Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1463867
T O S A Y L I F E has been stressful the past few years is a massive understatement. Learning and practicing ways to ease stress can help boost your overall health and wellness — and there's an app for that. Headspace, at headspace.com/educators, offers K-12 educators free access to its extensive and well-organized content library centered on mindfulness and meditation. You can choose from intro sessions and short courses to more advanced work, from breathwork and calming tech- niques to guided and group meditation. Need help sleeping or eating better? Try "sleepcasts" or mindful cooking and eating tips. Workouts based on mind-body connections are led by Olympic athletes; curated playlists from Grammy-winning artists help you focus; and informative articles deal with everything from social to election anxiety. "Navigating Injustice" presents meditations by voices with diverse perspectives to help recognize our dif- ferences, struggles and unique journeys. Headspace, which is based in Santa Monica, says it works with LA Unified School District and other schools to understand educators' needs. (The app is listed as a resource for educators on the achieve.lausd.net site.) The app is easy to navigate and can be set up to give you daily reminders, track your progress, and include others through a buddies feature. Just launched in November 2021 is Headspace for Teens (headspace.com/teens) — also free, with content tailored for young people, offering tools to de-stress, sleep and focus. " The goal is to provide a platform for teens to be kind to their mind," says spokesperson Alice Nathoo. Teens can sign up individually, or by starting a "Bring Change 2 Mind" pro- gram at their high school or joining one. The program helps raise awareness, normalize conversations around mental health, and create a culture of peer support within schools. "We want to convert the conversa- tions to action," Nathoo says. Educators can use Headspace for Teens as a supplemental resource to social-emotional learning and mindfulness in the classroom. The app supports teachers with a variety of materials, includ- ing videos, posters and other tools, to assist with this. Free mental health Tools for Educators, Teens Popular app can help boost health and wellness Through Headspace, teens can join or start a "Bring Change 2 Mind" program at their high school, which helps raise awareness, normalize conversations around mental health, and create a culture of peer support within schools. A classroom guide for educators Mindful tools for the classroom Headspace for Educators For educators to use with classrooms, ages 11+ headspace.com/educators 47 A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2 T T E C H T I P S Final Trim Size: 8" x 5" 8.25" x 5.25" Bleed 7" x 4.687 Live Area Colors 4/0 CMYK Y C K M