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.

Focus50 min

50-minute editing session with distant traffic and a timer, when you have tried everything else

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

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Breathing2 min

Slow box breath (5 · 5 · 5 · 5) for bedtime, when you have tried everything else

A a wider square, once four feels comfortable pattern, counted for you on screen.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Softening meditation for worry (5 min), after a long day

Slow, spoken guidance for worry. A softening session you can do after a long day.

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Meditation15 min

15-minute noting meditation for panic, in the morning

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 15 minutes of noting for panic, in the morning.

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Focus25 min

A 25-minute block for brainstorming, with a fan or air conditioner, when you have just finished work

A single 25-minute block for brainstorming — quantity before quality.

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Breathing2 min

4-6 breath (4 · 6) for a hospital waiting room, when you have just finished work

The pattern is 4 · 6, which is in for four, out for six.

Breathe →
Meditation10 min

Meditation for frustration: 10-minute self-compassion session, on a Sunday

Slow, spoken guidance for frustration. A self-compassion session you can do on a Sunday.

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Meditation3 min

Meditation for heartbreak: 3-minute body scan session, on a lunch break

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 3 minutes of body scan for heartbreak, on a lunch break.

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Focus45 min

A 45-minute block for research, with a washing machine, before you go back to something hard

A single 45-minute block for research — with a note file open beside you.

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Breathing2 min

4-2-6 breath (4 · 2 · 6) for the morning after, before you go back to something hard

The pattern is 4 · 2 · 6, which is a short hold in the middle, a long way out.

Breathe →
Meditation15 min

Noting for brain fog: 15 minutes, during a break

15 minutes to meet brain fog with less of a fight. A noting practice, during a break.

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Meditation7 min

Softening for falling asleep: 7 minutes, in the afternoon slump

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 7 minutes of softening for falling asleep, in the afternoon slump.

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Focus90 min

A 90-minute block for applications and forms, with café murmur, when you want to be left alone

A single 90-minute block for applications and forms — dull but finite.

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Breathing2 min

Coherent 6-6 breathing — 6 · 6 — for anxious moments, when you want to be left alone

The pattern is 6 · 6, which is six and six, the slower end of coherent breathing.

Breathe →
Meditation3 min

3-minute guided body scan practice for guilt — on a plane

3 minutes to meet guilt with less of a fight. A body scan practice, on a plane.

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Meditation12 min

Self-compassion meditation for low energy (12 min), after work

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 12 minutes of self-compassion for low energy, after work.

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Focus25 min

25-minute focus session for planning with a library, when you are not in the mood

25 minutes on planning — on paper, so you can see it. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

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Breathing2 min

Quick 2-1-2-1 breathing — 2 · 1 · 2 · 1 — for a grey day, if you are new to this

The pattern is 2 · 1 · 2 · 1, which is a brisk rhythm for when you need to be awake.

Breathe →
Meditation7 min

Back pain and tension: 7-minute letting go meditation, on the road

7 minutes to meet back pain and tension with less of a fight. A letting go practice, on the road.

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Meditation20 min

Meditation for contentment: 20-minute breathing session, during the evening wind-down

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 20 minutes of breathing for contentment, during the evening wind-down.

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Focus45 min

45-minute focus session for writing with plain quiet, when you are somewhere unfamiliar

45 minutes on writing — the first draft, not the good version. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.

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Breathing2 min

Uneven box breathing — 4 · 4 · 6 · 2 — for a cold morning, when your attention is scattered

The pattern is 4 · 4 · 6 · 2, which is a square with one long side.

Breathe →
Meditation12 min

12-minute gratitude meditation for overthinking, in the hour before an interview

12 minutes to meet overthinking with less of a fight. A gratitude practice, in the hour before an interview.

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Meditation5 min

5-minute grounding meditation for panic, at night

For the times at night when panic takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, grounding.

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Sleep15 min

Sleep story: a hotel room somewhere, if you are new to this — for winding down

A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.

Settle in →
Focus90 min

90-minute focus session for language practice with forest at dusk, when you feel restless rather than tired

90 minutes on language practice — repetition rather than novelty. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.

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Breathing2 min

Double-inhale sigh exercise for days when everything is too much — when you are not in the mood

3 · 8 breathing: two inhales stacked together, then everything out through the mouth.

Breathe →
Breathing2 min

4-8 breathing for the end of the working day, when you feel restless rather than tired

4 · 8 breathing: in for four, out for eight.

Breathe →
Meditation20 min

20-minute guided breathing practice for frustration — before an exam

20 minutes to meet frustration with less of a fight. A breathing practice, before an exam.

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Meditation10 min

10-minute guided letting go practice for loneliness — at 3am

For the times at 3am when loneliness takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, letting go.

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