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This app is designed to reduce job burnout—and it’s free for educators

burnout-app

An app that focuses on wellbeing exercises to reduce stress is being offered free

App maker Stress Refuge is launching DeStressify [1], an app that helps people with overwhelmed, busy lives achieve “mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing,” free for anyone employed by a school district, school, or other educational organization.

“Teachers play an enormous role in shaping our future generations, and it’s a stressful job,” said Theresa Fox, president and CEO of DeStressify. “That’s why we decided to give this app to educators at no charge; to help them better manage their stress, and in turn, their classrooms.”

In its promotional materials, the company references a Gallup State of America’s Schools report [2] that found nearly half of all K-12 teachers reported daily stress.

The app, available for iOS and Android, offers simple strategies to tackle job-related stress and burnout. The app gives users 10-minute activities they can do once a day, including breathing, physical activity, self-care and visualization. Activities are designed to help educators decompress and reenergize.

Colorado’s Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) recently partnered [3] with the company behind the app to help faculty reduce stress. According to the company, teachers who used the app experienced a reduction in stress level by an average of 20 percent. Those who did not use the app reported a less than 6 percent reduction in stress. Additionally, nearly 43 percent of those who actively utilized DeStressify saw drastic improvements in stress levels.

“Teachers are under a lot of pressure,” said Bob Jamieson, benefits director at Boulder Valley School District. “This case study reveals that teachers who are cognizant of their stress and spend just 10 minutes a day to destressify experience a lower level of stress.”

“The 5- to 10-minute exercises fit into anyone’s schedule and take me away from a stressful state almost as soon as I start focusing on my breath,” one BVSD study participant reflected.

“It’s an easy way to encourage yourself to just take a few minutes each day to de-stress and to remember what’s important in life,” another participant noted.

A trial version [4] is available free to everyone. Educators who wish to upgrade for free to the pro version can contact education@stressrefuge.com [5].

Material from a press release was used in this report.