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.
Physiological sigh — 2 · 6 — for a cold morning, when you feel fine and want to stay that way
The pattern is 2 · 6, which is a second short sip of air on top of the first, then a long release.
Breathe →Gratitude meditation for financial stress (7 min), before bedtime
For the times before bedtime when financial stress takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, gratitude.
Begin →20-minute grounding meditation for sadness, in a five-minute break
Slow, spoken guidance for sadness. A grounding session you can do in a five-minute break.
Begin →A kitchen late at night (a sleep story), when you are cold and want to be warm — for a restless night
One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.
Settle in →90-minute research session with a fireplace and a timer, when you have just finished work
Sit down, press start, and follow one thread for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Gentle box breathing for a long wait, when you are somewhere noisy
The pattern is 3 · 3 · 3 · 3, which is a smaller square, for when four counts feels long.
Breathe →Meditation for concentration: 12-minute breathing session, on a day off
For the times on a day off when concentration takes up more room than you would like — 12 minutes, breathing.
Begin →Meditation for agitation: 5-minute letting go session, in the air
5 minutes to meet agitation with less of a fight. A letting go practice, in the air.
Begin →Sleep story: a lake before dawn, when you are not in the mood — for winding down
Flat water, no wind, and light that has not arrived yet.
Settle in →A 25-minute block for applications and forms, with vinyl crackle, before you go back to something hard
A single 25-minute block for applications and forms — dull but finite.
Start the block →4-7-8 breathing for creative work, after a long day
The pattern is 4 · 7 · 8, which is in for four, hold for seven, out for eight.
Breathe →3-minute grounding meditation for self-doubt, in the morning
For the times in the morning when self-doubt takes up more room than you would like — 3 minutes, grounding.
Begin →Gratitude for waking up: 10 minutes, on a train
10 minutes to meet waking up with less of a fight. A gratitude practice, on a train.
Begin →The house after everyone is asleep, when you need to stop thinking about work — for an overtired night
The hour when the house belongs to nobody and nothing needs doing.
Settle in →A 50-minute block for planning, with a fan or air conditioner, when you want to be left alone
A single 50-minute block for planning — on paper, so you can see it.
Start the block →5-7 breathing for Monday morning, when you are waiting for something
The pattern is 5 · 7, which is five in, seven out.
Breathe →7-minute guided self-compassion practice for tight shoulders and neck — on a lunch break
For the times on a lunch break when tight shoulders and neck takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, self-compassion.
Begin →Breathing meditation for gratitude (15 min), in the queue
15 minutes to meet gratitude with less of a fight. A breathing practice, in the queue.
Begin →The night train (a sleep story), on a low-energy afternoon — for jet lag
Somewhere between two cities, in the dark, where nobody needs anything from you.
Settle in →A 90-minute block for writing, with a washing machine, if you are new to this
A single 90-minute block for writing — the first draft, not the good version.
Start the block →2-1-4 breathing: 12 rounds for heavy days, when you are too tired to try hard
The pattern is 2 · 1 · 4, which is short in, short hold, long out — the smallest useful dose.
Breathe →Public speaking fear: 12-minute noting meditation, at the end of the workday
For the times at the end of the workday when public speaking fear takes up more room than you would like — 12 minutes, noting.
Begin →Tired eyes: 3-minute softening meditation, in the hour before an interview
3 minutes to meet tired eyes with less of a fight. A softening practice, in the hour before an interview.
Begin →Do you actually need eight glasses of water, for people who have tried everything, when the house is busy
Eight glasses is a number with no particular evidence behind it. Thirst and urine colour are better guides.
Read →45-minute focus session for language practice with café murmur, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
45 minutes on language practice — repetition rather than novelty. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Double-inhale sigh: 12 rounds for a noisy room, when you are not sure this will work
3 · 8 breathing: two inhales stacked together, then everything out through the mouth.
Breathe →20-minute body scan meditation for financial stress, during the evening wind-down
When financial stress shows up during the evening wind-down, this 20-minute body scan session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →7-minute self-compassion meditation for grief, before public speaking
7 minutes to meet grief with less of a fight. A self-compassion practice, before public speaking.
Begin →Breathing exercises that help during panic — the long answer, briefly, when the weather has kept you inside
Deep breathing is the wrong advice during panic. What helps is a longer exhale and something concrete to count.
Read →50-minute focus session for studying with a library, when you feel restless rather than tired
50 minutes on studying — reading and notes, not highlighting. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.