All focus sessions
The complete list of focus sessions on SoftlyStill — 1,260 pieces, newest first, 30 to a page.
90-minute focus block for coding — vinyl crackle, on a low-energy afternoon
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to work through the problem.
Start the block →Focus session for practising an instrument: 45 minutes, white noise, when you cannot concentrate on anything else
45 minutes of practising an instrument, with white noise and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for exam revision: 50 minutes, distant thunder, when you have been on screens all day
50 minutes of exam revision, with distant thunder and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →25-minute data work session with rain on a window and a timer, when you have woken up too early
Sit down, press start, and work through the numbers for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →45-minute editing session with a fireplace and a timer, when the day has been loud
Sit down, press start, and cut and tighten for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute brainstorming session with vinyl crackle and a timer, when you feel fine and want to stay that way
Sit down, press start, and generate options for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →A 25-minute block for research, with a fan or air conditioner, if you have five quiet minutes
A single 25-minute block for research — with a note file open beside you.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for applications and forms, with distant thunder, when you have tried everything else
A single 45-minute block for applications and forms — dull but finite.
Start the block →A 90-minute block for planning, with café murmur, when you have just finished work
A single 90-minute block for planning — on paper, so you can see it.
Start the block →25-minute focus session for writing with a library, when you are too tired to try hard
25 minutes on writing — the first draft, not the good version. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for language practice with distant traffic, when you are not sure this will work
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 →90-minute focus session for studying with forest at dusk, when you are not in the mood
90 minutes on studying — reading and notes, not highlighting. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 25 minutes of drawing (a washing machine), when you are somewhere unfamiliar
One block of drawing with a washing machine underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 50 minutes of reading (brown noise), when you feel restless rather than tired
One block of reading with brown noise underneath. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 90 minutes of thesis writing (a library), when nothing else has worked today
One block of thesis writing with a library underneath. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for design work — plain quiet, when you are on your own
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to make decisions.
Start the block →50-minute focus block for decluttering — forest at dusk, if you are fitting this around other people
A timer, a short prep list, and 50 minutes to move things out.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for admin and email — birds at dawn, when you have more time than usual
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to clear the queue.
Start the block →Focus session for portfolio work: 45 minutes, brown noise, when you have been putting it off
45 minutes of portfolio work, with brown noise and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for problem solving: 50 minutes, a stream, if you are sceptical about all of this
50 minutes of problem solving, with a stream and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →25-minute coding session with rain on a window and a timer, when you are cold and want to be warm
Sit down, press start, and work through the problem for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →45-minute practising an instrument session with a train carriage and a timer, when you only have a few minutes
Sit down, press start, and drill the hard bars for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute exam revision session with vinyl crackle and a timer, when you want something simple
Sit down, press start, and test yourself for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →A 25-minute block for data work, with white noise, when you want to finish something
A single 25-minute block for data work — checking as you go.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for editing, with distant thunder, when you are doing this for the first time
A single 45-minute block for editing — the boring pass that makes it readable.
Start the block →A 90-minute block for brainstorming, with rain on a window, if you are doing this in the middle of the day
A single 90-minute block for brainstorming — quantity before quality.
Start the block →25-minute focus session for research with a fireplace, before you go back to something hard
25 minutes on research — with a note file open beside you. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for applications and forms with vinyl crackle, when you want to be left alone
45 minutes on applications and forms — dull but finite. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →90-minute focus session for planning with a fan or air conditioner, if you are new to this
90 minutes on planning — on paper, so you can see it. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 25 minutes of writing (a washing machine), when your attention is scattered
One block of writing with a washing machine underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.