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

Grief: 7-minute softening meditation, late at night

A 7-minute softening session for grief, late at night. No app, no account — press start.

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Guide3 min read

Preparing for a conversation you are dreading — the basics, done properly, when you are too tired to try hard

Most dread is about the first thirty seconds, not the conversation. Prepare for those and the rest gets easier.

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Sleep20 min

A garden in the rain, when you have more time than usual — for the hours after a late shift

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

Settle in →
Focus90 min

90-minute focus block for applications and forms — distant thunder, when your attention is scattered

A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to get through the questions.

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Breathing2 min

4-7-8 breathing exercise for travel days — when your attention is scattered

The pattern is 4 · 7 · 8, which is in for four, hold for seven, out for eight.

Breathe →
Meditation3 min

Body scan meditation for focus (3 min), before an exam

Slow, spoken guidance for focus. A body scan session you can do before an exam.

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Meditation12 min

12-minute self-compassion meditation for overwhelm, at 3am

A 12-minute self-compassion session for overwhelm, at 3am. No app, no account — press start.

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Guide3 min read

When to drink coffee so it does not ruin your sleep — a short read, when you are not sure this will work

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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Sleep10 min

Sleep story: a kitchen late at night, when the house is busy — for a racing mind

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

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Focus45 min

Focus session for planning: 45 minutes, café murmur, when you have been meaning to start

45 minutes of planning, with café murmur and a note on what to do when you drift.

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Breathing2 min

5-7 breathing exercise for jet lag — when you have been meaning to start

The pattern is 5 · 7, which is five in, seven out.

Breathe →
Meditation7 min

Meditation for the inner critic: 7-minute softening session, before you talk

Slow, spoken guidance for the inner critic. A softening session you can do before you talk.

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Meditation20 min

20-minute guided noting practice for deep work — in the office

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 20 minutes of noting for deep work, in the office.

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Guide3 min read

Using your body to come down after something stressful — the long answer, briefly, when you are not in the mood

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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Sleep12 min

A lake before dawn — a slow story for the end of the day, if you have five quiet minutes — for a restless night

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

Settle in →
Focus50 min

Focus session for writing: 50 minutes, a library, before something difficult

50 minutes of writing, with a library and a note on what to do when you drift.

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Breathing2 min

How to use 2-1-4 breathing for heated moments, before something difficult

The pattern is 2 · 1 · 4, which is short in, short hold, long out — the smallest useful dose.

Breathe →
Meditation12 min

Gratitude for physical tension: 12 minutes, before a difficult talk

Slow, spoken guidance for physical tension. A gratitude session you can do before a difficult talk.

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Meditation5 min

Body scan for feeling not good enough: 5 minutes, on a meeting break

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 5 minutes of body scan for feeling not good enough, on a meeting break.

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Sleep20 min

The house after everyone is asleep, if you are tired of apps — for winding down

The hour when the house belongs to nobody and nothing needs doing.

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Focus90 min

Focus session for language practice: 90 minutes, distant traffic, when the house is busy

90 minutes of language practice, with distant traffic and a note on what to do when you drift.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

How to use Double-inhale sigh for a reset, when the house is busy

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

Breathe →
Meditation20 min

Breathing meditation for public speaking fear (20 min), after bad news

Slow, spoken guidance for public speaking fear. A breathing session you can do after bad news.

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Meditation10 min

Letting go meditation for restless legs (10 min), on your commute

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 10 minutes of letting go for restless legs, on your commute.

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Sleep10 min

Sleep story: the night train, when you are somewhere unfamiliar — for an overtired night

Somewhere between two cities, in the dark, where nobody needs anything from you.

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Focus45 min

45-minute studying session with forest at dusk and a timer, when the weather has kept you inside

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

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

How to use Beginner box breathing for days when everything is too much, when the weather has kept you inside

2 · 2 · 2 · 2 breathing: the easiest version of the square.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Deadline pressure: 5-minute grounding meditation, when nothing went right

Slow, spoken guidance for deadline pressure. A grounding session you can do when nothing went right.

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Meditation15 min

Meditation for anticipatory anxiety: 15-minute gratitude session, in the late afternoon

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 15 minutes of gratitude for anticipatory anxiety, in the late afternoon.

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Sleep12 min

A caravan by the sea — a slow story for the end of the day, if you are doing this instead of scrolling — for a restless night

Thin walls, wind outside, and the sound of shingle about fifty metres away.

Settle in →