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.

Breathing2 min

How to use Coherent 5-5 breathing for a long illness, if you are tired of apps

A five seconds in, five seconds out — about six breaths a minute pattern, counted for you on screen.

Breathe →
Meditation7 min

Grounding for agitation: 7 minutes, between calls

7 minutes to meet agitation with less of a fight. A grounding practice, between calls.

Begin →
Meditation15 min

Work stress: 15-minute gratitude meditation, when it all piles up

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 15 minutes of gratitude for work stress, when it all piles up.

Begin →
Focus45 min

A 45-minute block for data work, with rain on a window, when you only have a few minutes

A single 45-minute block for data work — checking as you go.

Start the block →
Breathing3 min

6-2-6-2 breath (6 · 2 · 6 · 2) for bedtime, if you have done this a hundred times

A even and rhythmic, with brief holds on both sides pattern, counted for you on screen.

Breathe →
Meditation12 min

Letting go meditation for waking up (12 min), on the train

12 minutes to meet waking up with less of a fight. A letting go practice, on the train.

Begin →
Meditation3 min

Breathing meditation for waking at 3am (3 min), as sleep prep

For the times as sleep prep when waking at 3am takes up more room than you would like — 3 minutes, breathing.

Begin →
Focus50 min

A 50-minute block for editing, with a fireplace, when you want something simple

A single 50-minute block for editing — the boring pass that makes it readable.

Start the block →
Breathing3 min

Slow box breath (5 · 5 · 5 · 5) for travel days, when you have already had a long week

A a wider square, once four feels comfortable pattern, counted for you on screen.

Breathe →
Meditation20 min

Meditation for feeling not good enough: 20-minute gratitude session, before a busy day

20 minutes to meet feeling not good enough with less of a fight. A gratitude practice, before a busy day.

Begin →
Meditation7 min

Meditation for exhaustion: 7-minute grounding session, on a rest day

For the times on a rest day when exhaustion takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, grounding.

Begin →
Focus90 min

A 90-minute block for brainstorming, with vinyl crackle, when you want to finish something

A single 90-minute block for brainstorming — quantity before quality.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

4-6 breath (4 · 6) for jet lag, on a low-energy afternoon

The pattern is 4 · 6, which is in for four, out for six.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

5-minute body scan meditation for tired eyes, in the late afternoon

5 minutes to meet tired eyes with less of a fight. A body scan practice, in the late afternoon.

Begin →
Meditation15 min

Self-compassion for being present: 15 minutes, early on

For the times early on when being present takes up more room than you would like — 15 minutes, self-compassion.

Begin →
Focus45 min

45-minute focus session for research with a fan or air conditioner, when you have tried everything else

45 minutes on research — with a note file open beside you. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

4-2-6 breathing — 4 · 2 · 6 — for heated moments, when you cannot concentrate on anything else

The pattern is 4 · 2 · 6, which is a short hold in the middle, a long way out.

Breathe →
Meditation10 min

10-minute guided softening practice for grief — during a break

10 minutes to meet grief with less of a fight. A softening practice, during a break.

Begin →
Meditation3 min

3-minute guided noting practice for health anxiety — in the afternoon slump

For the times in the afternoon slump when health anxiety takes up more room than you would like — 3 minutes, noting.

Begin →
Focus50 min

50-minute focus session for applications and forms with distant thunder, when you have just finished work

50 minutes on applications and forms — dull but finite. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Coherent 6-6 breathing — 6 · 6 — for a reset, when you have been on screens all day

The pattern is 6 · 6, which is six and six, the slower end of coherent breathing.

Breathe →
Meditation15 min

Overwhelm: 15-minute self-compassion meditation, on a plane

A 15-minute self-compassion session for overwhelm, on a plane. No app, no account — press start.

Begin →
Meditation7 min

Work stress: 7-minute body scan meditation, after work

For the times after work when work stress takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, body scan.

Begin →
Focus25 min

Deep work timer: 25 minutes of planning (café murmur), before you go back to something hard

One block of planning with café murmur underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Quick 2-1-2-1 breathing — 2 · 1 · 2 · 1 — for a cold morning, when you have woken up too early

The pattern is 2 · 1 · 2 · 1, which is a brisk rhythm for when you need to be awake.

Breathe →
Meditation3 min

Noting meditation for deep work (3 min), on the road

A 3-minute noting session for deep work, on the road. No app, no account — press start.

Begin →
Meditation12 min

12-minute softening meditation for restlessness at night, during the evening wind-down

For the times during the evening wind-down when restlessness at night takes up more room than you would like — 12 minutes, softening.

Begin →
Focus45 min

Deep work timer: 45 minutes of writing (a library), when you want to be left alone

One block of writing with a library underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.

Start the block →
Breathing3 min

Uneven box breathing for a long wait, when you need something unremarkable

The pattern is 4 · 4 · 6 · 2, which is a square with one long side.

Breathe →
Meditation7 min

Meditation for feeling not good enough: 7-minute body scan session, before an appointment

A 7-minute body scan session for feeling not good enough, before an appointment. No app, no account — press start.

Begin →