Calm

App (Meditation & Sleep platform, launched 2016)

A popular mindfulness app featuring guided meditations, gentle “Sleep Stories,” relaxing music, and breathing exercises. Users can choose from a variety of 10-minute meditations (for anxiety, gratitude, winding down at night, etc.) and bedtime stories narrated by soothing voices, including familiar names like LeBron James and Maya Rudolph, designed to lull adults to sleep. The app’s ethos is all about slowing down and self-soothing. For busy professionals or caregivers, Calm offers an accessible and low-cost way to carve out peaceful moments throughout the day or help with insomnia at 3 AM. The content is diverse and inclusive (there are storytellers and teachers of colour, and topics like releasing judgment), aligning with a culturally aware approach. Rather than pushing productivity, Calm practically forces you to pause, breathe, and be guided by a gentle voice, an antidote to hustle culture. (Notably, studies have found that using Calm can reduce stress and improve sleep quality.) The link to the app’s official website is here.