Executive Summary
Project Description:
Building Everyday Resilience: A Microlearning Series for the Calm app is a self-paced, mobile-first course designed to help adults strengthen emotional resilience, starting with anxiety-focused content. When a user selects a topic (such as anxiety), they begin with a brief quiz that places them into a personalized starting level, Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced, based on their current needs and experience.
Each level includes a flexible series of short, structured lessons that blend science-based instruction, guided meditation, and reflective journaling. Lesson counts vary by level and topic, offering the freedom to learn at a comfortable pace without pressure or deadlines.
The program is designed to grow with the learner. Users can stay with ongoing anxiety-focused lessons or transition into future topics such as postpartum depression, family relationships, or emotional recovery. Every course follows a consistent instructional design framework, allowing users to fully customize their wellness journey. Optional habit trackers, badges, and community features support motivation, progress tracking, and deeper engagement.
Aim:
Design a structured, evidence-based microlearning curriculum for the Calm app that teaches users how to build resilience over time by using instructional design principles to create a sequenced experience that goes beyond passive listening and promotes measurable growth in coping skills, mindset shifts, and emotional regulation. Optional community features, like discussion boards and group challenges, support social connection and deeper engagement.
Target Audience: Adults ages 18 and up.
Calm app users (current and prospective) who experience stress, anxiety, or emotional fatigue.
Individuals experiencing chronic stress, emotional burnout, or anxiety who are interested in the development of emotional resilience.
Users prefer short, guided content that is actionable and easy to integrate into their daily routine.
Delivery Options: Mobile app delivery (within the Calm platform)
10-day microlearning course series (10-20 minutes per module)
Each module includes:
Guided meditation
Short audio lesson with visuals
Reflection question or journaling prompt
Optional resilience-building habit tracker
Push notifications and badges can be used to encourage consistency and track progress
Instructional Solution: This series leverages behavior modeling, self-reflection, and habit formation to support emotional self-regulation. The Let Them Theory approach informs tone and flexibility. Instruction is an appropriate solution because the structured yet adaptable format provides real-world impact in under 20 minutes per session.