Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1518807
This article is from Calm. CTA members (active or retired) can activate your free Calm subscription for you and your family at ctamemberbenefits.org/calm. Questions? Contact CTA Mem- ber Benefits at 650-552-5200 or MemberBenefits@cta.org. C A L M C A N A I D in offering mental well-being support to people. But what does that look like in practice? And how can Calm sup- port you throughout the workday, both during and outside of work hours? Here is a closer look at some of the ways you can use Calm to manage stress, combat anxiety, sleep better, rekindle motivation, find focus and get moving. When you find yourself feeling anxious Even if you're not one of the 40 million adults in the U.S. estimated to experience an anxiety disorder, you are still likely to experience it in stressful situations. Meditation exercises and relaxing sounds can help you get past anxiety attacks and back on track. When you need to physically loosen up The nature of many jobs today is that a lot of us don't tend to move around much while doing them. Or when we do, it's repetitive motions that strain the body. This is a fast track to body aches, rest- lessness and low productivity. Moving around helps us physically — and mentally — reset. This is why it's so important to take time out of your day to go for short walks, or to do a few quick stretches. When you need to destress Stress is increasingly part and parcel of modern life. Whether it's work, relationships or something else entirely, we all deal with stress at some point. Meditation and mindfulness exercises can help you improve your stress management skills and mental resil- ience, while breathing exercises can help to alleviate the physical effects of stress. When you need to find your focus If you have a lot on your mind, it can be hard to focus on the task at hand. Your work can suffer as a result — which, in turn, can cause further stress and anxiety as tasks build up. With a wide library of helpful, focus-building content such as guided meditations, breath- ing exercises and educational master classes, Calm can help you train your mind to be more mindful and grounded, so you can focus better in the moment. When you need to boost your motivation Loss of motivation is not something to beat yourself up about. But when there's work to do and deadlines to meet, re-finding motivation is essential. When you're motivated, you're engaged. And when you're engaged, you do your best work — and, importantly, you enjoy yourself in the process. When you next find yourself feeling unmotivated and uninterested in the task you're doing, try listening to one of Calm's motivational meditations or pick something uplifting in Calm Music. When insomnia is affecting your work Work is easier when you've had a good night's rest. But sometimes it can be hard to get an adequate amount of sleep — especially when you're anxious about the next day 's big meeting or long to-do list and are finding it hard to turn off your brain. The Calm library of Sleep Stories and gentle music can help. With soothing voices narrating a range of stories, soft instrumental music and even simple meditations designed to help facilitate sleep, there's something for everyone. There's no "right way " to use Calm. You can experi- ment to find the exact combination that works best for you. It's important to remember that mental health and well-being are intensely personal jour- neys, and there's no one-size-fits-all method that will work for everyone. Workplace Wellness How to use Calm in your everyday work life 52 cta.org CTA & You