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.

Breathing3 min

How to use 5-2-7 breathing for bedtime, if you are tired of apps

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

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Noting for a racing mind: 5 minutes, when it all piles up

For the times when it all piles up when a racing mind takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, noting.

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Meditation15 min

Jaw tension: 15-minute softening meditation, in the late afternoon

Slow, spoken guidance for jaw tension. A softening session you can do in the late afternoon.

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Focus25 min

Deep work timer: 25 minutes of decluttering (a library), on a low-energy afternoon

One block of decluttering with a library underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

How to use Coherent 4-4 breathing for a hospital waiting room, if you have done this a hundred times

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

Breathe →
Meditation10 min

Body scan meditation for stress (10 min), as sleep prep

For the times as sleep prep when stress takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, body scan.

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Meditation3 min

Self-compassion meditation for fear of flying (3 min), during a break

3 minutes to meet fear of flying with less of a fight. A self-compassion practice, during a break.

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Focus45 min

Deep work timer: 45 minutes of admin and email (plain quiet), when you cannot concentrate on anything else

One block of admin and email with plain quiet underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.

Start the block →
Breathing3 min

How to use Box breathing for jet lag, when you have already had a long week

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

Breathe →
Meditation15 min

Meditation for insomnia: 15-minute softening session, on a rest day

For the times on a rest day when insomnia takes up more room than you would like — 15 minutes, softening.

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Meditation7 min

Meditation for financial stress: 7-minute noting session, on a plane

7 minutes to meet financial stress with less of a fight. A noting practice, on a plane.

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Focus90 min

Deep work timer: 90 minutes of portfolio work (forest at dusk), when you have been on screens all day

One block of portfolio work with forest at dusk underneath. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Tight box breath (4 · 1 · 4 · 1) for heated moments, on a low-energy afternoon

The pattern is 4 · 1 · 4 · 1, which is barely any hold, for people who dislike holding.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

5-minute self-compassion meditation for fatigue, early on

For the times early on when fatigue takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, self-compassion.

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Meditation12 min

Body scan for concentration: 12 minutes, on the road

12 minutes to meet concentration with less of a fight. A body scan practice, on the road.

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Focus25 min

25-minute focus block for problem solving — birds at dawn, when you have woken up too early

A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to stay with the difficulty.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

3-6 breath (3 · 6) for a reset, when you cannot concentrate on anything else

The pattern is 3 · 6, which is a gentle two-to-one ratio.

Breathe →
Meditation10 min

10-minute guided breathing practice for mindfulness — at midday

For the times at midday when mindfulness takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, breathing.

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Meditation20 min

Softening meditation for self-doubt (20 min), before an appointment

20 minutes to meet self-doubt with less of a fight. A softening practice, before an appointment.

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Focus50 min

50-minute focus block for coding — white noise, when the day has been loud

A timer, a short prep list, and 50 minutes to work through the problem.

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Breathing3 min

3-5-7 breath (3 · 5 · 7) for a cold morning, when you have been on screens all day

3 · 5 · 7 breathing: a staircase down: three, five, seven.

Breathe →
Meditation15 min

A racing mind: 15-minute grounding meditation, after work

When a racing mind shows up after work, this 15-minute grounding session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Meditation5 min

Tight shoulders and neck: 5-minute gratitude meditation, before an interview

5 minutes to meet tight shoulders and neck with less of a fight. A gratitude practice, before an interview.

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Focus90 min

90-minute focus block for practising an instrument — a stream, when you feel fine and want to stay that way

A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to drill the hard bars.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Physiological sigh — 2 · 6 — for the end of the working day, when you have woken up too early

2 · 6 breathing: a second short sip of air on top of the first, then a long release.

Breathe →
Meditation3 min

Letting go meditation for heartbreak (3 min), in the evening

When heartbreak shows up in the evening, this 3-minute letting go session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Meditation10 min

10-minute breathing meditation for fear of flying, before you talk

10 minutes to meet fear of flying with less of a fight. A breathing practice, before you talk.

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Focus45 min

Focus session for exam revision: 45 minutes, rain on a window, if you have five quiet minutes

45 minutes of exam revision, with rain on a window and a note on what to do when you drift.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Gentle box breathing — 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 — for creative work, when the day has been loud

3 · 3 · 3 · 3 breathing: a smaller square, for when four counts feels long.

Breathe →
Meditation7 min

Meditation for falling asleep: 7-minute gratitude session, in the hour before sleep

When falling asleep shows up in the hour before sleep, this 7-minute gratitude session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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