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.

Sleep10 min

Sleep story: a fire dying down, when you feel restless rather than tired — for jet lag

The last hour of a fire, when it stops being a fire and becomes warmth.

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Focus90 min

Focus session for reading: 90 minutes, forest at dusk, when you are not sure this will work

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

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Breathing2 min

Uneven box breathing exercise for a stolen moment of caregiving — if you are new to this

A a square with one long side pattern, counted for you on screen.

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Meditation7 min

Concentration: 7-minute gratitude meditation, in the hour before an interview

When concentration shows up in the hour before an interview, this 7-minute gratitude session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Meditation20 min

Meditation for sleep: 20-minute grounding session, at night

A 20-minute grounding session for sleep, at night. No app, no account — press start.

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Guide3 min read

Do you actually need eight glasses of water — a calm, practical approach, when nothing else has worked today

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

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Sleep12 min

A library at closing time — a slow story for the end of the day, when you need something unremarkable — for a night when you do not want to think

The last hour, when the lights go down row by row.

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Focus25 min

25-minute thesis writing session with a washing machine and a timer, when you are not in the mood

Sit down, press start, and add to the pile for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

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Breathing2 min

How to use 4-8 breathing for the middle of the night, when your attention is scattered

A in for four, out for eight pattern, counted for you on screen.

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Meditation12 min

12-minute breathing meditation for perfectionism, before an exam

When perfectionism shows up before an exam, this 12-minute breathing session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Meditation5 min

5-minute letting go meditation for morning energy, at 3am

A 5-minute letting go session for morning energy, at 3am. No app, no account — press start.

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Guide3 min read

Breathing exercises that help during panic, in plain terms, when you are on your own

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

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Sleep20 min

A boat at anchor (a sleep story), if you are sceptical about all of this — for waking too early

A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.

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Focus50 min

50-minute design work session with brown noise and a timer, when you are somewhere unfamiliar

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

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Breathing2 min

How to use 5-2-7 breathing for travel days, when you have been meaning to start

The pattern is 5 · 2 · 7, which is five, a brief hold, then seven out.

Breathe →
Meditation20 min

20-minute guided softening practice for jaw tension — before you talk

Slow, spoken guidance for jaw tension. A softening session you can do before you talk.

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Meditation10 min

10-minute guided noting practice for gratitude — in the office

A 10-minute noting session for gratitude, in the office. No app, no account — press start.

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Guide3 min read

A morning routine that survives a bad night — what actually works, if you are fitting this around other people

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

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Sleep10 min

Sleep story: a hotel room somewhere, when you are short on time — for the hours after a late shift

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

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Focus90 min

90-minute decluttering session with a library and a timer, when you feel restless rather than tired

Sit down, press start, and move things out for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.

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Breathing2 min

How to use Coherent 4-4 breathing for jet lag, before something difficult

The pattern is 4 · 4, which is four and four, if five feels like a stretch.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Self-compassion for fear of flying: 5 minutes, after a conflict

Slow, spoken guidance for fear of flying. A self-compassion session you can do after a conflict.

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Meditation15 min

Anxiety: 15-minute body scan meditation, on the train

A 15-minute body scan session for anxiety, on the train. No app, no account — press start.

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Guide3 min read

Why anxiety shows up in your body first — a short, honest guide, when you have more time than usual

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

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Sleep15 min

A garden in the rain, when you have just finished work — for a racing mind

Steady rain on leaves, and a chair under an awning that stays dry.

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Focus25 min

A 25-minute block for admin and email, with plain quiet, when nothing else has worked today

A single 25-minute block for admin and email — in one pass, without opening new tabs.

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Breathing2 min

Box breath (4 · 4 · 4 · 4) for deep focus, when the house is busy

The pattern is 4 · 4 · 4 · 4, which is four equal sides, like tracing a square.

Breathe →
Meditation10 min

Noting meditation for financial stress (10 min), after bad news

Slow, spoken guidance for financial stress. A noting session you can do after bad news.

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Meditation3 min

Softening meditation for sadness (3 min), before a busy day

A 3-minute softening session for sadness, before a busy day. No app, no account — press start.

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Guide3 min read

Tired eyes after a long day of screens — a straightforward guide, when you have been putting it off

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

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