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.
Deep work timer: 90 minutes of admin and email (distant traffic), when you are cold and want to be warm
One block of admin and email with distant traffic underneath. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →How to use Uneven box breathing for exam nerves, when you have been putting it off
Simple counts — 4 · 4 · 6 · 2 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →2-1-4 breathing for Friday evening, when you are cold and want to be warm
Simple counts — 2 · 1 · 4 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Letting go for stress: 3 minutes, after a horrible day
3 minutes to meet stress with less of a fight. A letting go practice, after a horrible day.
Begin →Overthinking: 12-minute breathing meditation, at the end of the day
For the times at the end of the day when overthinking takes up more room than you would like — 12 minutes, breathing.
Begin →Do you actually need eight glasses of water — a plain-language guide, when you want something simple
Eight glasses is a number with no particular evidence behind it. Thirst and urine colour are better guides.
Read →A library at closing time, when you have already had a long week — for a restless night
The last hour, when the lights go down row by row.
Settle in →45-minute focus block for portfolio work — a fan or air conditioner, when you only have a few minutes
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to finish the pieces.
Start the block →4-8 breath (4 · 8) for the morning, if you are sceptical about all of this
Simple counts — 4 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Double-inhale sigh: 5 rounds for physical discomfort, when you only have a few minutes
Simple counts — 3 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Gratitude meditation for insomnia (7 min), when you are overwhelmed
7 minutes to meet insomnia with less of a fight. A gratitude practice, when you are overwhelmed.
Begin →20-minute grounding meditation for anger, at the weekend
For the times at the weekend when anger takes up more room than you would like — 20 minutes, grounding.
Begin →Breathing exercises that help during panic — what nobody tells you, when you want to finish something
Deep breathing is the wrong advice during panic. What helps is a longer exhale and something concrete to count.
Read →A boat at anchor (a sleep story), before something difficult — for winding down
A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.
Settle in →50-minute focus block for problem solving — a washing machine, when you want something simple
A timer, a short prep list, and 50 minutes to stay with the difficulty.
Start the block →5-2-7 breath (5 · 2 · 7) for a study session, when you are cold and want to be warm
Simple counts — 5 · 2 · 7 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Beginner box breathing: 5 rounds for the early months, when you want something simple
Simple counts — 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Meditation for the afternoon slump: 12-minute breathing session, before bedtime
12 minutes to meet the afternoon slump with less of a fight. A breathing practice, before bedtime.
Begin →Meditation for concentration: 5-minute letting go session, in a five-minute break
For the times in a five-minute break when concentration takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, letting go.
Begin →A morning routine that survives a bad night — the basics, done properly, when you are doing this for the first time
Most morning routines are designed for people who slept well. Here is a version that works on four hours.
Read →A hotel room somewhere — a slow story for the end of the day, after a difficult conversation — for an overtired night
A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.
Settle in →Focus session for coding: 25 minutes, brown noise, when you want to finish something
25 minutes of coding, with brown noise and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Coherent 4-4 breath (4 · 4) for a night shift, when you only have a few minutes
A four and four, if five feels like a stretch pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →Softening for mindfulness: 20 minutes, on a day off
20 minutes to meet mindfulness with less of a fight. A softening practice, on a day off.
Begin →Gratitude for self-doubt: 10 minutes, in the air
For the times in the air when self-doubt takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, gratitude.
Begin →Why anxiety shows up in your body first — a short read, if you are doing this in the middle of the day
Racing heart, tight chest, churning stomach. Understanding the mechanism makes the symptoms less frightening.
Read →A garden in the rain, when you are cold and want to be warm — for jet lag
Steady rain on leaves, and a chair under an awning that stays dry.
Settle in →Focus session for practising an instrument: 45 minutes, a library, when you are doing this for the first time
45 minutes of practising an instrument, with a library and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Box breathing — 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 — for bedtime, when you want something simple
A four equal sides, like tracing a square pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →7-minute guided self-compassion practice for a racing mind — at lunch
A 7-minute self-compassion session for a racing mind, at lunch. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.