The smartphone can be a wicked tool for distraction and complication. But it doesnt have to be. Your smartphone actually can be an agent of calm, relaxation and mindfulness.

The app thats helped me relax the most is Calm by Calm.com, which is available free a nice, relaxing price for both iOS and Android. This app contains a number of guided meditation sessions that last from just a couple of minutes up to about 20 minutes. The idea is to use the app once a day at the same time.

Some apps make novice meditators leery because they weave in too much mystical talk. But Calm focuses on simple directions like, Concentrate on your body. Each meditation track is spoken in a calming voice and contains straightforward advice in cheerful tones. Its not so much, Do this, do that. Its more, Think about sitting somewhere where your back is supported well.

The sounds for the meditation tracks are calming, too, and you can choose which you prefer, like gentle waves, rain in a forest or relaxing music.

The app is beautiful to look at and easy to use, thanks to clear instructions and menus. It also contains a fair amount of free meditation content. But if you pay to upgrade to the pro version, you get meditation programs aimed at increasing confidence, creativity and other traits, in addition to calmness. And more content is added regularly. The pro version costs about $10 a year, though you can buy shorter subscriptions.

Headspace, also free for iOS and Android, is a similar app that is even simpler and more refined than Calms app. This app also is about guided meditation for short intervals, about 10 minutes per session, and it, too, uses refreshingly plain words instead of jargon in its sessions.

The app can provide reminders to turn it on at set daily intervals, and the sessions are straightforward: a sequence of meditations that talk you through different mindfulness habits over a 10-day period. You even get rewards for sticking to your habits in the form of cute little animations. And it can show some simple analytics about your performance the hope being that you will be inspired to stick to it.

After the first 10 sessions, more meditation sessions are available to download, with different lengths and different goals, like reducing stress, but only for subscribers. The subscription is $13 a month or $95 a year which may be the most stressful aspect of the app. But at least the first 10 sessions are free.

Another way to find a moment of calm in a busy day is to take 10 minutes for yourself and focus on positive things in your life, and thats what the Happier app is all about. Free for Android and iOS, Happier is part gratitude journal, part mindfulness app, part support community. It has sections to make notes and add images about things for which you are grateful. Or you can listen to short courses that teach about gratitude and happiness habits. The community aspect is a built-in social network where other users can comment in a supportive way on your progress.

The app is bright, friendly and easy to use. The core app is free, but you have to pay to get access to some of the guided meditation courses, like More Calm, Less Stress. Prices vary from $5 to $25.

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Calling all meditators