Mari Pangelinan

Tag: wellness

  • Mental Wellness at Your Fingertips: How Calm Is Leading with Purpose

    Mental Wellness at Your Fingertips: How Calm Is Leading with Purpose

    As the mental health crisis continues to grow across the United States, providing people with access to mental health and wellness resources is more crucial than ever. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five adults experience anxiety and depression. Despite these numbers, many people still don’t have access to affordable mental healthcare.

    Calm’s Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility

    The Calm app aims to address this issue by offering free and premium meditation, sleep, and wellness resources to help users find balance in their daily lives. The app was founded in 2012 and has seen success over the years, earning the title of iPhone App of the Year in 2017. Since then, it has grown with over 150 million downloads. Today, the Calm app partners with businesses and healthcare providers to help more people access the support they need.

    Calm Logo In the App Store

    This blog post explores Calm’s approach to corporate social responsibility and how the company encourages other organizations to provide employees and customers with mental health resources. Corporate social responsibility encourages companies to assess their impact on society, focusing on more than just profits. With Calm’s free resources, mental health resources are right at people’s fingertips. By focusing on expanding mental health resources Calm has displayed corporate social responsibility, setting an example for other companies to provide access to mental health care. One example of this is Calm’s ongoing partnership with Kaiser Permanente.

    Calm x Kaiser Permanente Partnership

    The partnership began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when stress was at an all-time high. Many were scared to leave their homes, and Calm provided support from anywhere. This partnership offered Kaiser members a free premium subscription that includes guided meditation, sleep stories, breathing exercises, masterclasses, and other wellness resources. Members got emails letting them know about this exciting partnership which not only raised awareness about Calm but also opened a larger conversation about online mental health resources.

     Additionally, the two companies hosted the virtual World Mental Health Day event. This allowed people to hear personal stories from others and take a deeper look at strategies to manage mental health challenges. This event was promoted on social media accounts and company websites, raising awareness across both audiences.

    Flyer from https://www.calm.com

    Effective Digital Campaigns

    In a digital age, it is helpful to promote events on social media as it is both an effective and low-cost option for raising awareness and increasing engagement. Utilizing the many forms of media has helped Calm promote its app and share snippets to get people more interested in what it is about. Posts and flyers that offer information in a concise and visually appealing way can be helpful in spreading awareness about campaigns and events. Since this is an app, users and potential users are more likely to check either social media or emails reminding them of events and special offerings. With the app’s growing success, it is clear they are reaching those who could benefit from the various tools offered.

    Calm’s Lasting Impact

    The Calm app is all about providing people with access to mental healthcare and this partnership, as well as similar ones, has helped encourage people to focus on their well-being. By providing free and accessible mental health tools, Calm has allowed many people to access help they may not have been able to get. Partnerships have also encouraged other companies to offer mental health resources and fight this mental health crisis. Opening the conversation about mental health helps break the stigma and encourages people to take charge of their mental health. Calm has helped people and companies take responsibility and fight the mental health crisis.

  • Tips for Staying Mindful During Midterms

    Tips for Staying Mindful During Midterms

    As midterms approach, I have found myself feeling overwhelmed and completely unbalanced. It can be easy to fall into the whirlwind of strict deadlines and skip out on taking time for yourself.

    In 2024 the American Institute of Stress shared“45% of American college students report experiencing “more than average stress”(Stress.org).

    Making an effort to maintain balance during these chaotic times is essential to your success. I have made a list of some of my personal, realistic ways of making time for myself while not losing track of the work I have to complete.

    Here are four practices that help me:

    1. Break Down Your Days into Phases
    Life can feel overwhelming when you have so much on your plate. The way I’ve been approaching this is by breaking my days into phases. On days that I have so many things going on, a long to-do list can feel daunting and unattainable. Instead, breaking it into chunks makes it feel more approachable and achievable. For example, phase one can be school tasks, phase two work or other activities, and phase three winding down. Some days I find myself with three phases, and other days I have five. Reframing days to be more manageable can make all the difference in these busy times.

    2. Make Time for Your People
    Locking yourself in your room or the library can feel like the answer to all your problems, and it may for a little bit, but looking at a computer all day can make you feel more like a robot and less like a human. Take time to see your friends. This can be planning a walk, a coffee run, or even just a quick call. Working this into your schedule can help you see life outside of midterms.

    3. Prioritize sleep.

    Pulling an all-nighter to study can feel so tempting when you’re stressed and feeling unprepared. The truth is, you need sleep to learn. In an article published on News in Health, it was reported that “if you haven’t slept, your ability to learn new things could drop by up to 40%” (check it out here). So, taking that time to sleep and process new information is incredibly beneficial and important to prioritize.

    4. Clean Your Room!
    The “depression room” we see on TikTok can easily become a reality. When life feels so busy, it can be easier to throw your things down as you’re on the go. Taking time every day to clean your space can really help set you up for success. Before bed, set your alarm for 15 minutes, put in some earbuds, and take time to clean and prepare for the next day. This practice has allowed me to take time for myself while also being productive.

    Midterms can be tough and overwhelming, and it’s normal to feel those feelings. It’s also important to take time for you and balance your work with yourself. You may not get it right every day, but making a conscious effort to fit some self-care into busy days can make a huge difference.