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.
The inner critic: 20-minute letting go meditation, in the evening
For the times in the evening when the inner critic takes up more room than you would like — 20 minutes, letting go.
Begin →What to do when everything is too much, without the usual nonsense, if you are new to this
Overwhelm is not a lack of capacity. It is too many open loops and no order to them. The fix is unglamorous.
Read →90-minute focus session for research with rain on a window, when you are too tired to try hard
90 minutes on research — with a note file open beside you. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Coherent 5-5 breathing for a reset, when you are too tired to try hard
Simple counts — 5 · 5 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Softening meditation for panic (12 min), on the morning of an interview
A 12-minute softening session for panic, on the morning of an interview. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Noting meditation for physical tension (5 min), at bedtime
For the times at bedtime when physical tension takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, noting.
Begin →When the inner voice will not let something go — the version for a bad week, when your attention is scattered
Self-criticism usually repeats because it is trying to prevent something. Arguing with it does not work. Understanding it sometimes does.
Read →Deep work timer: 25 minutes of applications and forms (a train carriage), when you are not sure this will work
One block of applications and forms with a train carriage underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →6-2-6-2 breathing for a cold morning, when you are not sure this will work
Simple counts — 6 · 2 · 6 · 2 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Meditation for loneliness: 20-minute self-compassion session, in the hour before an exam
A 20-minute self-compassion session for loneliness, in the hour before an exam. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Meditation for public speaking fear: 10-minute body scan session, when you wake at 3am
For the times when you wake at 3am when public speaking fear takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, body scan.
Begin →Working in a noisy place without losing your mind — explained without jargon, when you have been meaning to start
You cannot always control the noise. You can control what your attention does with it, and what you put in your ears.
Read →Deep work timer: 45 minutes of planning (vinyl crackle), when you are not in the mood
One block of planning with vinyl crackle underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Slow box breathing: 5 rounds for a long wait, when you are not in the mood
Simple counts — 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →5-minute noting meditation for sleep, before public speaking
A 5-minute noting session for sleep, before public speaking. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Softening for deadline pressure: 15 minutes, at your desk
When deadline pressure shows up at your desk, this 15-minute softening session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →The five minutes after a difficult meeting, in plain terms, before something difficult
Back-to-back meetings leave no room to come down. Five deliberate minutes changes the next hour.
Read →Deep work timer: 90 minutes of writing (a fan or air conditioner), when you are somewhere unfamiliar
One block of writing with a fan or air conditioner underneath. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →4-6 breathing: 5 rounds for creative work, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
Simple counts — 4 · 6 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →10-minute guided body scan practice for low energy — before a conversation you are dreading
A 10-minute body scan session for low energy, before a conversation you are dreading. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →3-minute guided self-compassion practice for better sleep — between calls
When better sleep shows up between calls, this 3-minute self-compassion session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →A field under snow, when you are somewhere noisy — for a racing mind
Everything muffled, everything white, and no tracks but yours.
Settle in →25-minute focus block for language practice — distant thunder, when you feel restless rather than tired
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to practise out loud.
Start the block →Gentle box breath (3 · 3 · 3 · 3) for a noisy room, when you are not in the mood
A a smaller square, for when four counts feels long pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →4-2-6 breathing: 5 rounds for Monday morning, when you feel restless rather than tired
A a short hold in the middle, a long way out pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →Appreciation: 15-minute letting go meditation, after a conflict
A 15-minute letting go session for appreciation, after a conflict. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Self-criticism: 7-minute noting meditation, on the train
When self-criticism shows up on the train, this 7-minute noting session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →A fire dying down (a sleep story), when you only have a few minutes — for a restless night
The last hour of a fire, when it stops being a fire and becomes warmth.
Settle in →50-minute focus block for studying — café murmur, when nothing else has worked today
A timer, a short prep list, and 50 minutes to take in the material.
Start the block →4-7-8 breath (4 · 7 · 8) for being unwell, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
A in for four, hold for seven, out for eight pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.