Everything, 30 at a time
Every meditation, breathing exercise, sleep story, focus session, guide and essay on SoftlyStill — 6,878 pieces, newest first, 30 to a page.
3-minute letting go meditation for irritability, before a hard conversation
When irritability shows up before a hard conversation, this 3-minute letting go session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →Breathing for stress: 12 minutes, between meetings
12 minutes to meet stress with less of a fight. A breathing practice, between meetings.
Begin →The five minutes after a difficult meeting — where to start, when you want to be left alone
Back-to-back meetings leave no room to come down. Five deliberate minutes changes the next hour.
Read →Sleep story: a fire dying down, when you are at home and cannot settle — for a racing mind
The last hour of a fire, when it stops being a fire and becomes warmth.
Settle in →Deep work timer: 45 minutes of brainstorming (a fireplace), after a difficult conversation
One block of brainstorming with a fireplace underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →4-6 breathing exercise for the hours after people leave — if you are doing this instead of scrolling
The pattern is 4 · 6, which is in for four, out for six.
Breathe →7-minute guided gratitude practice for study focus — after a fight
When study focus shows up after a fight, this 7-minute gratitude session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →Grounding meditation for insomnia (20 min), on the way in
20 minutes to meet insomnia with less of a fight. A grounding practice, on the way in.
Begin →What to do when you wake at 3am — the unglamorous version, if you are new to this
Waking in the middle of the night is normal. What turns it into an hour of lying awake is the reaction to it.
Read →A library at closing time — a slow story for the end of the day, when you want to be left alone — for a restless night
The last hour, when the lights go down row by row.
Settle in →Deep work timer: 50 minutes of research (distant traffic), when you are somewhere noisy
One block of research with distant traffic underneath. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →4-2-6 breathing exercise for a lonely evening — when you need something unremarkable
The pattern is 4 · 2 · 6, which is a short hold in the middle, a long way out.
Breathe →Shame: 12-minute breathing meditation, after a shock
When shame shows up after a shock, this 12-minute breathing session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →Fatigue: 5-minute letting go meditation, before work
5 minutes to meet fatigue with less of a fight. A letting go practice, before work.
Begin →Preparing for a conversation you are dreading — a plain-language guide, when your attention is scattered
Most dread is about the first thirty seconds, not the conversation. Prepare for those and the rest gets easier.
Read →A boat at anchor, if you are doing this in the middle of the day — for winding down
A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.
Settle in →25-minute focus block for applications and forms — a fan or air conditioner, after a long day
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to get through the questions.
Start the block →How to use Coherent 6-6 breathing for a hard conversation, after a difficult conversation
The pattern is 6 · 6, which is six and six, the slower end of coherent breathing.
Breathe →20-minute softening meditation for tension headaches, after a bad day
When tension headaches shows up after a bad day, this 20-minute softening session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →10-minute noting meditation for contentment, after a long day
A 10-minute noting session for contentment, after a long day. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →When to drink coffee so it does not ruin your sleep — the two-minute version, when you have been meaning to start
Caffeine has a long tail. The cup at 3pm is still in your system at 9pm, whether you feel it or not.
Read →Sleep story: a hotel room somewhere, if you are fitting this around other people — for an overtired night
A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.
Settle in →45-minute focus block for planning — a washing machine, when you are waiting for something
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to decide what happens when.
Start the block →How to use Quick 2-1-2-1 breathing for a big decision, when you are somewhere noisy
The pattern is 2 · 1 · 2 · 1, which is a brisk rhythm for when you need to be awake.
Breathe →Meditation for worry: 5-minute self-compassion session, before bedtime
When worry shows up before bedtime, this 5-minute self-compassion session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →15-minute guided body scan practice for a racing mind — in a five-minute break
A 15-minute body scan session for a racing mind, in a five-minute break. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Using your body to come down after something stressful — a realistic guide, before something difficult
After a stress response, the body is left with fuel it did not use. Some of the recovery is physical, not mental.
Read →A garden in the rain — a slow story for the end of the day, after a long day — for jet lag
Steady rain on leaves, and a chair under an awning that stays dry.
Settle in →90-minute focus block for writing — brown noise, when you are too tired to try hard
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to get words down.
Start the block →How to use Uneven box breathing for being unwell, after a long day
The pattern is 4 · 4 · 6 · 2, which is a square with one long side.
Breathe →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.