All stories & essays
The complete list of stories & essays on SoftlyStill — 39 pieces, newest first, 30 to a page.
Finding Your Zen: Beginner's Meditation Time
Start with three minutes a day and let it grow on its own. Here is what to expect in the first few weeks, and why a short sit beats a skipped one.
Read →Meditate Before or After Exercise?
Before or after a workout? Both work, and the honest answer depends on what you want from the session. Here is how to choose, and what to avoid.
Read →Box Breathing at Work: A Field Guide
Box breathing is the calm-under-pressure pattern you can run at your desk without anyone noticing. Here is how to do it, and when it is the wrong tool.
Read →Finding Peace in the Unlikeliest Moments
You do not need a cushion or a quiet room. Here is how to practise in a bus queue, a hospital corridor, or the two minutes before a hard conversation.
Read →The Power of the Physiological Sigh
Discover how a simple breath can ease tension and refresh your day.
Read →The Power of Boring Sleep Stories
Discover how simple, everyday stories can lull you into a peaceful sleep.
Read →You don't need to clear your mind to meditate
The single most common reason beginners quit is a misunderstanding of what's supposed to happen. Let's retire it.
Read →The 4-7-8 breathing technique, without the hype
It's a good sleep aid and a decent reset button. It is not a miracle cure, and doing it wrong is more common than you'd think. Here's the honest version.
Read →Meditation apps are noisy. A quiet website isn't.
Apps are built to keep you opening them. Meditation is built to help you stop needing that. Here's why a plain website might actually suit your practice better.
Read →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.