxiety – find it in the Coping With Anxiety section
Take a Deep Breath (breathing exercises) – find it in the Quick & Easy section
Timed Meditation (1 min meditation with soothing nature sounds) – find it in the Quick & Easy section
Browse the various sections to find additional free meditation programs, the selection changes over time.
Check-Ins section
Check-Ins Scroll the button area to find the Check-Ins button.
If you create a free account to track progress, you can use this section to track your feelings and mood over time.
Breathe section
Breathe Scroll the button area to find the Breathe button.
The Relax exercise guides you through a timed breathing exercise that’s designed to help you relax and find your calm.
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By DailyCaring Editorial Team
This article wasn’t sponsored and doesn’t contain affiliate links. For more information, see How We Make Money.
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