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.
Meditation for panic: 15-minute self-compassion session, during the evening wind-down
15 minutes to meet panic with less of a fight. A self-compassion practice, during the evening wind-down.
Begin →Meditation for tight shoulders and neck: 5-minute body scan session, in the hour before an exam
Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 5 minutes of body scan for tight shoulders and neck, in the hour before an exam.
Begin →Preparing for a conversation you are dreading, in plain terms, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
Most dread is about the first thirty seconds, not the conversation. Prepare for those and the rest gets easier.
Read →A boat at anchor — a slow story for the end of the day, when you are on your own — for jet lag
A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.
Settle in →90-minute studying session with a fan or air conditioner and a timer, when you are not in the mood
Sit down, press start, and take in the material for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Coherent 6-6 breathing for Sunday evening, when the weather has kept you inside
A six and six, the slower end of coherent breathing pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →3-minute noting meditation for loneliness, before bed
3 minutes to meet loneliness with less of a fight. A noting practice, before bed.
Begin →Softening for public speaking fear: 10 minutes, before a hard conversation
Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 10 minutes of softening for public speaking fear, before a hard conversation.
Begin →When to drink coffee so it does not ruin your sleep — the essentials, when you feel restless rather than tired
Caffeine has a long tail. The cup at 3pm is still in your system at 9pm, whether you feel it or not.
Read →A hotel room somewhere, when you are somewhere noisy — for a night when you do not want to think
A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.
Settle in →A 25-minute block for drawing, with distant thunder, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
A single 25-minute block for drawing — without correcting anything yet.
Start the block →Quick 2-1-2-1 breathing for a stolen moment of caregiving, when you are short on time
A a brisk rhythm for when you need to be awake pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →7-minute guided body scan practice for falling asleep — late at night
7 minutes to meet falling asleep with less of a fight. A body scan practice, late at night.
Begin →Self-compassion meditation for deadline pressure (15 min), after a fight
Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 15 minutes of self-compassion for deadline pressure, after a fight.
Begin →Using your body to come down after something stressful — what to expect, when nothing else has worked today
After a stress response, the body is left with fuel it did not use. Some of the recovery is physical, not mental.
Read →Sleep story: a garden in the rain, when the day has been loud — for waking too early
Steady rain on leaves, and a chair under an awning that stays dry.
Settle in →A 50-minute block for reading, with café murmur, when you feel restless rather than tired
A single 50-minute block for reading — pages rather than paragraphs.
Start the block →Uneven box breathing: 8 rounds for anxious moments, on a day that started badly
A a square with one long side pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →Low energy: 12-minute softening meditation, when you wake at 3am
12 minutes to meet low energy with less of a fight. A softening practice, when you wake at 3am.
Begin →Better sleep: 3-minute noting meditation, after a shock
For the times after a shock when better sleep takes up more room than you would like — 3 minutes, noting.
Begin →Do you actually need eight glasses of water — the version that fits a real week, when you are on your own
Eight glasses is a number with no particular evidence behind it. Thirst and urine colour are better guides.
Read →A kitchen late at night — a slow story for the end of the day, when you are at home and cannot settle — for the hours after a late shift
One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.
Settle in →A 90-minute block for thesis writing, with a fireplace, when nothing else has worked today
A single 90-minute block for thesis writing — sections, not the whole thing.
Start the block →4-8 breathing: 8 rounds for a grey day, when you are at home and cannot settle
A in for four, out for eight pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →20-minute gratitude meditation for appreciation, at your desk
20 minutes to meet appreciation with less of a fight. A gratitude practice, at your desk.
Begin →7-minute body scan meditation for the inner critic, after a bad day
For the times after a bad day when the inner critic takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, body scan.
Begin →Breathing exercises that help during panic — what actually helps, when you have already had a long week
Deep breathing is the wrong advice during panic. What helps is a longer exhale and something concrete to count.
Read →A lake before dawn (a sleep story), when you want to be left alone — for a racing mind
Flat water, no wind, and light that has not arrived yet.
Settle in →25-minute focus session for design work with distant traffic, if you have done this a hundred times
25 minutes on design work — rough versions first. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →5-2-7 breathing: 8 rounds for a hot day, after eating too much
The pattern is 5 · 2 · 7, which is five, a brief hold, then seven out.
Breathe →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.