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.

Meditation7 min

7-minute guided body scan practice for study focus — before bed

For the times before bed when study focus takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, body scan.

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Meditation15 min

Self-compassion meditation for falling asleep (15 min), before a hard conversation

15 minutes to meet falling asleep with less of a fight. A self-compassion practice, before a hard conversation.

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Guide3 min read

Tired eyes after a long day of screens — a practical guide, when you are too tired to try hard

Eye strain is mostly about distance and blinking, not about blue light glasses.

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Focus45 min

Focus session for research: 45 minutes, forest at dusk, when you want to be left alone

45 minutes of research, with forest at dusk and a note on what to do when you drift.

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Breathing2 min

Coherent 5-5 breathing — 5 · 5 — for a hard conversation, when you have just finished work

Simple counts — 5 · 5 — and a circle that keeps time.

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Meditation12 min

Guilt: 12-minute softening meditation, late at night

For the times late at night when guilt takes up more room than you would like — 12 minutes, softening.

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Meditation3 min

Low energy: 3-minute noting meditation, after a fight

3 minutes to meet low energy with less of a fight. A noting practice, after a fight.

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Guide3 min read

Why your weekend does not feel like rest — the short version, when you are not sure this will work

Rest is not the absence of work. If the weekend is full of decisions and obligations, it does not restore anything.

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Focus50 min

Focus session for applications and forms: 50 minutes, a washing machine, if you are new to this

50 minutes of applications and forms, with a washing machine and a note on what to do when you drift.

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Breathing3 min

6-2-6-2 breathing — 6 · 2 · 6 · 2 — for a big decision, before you go back to something hard

Simple counts — 6 · 2 · 6 · 2 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation20 min

20-minute gratitude meditation for back pain and tension, when you wake at 3am

For the times when you wake at 3am when back pain and tension takes up more room than you would like — 20 minutes, gratitude.

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Meditation7 min

7-minute grounding meditation for contentment, after a shock

7 minutes to meet contentment with less of a fight. A grounding practice, after a shock.

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Guide3 min read

How to get through the first hour without your phone, in the order that helps, when you are not in the mood

The first hour sets the tone for attention all day. You do not need willpower — you need the phone to be somewhere else.

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Focus25 min

25-minute planning session with brown noise and a timer, when your attention is scattered

Sit down, press start, and decide what happens when for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

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Breathing4 min

Slow box breathing — 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 — for being unwell, when you want to be left alone

Simple counts — 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Meditation for worry: 5-minute breathing session, between meetings

When worry shows up between meetings, this 5-minute breathing session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Meditation12 min

12-minute guided letting go practice for panic — when you are overwhelmed

12 minutes to meet panic with less of a fight. A letting go practice, when you are overwhelmed.

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Guide3 min read

How to study when you cannot concentrate — an honest guide, when you are somewhere unfamiliar

Concentration is usually a problem of task size, not willpower. Shrink the task until starting feels almost silly.

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Focus45 min

45-minute writing session with a stream and a timer, when you have been meaning to start

Sit down, press start, and get words down for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.

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Breathing2 min

4-6 breathing for a ten-minute window, when you are not in the mood

Simple counts — 4 · 6 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation10 min

Grounding for frustration: 10 minutes, on the way in

When frustration shows up on the way in, this 10-minute grounding session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Meditation20 min

Loneliness: 20-minute gratitude meditation, before bedtime

20 minutes to meet loneliness with less of a fight. A gratitude practice, before bedtime.

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Sleep12 min

A kitchen late at night, when you are not sure this will work — for an overtired night

One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.

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Focus50 min

50-minute language practice session with plain quiet and a timer, before something difficult

Sit down, press start, and practise out loud for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.

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Breathing2 min

4-2-6 breathing for the early months, when you are somewhere unfamiliar

A a short hold in the middle, a long way out pattern, counted for you on screen.

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Meditation15 min

Letting go meditation for brain fog (15 min), before work

When brain fog shows up before work, this 15-minute letting go session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Meditation5 min

Breathing meditation for falling asleep (5 min), on a day off

5 minutes to meet falling asleep with less of a fight. A breathing practice, on a day off.

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Sleep15 min

A lake before dawn (a sleep story), if you are doing this in the middle of the day — for jet lag

Flat water, no wind, and light that has not arrived yet.

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Focus25 min

A 25-minute block for studying, with a train carriage, when the house is busy

A single 25-minute block for studying — reading and notes, not highlighting.

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Breathing2 min

Coherent 6-6 breathing: 10 rounds for the commute, when you feel restless rather than tired

A six and six, the slower end of coherent breathing pattern, counted for you on screen.

Breathe →