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 night train, if you are new to this — for the hours after a late shift
Somewhere between two cities, in the dark, where nobody needs anything from you.
Settle in →A 50-minute block for design work, with forest at dusk, when the house is busy
A single 50-minute block for design work — rough versions first.
Start the block →Coherent 6-6 breath (6 · 6) for the hours after people leave, when you are too tired to try hard
Simple counts — 6 · 6 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →4-7-8 breathing: 4 rounds for days when everything is too much, when you are not in the mood
Simple counts — 4 · 7 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →7-minute grounding meditation for shame, in the evening
When shame shows up in the evening, this 7-minute grounding session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →Gratitude for fatigue: 15 minutes, before public speaking
A 15-minute gratitude session for fatigue, before public speaking. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →When to drink coffee so it does not ruin your sleep, if you are sceptical about all of this
Caffeine has a long tail. The cup at 3pm is still in your system at 9pm, whether you feel it or not.
Read →A caravan by the sea (a sleep story), when you have been on screens all day — for a night when you do not want to think
Thin walls, wind outside, and the sound of shingle about fifty metres away.
Settle in →A 90-minute block for decluttering, with a washing machine, when the weather has kept you inside
A single 90-minute block for decluttering — one surface at a time.
Start the block →Quick 2-1-2-1 breath (2 · 1 · 2 · 1) for a lonely evening, when you are not sure this will work
Simple counts — 2 · 1 · 2 · 1 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →5-7 breathing exercise for a long wait — when you are somewhere unfamiliar
Simple counts — 5 · 7 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →12-minute guided self-compassion practice for tension headaches — at bedtime
When tension headaches shows up at bedtime, this 12-minute self-compassion session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →3-minute guided body scan practice for mindfulness — before a conversation you are dreading
A 3-minute body scan session for mindfulness, before a conversation you are dreading. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Using your body to come down after something stressful — a practical guide, when you are cold and want to be warm
After a stress response, the body is left with fuel it did not use. Some of the recovery is physical, not mental.
Read →An attic room — a slow story for the end of the day, when you have more time than usual — for waking too early
Sloping ceiling, rain on the roof a foot above your head.
Settle in →45-minute focus session for admin and email with brown noise, when you have more time than usual
45 minutes on admin and email — in one pass, without opening new tabs. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Uneven box breathing — 4 · 4 · 6 · 2 — for heavy days, when you are not in the mood
Simple counts — 4 · 4 · 6 · 2 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →2-1-4 breathing exercise for creative work — when you feel restless rather than tired
Simple counts — 2 · 1 · 4 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Worry: 20-minute noting meditation, when you wake at 3am
When worry shows up when you wake at 3am, this 20-minute noting session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →A racing mind: 7-minute softening meditation, after a shock
A 7-minute softening session for a racing mind, after a shock. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Do you actually need eight glasses of water — the short version, when you only have a few minutes
Eight glasses is a number with no particular evidence behind it. Thirst and urine colour are better guides.
Read →A lighthouse at the end of a long day, when you are waiting for something — for the hours after a late shift
One light turning, a kettle, and weather you are on the right side of.
Settle in →50-minute focus session for portfolio work with a library, when you have been putting it off
50 minutes on portfolio work — the last ten percent. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →4-8 breathing — 4 · 8 — for a noisy room, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
Simple counts — 4 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Double-inhale sigh exercise for Monday morning — when nothing else has worked today
Simple counts — 3 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Body scan meditation for irritability (5 min), at your desk
When irritability shows up at your desk, this 5-minute body scan session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →12-minute self-compassion meditation for heartbreak, after a bad day
A 12-minute self-compassion session for heartbreak, after a bad day. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →Breathing exercises that help during panic, in the order that helps, when you want something simple
Deep breathing is the wrong advice during panic. What helps is a longer exhale and something concrete to count.
Read →Sleep story: a bus at night, when you want to finish something — for a racing mind
Upper deck, front seat, a city going past that you do not have to join.
Settle in →90-minute focus session for problem solving with plain quiet, if you are sceptical about all of this
90 minutes on problem solving — before looking anything up. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.