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 ā 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.
Calm is a free app that helps you de-stress
The CalmĀ mobile app is perfect for quick stress reduction breaks anywhere, anytime ā even if youāre 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, weāre 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, theyāre 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 ā skip these screens by tapping the āXā at the top corner.
If youād like to save your favorite programs for easy access or track how often you meditate or use other programs, youāll need to sign up for a free account.Ā
You donāt have to decide anything right away ā give the app a try first to see if you like it.
If you decide that youād 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, youāll see a peaceful nature scene, hear soothing background sounds, and see a menu along the bottom ā Home, Discover, Profile, and Premium.
Just above that bottom menu, youāll see buttons with labels like āMeditation,ā āSleep,ā āMusic,ā and more. Scroll this area right and left to see all the options.
Here, weāll 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 ā find it in the For Beginners section
- 7 Days of Calm ā find it in the For Beginners section
- 7 Days of Sleep ā 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) ā find it in the Quick & Easy section
- Timed Meditation (1 min meditation with soothing nature sounds) ā 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 thatās designed to help you relax and find your calm.
Next StepĀ Get the free Calm mobile app for iPhone or Android
Recommended for you:
- 4 Mobile Apps That Instantly Relieve Caregiver Anxiety
- 25 Quick Journal Prompts That Reduce Caregiver Stress and Improve Health
- Reduce Caregiver Stress by Celebrating Accomplishments
By DailyCaring Editorial Team
This article wasnāt sponsored and doesnāt contain affiliate links. For more information, see How We Make Money.
Dee
Is the Calm app available for the computer? Not everyone owns a cell phone, I don’t. Does “Aromatherapy” work for someone with anosmia [total loss of sense of smell]?
DailyCaring
Yes, Calm is also available via computer at Calm.com
Unfortunately, aromatherapy would only work for someone who has a sense of smell.
Deborah
I can not get the Calm App for free. Only 7 days and then 69.99/year.
How to get it for free??
DailyCaring
There are many parts of the Calm app that are free. Anything that doesn’t have a lock icon in the upper right corner or ask you to subscribe to Calm Premium is free to use.
For example, under the “Meditate” menu, you’ll see many options with no lock icons like 7 Days of Calm, 7 Days of Sleep, Timed Meditation, Open-Ended Meditation, and more.
In the other menu sections, like Sleep or Music, you’ll also see options that have no lock icon — those are free to use without buying Calm Premium.