While the rewards and impact of teaching can be life changing, the stakes of the job are high, and burnout, stress, and anxiety can be real challenges for teachers. That's why as educators it's important to carve out time for ourselves and practice self-care.

To get started, we've covered a few mindful, zenful, and reflective apps to help you on your path to calming your mind.

Headspace

Quick and easy to use, Headspace allows users to sit back and relax with a short, undaunting meditation sequence. Combining modern science with Buddhist fundamentals, Headspace takes you through ten-course basics of how to rest and quiet your restless brain. Better yet, Headspace also contains guided meditations especially for focus, sleep, anxiety, and more.

Teach For America has partnered with this popular mindfulness app to offer its services free of charge to TFA corps members and alumni teachers. To take advantage of this offer, go to https://work.headspace.com/tfa/join and use your @tfacorps.org email address.

Devices: iOS or Android

Calm

Calm is one of the most popular apps for meditation, relaxation, and getting some much needed shut-eye. It’s also now free for educators. Teachers in K-12 classrooms can now get free access to Calm’s paid subscription service and access a library chock-full of guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, and soothing tunes to keep your feeling present, blissful, or put you to bed. Through the Calm Students Initiative teachers can also opt in the receive best practices to introduce mindfulness to the classroom as well.

Devices: iOS or Android

Simple Habit

Simple Habit knows life can be challenging sometimes. That’s why its offers simple five-minute meditations to help ease your mind. The app lets you personalize your experience and choose interests that matter to you—whether it’s increased focus, productivity, fitness, and more—and then allows you to choose from various short meditation practices. The app is perfect for busy people on the go, who, at a moment's notice, can pop in their earbuds and find the respite, relaxation, advice, or healing.  

Devices: iOS or Android

Insight Timer

Don’t be fooled by the name, the Insight Meditation app is actually home to free and robust offerings geared toward mindfulness, stress reduction, learning, and healing. Home to one of the largest free libraries of meditations and music, Insight Time allows you to explore and try out courses, guided meditations, and deep breathing exercises and talks. It also connects you to six million other meditators as well. Beyond its extensive library, other features includes meditation timer with different soundscapes and settings, reflection journal, other in-app purchases and add-ons.

Devices: iOS or Android

Breathing Zone

Simple, effective, and free, Breathing Zone, helps guide to a calmer state. Through using your phone's microphone, the app detects your breathing rate and automatically sets your target breathing rate and works with you to gradually reduce it. Breathing Zone is a great option for those looking to lower blood pressure or quickly manage moments of stress and anxiety in minutes.  

Devices: iOS or Android