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.

Meditation10 min

10-minute letting go meditation for irritability, before sleep

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 10 minutes of letting go for irritability, before sleep.

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Meditation3 min

3-minute breathing meditation for stress, on a break

Slow, spoken guidance for stress. A breathing session you can do on a break.

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Guide3 min read

When to drink coffee so it does not ruin your sleep — the version for a bad week, when you have woken up too early

Caffeine has a long tail. The cup at 3pm is still in your system at 9pm, whether you feel it or not.

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Focus25 min

Deep work timer: 25 minutes of coding (distant traffic), when the day has been loud

One block of coding with distant traffic underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

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Breathing2 min

How to use 5-7 breathing for anxious moments, when you have been on screens all day

Rounds of 5 · 7, with the counting done for you.

Breathe →
Meditation15 min

15-minute guided gratitude practice for study focus — on a slow Sunday

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 15 minutes of gratitude for study focus, on a slow Sunday.

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Meditation7 min

7-minute guided grounding practice for insomnia — at the airport

Slow, spoken guidance for insomnia. A grounding session you can do at the airport.

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Guide3 min read

Using your body to come down after something stressful — explained without jargon, when the day has been loud

After a stress response, the body is left with fuel it did not use. Some of the recovery is physical, not mental.

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Focus50 min

Deep work timer: 50 minutes of practising an instrument (a fan or air conditioner), when you feel fine and want to stay that way

One block of practising an instrument with a fan or air conditioner underneath. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.

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Breathing2 min

How to use 2-1-4 breathing for a grey day, when you have woken up too early

Rounds of 2 · 1 · 4, with the counting done for you.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Breathing for shame: 5 minutes, first thing

For the times first thing when shame takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, breathing.

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Meditation12 min

Fatigue: 12-minute letting go meditation, on a train journey

Slow, spoken guidance for fatigue. A letting go session you can do on a train journey.

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Guide3 min read

Do you actually need eight glasses of water — what actually works, when you feel fine and want to stay that way

Eight glasses is a number with no particular evidence behind it. Thirst and urine colour are better guides.

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Focus90 min

Deep work timer: 90 minutes of exam revision (a washing machine), if you have five quiet minutes

One block of exam revision with a washing machine underneath. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.

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Breathing2 min

How to use Double-inhale sigh for a hot day, when the day has been loud

Rounds of 3 · 8, with the counting done for you.

Breathe →
Meditation10 min

Softening meditation for tension headaches (10 min), at lunch

For the times at lunch when tension headaches takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, softening.

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Meditation20 min

20-minute noting meditation for contentment, in a waiting room

Slow, spoken guidance for contentment. A noting session you can do in a waiting room.

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Guide3 min read

Breathing exercises that help during panic — a short, honest guide, if you have five quiet minutes

Deep breathing is the wrong advice during panic. What helps is a longer exhale and something concrete to count.

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Focus45 min

45-minute focus block for data work — café murmur, when you have tried everything else

A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to work through the numbers.

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Breathing2 min

Beginner box breath (2 · 2 · 2 · 2) for the end of the working day, when you feel fine and want to stay that way

Rounds of 2 · 2 · 2 · 2, with the counting done for you.

Breathe →
Meditation15 min

Meditation for worry: 15-minute self-compassion session, on the way out of work

For the times on the way out of work when worry takes up more room than you would like — 15 minutes, self-compassion.

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Meditation5 min

Meditation for a racing mind: 5-minute body scan session, on exam day

Slow, spoken guidance for a racing mind. A body scan session you can do on exam day.

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Guide3 min read

A morning routine that survives a bad night — a straightforward guide, when you have tried everything else

Most morning routines are designed for people who slept well. Here is a version that works on four hours.

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Focus50 min

50-minute focus block for editing — a library, when you have just finished work

A timer, a short prep list, and 50 minutes to cut and tighten.

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Breathing3 min

Soft 4-7-8 breath (4 · 4 · 8) for the hours after people leave, if you have five quiet minutes

Rounds of 4 · 4 · 8, with the counting done for you.

Breathe →
Meditation3 min

3-minute noting meditation for frustration, during the evening wind-down

For the times during the evening wind-down when frustration takes up more room than you would like — 3 minutes, noting.

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Meditation10 min

Softening for heartbreak: 10 minutes, before a presentation

10 minutes to meet heartbreak with less of a fight. A softening practice, before a presentation.

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Guide3 min read

Why anxiety shows up in your body first, when you are waiting for something

Racing heart, tight chest, churning stomach. Understanding the mechanism makes the symptoms less frightening.

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Focus90 min

90-minute focus block for brainstorming — distant traffic, before you go back to something hard

A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to generate options.

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Breathing4 min

7-11 breath (7 · 11) for a lonely evening, when you have tried everything else

Simple counts — 7 · 11 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →