Everything, 30 at a time
Every meditation, breathing exercise, sleep story, focus session, guide and essay on SoftlyStill — 7,189 pieces, newest first, 30 to a page.
How to use 5-7 breathing for a hospital waiting room, when you are not sure this will work
The pattern is 5 · 7, which is five in, seven out.
Breathe →Focus session for writing: 90 minutes, distant thunder, when you are not in the mood
90 minutes of writing, with distant thunder and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →How to use 2-1-4 breathing for the morning after, when you are not in the mood
The pattern is 2 · 1 · 4, which is short in, short hold, long out — the smallest useful dose.
Breathe →45-minute language practice session with rain on a window and a timer, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
Sit down, press start, and practise out loud for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Double-inhale sigh breath (3 · 8) for anxious moments, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
3 · 8 breathing: two inhales stacked together, then everything out through the mouth.
Breathe →50-minute studying session with a fireplace and a timer, when you feel restless rather than tired
Sit down, press start, and take in the material for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →Beginner box breath (2 · 2 · 2 · 2) for a reset, when you feel restless rather than tired
2 · 2 · 2 · 2 breathing: the easiest version of the square.
Breathe →90-minute drawing session with vinyl crackle and a timer, when nothing else has worked today
Sit down, press start, and fill the page for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Soft 4-7-8 breath (4 · 4 · 8) for a cold morning, when nothing else has worked today
4 · 4 · 8 breathing: the hold cut short, the long exhale kept.
Breathe →A 45-minute block for reading, with a fan or air conditioner, when you are on your own
A single 45-minute block for reading — pages rather than paragraphs.
Start the block →7-11 breathing — 7 · 11 — for the end of the working day, when you are on your own
7 · 11 breathing: a long, slow ratio for when you have time.
Breathe →A 50-minute block for thesis writing, with distant thunder, if you are fitting this around other people
A single 50-minute block for thesis writing — sections, not the whole thing.
Start the block →Coherent 5-5 breathing — 5 · 5 — for the hours after people leave, if you are fitting this around other people
5 · 5 breathing: five seconds in, five seconds out — about six breaths a minute.
Breathe →25-minute focus session for design work with café murmur, on a low-energy afternoon
25 minutes on design work — rough versions first. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →6-2-6-2 breathing — 6 · 2 · 6 · 2 — for a lonely evening, when you have more time than usual
A 6 · 2 · 6 · 2 rhythm — even and rhythmic, with brief holds on both sides.
Breathe →45-minute focus session for decluttering with a fireplace, when you cannot concentrate on anything else
45 minutes on decluttering — one surface at a time. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Slow box breathing for heavy days, when you cannot concentrate on anything else
A 5 · 5 · 5 · 5 rhythm — a wider square, once four feels comfortable.
Breathe →50-minute focus session for admin and email with distant traffic, when you have been on screens all day
50 minutes on admin and email — in one pass, without opening new tabs. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →4-6 breathing for a noisy room, when you have been on screens all day
A 4 · 6 rhythm — in for four, out for six.
Breathe →Deep work timer: 25 minutes of portfolio work (a fan or air conditioner), when you have woken up too early
One block of portfolio work with a fan or air conditioner underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →4-2-6 breathing for being unwell, when you have woken up too early
A 4 · 2 · 6 rhythm — a short hold in the middle, a long way out.
Breathe →Deep work timer: 45 minutes of problem solving (a washing machine), when the day has been loud
One block of problem solving with a washing machine underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Coherent 6-6 breathing: 6 rounds for a ten-minute window, when the day has been loud
A 6 · 6 rhythm — six and six, the slower end of coherent breathing.
Breathe →Deep work timer: 90 minutes of coding (brown noise), when you feel fine and want to stay that way
One block of coding with brown noise underneath. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Quick 2-1-2-1 breathing: 6 rounds for the early months, when you feel fine and want to stay that way
Rounds of 2 · 1 · 2 · 1, with the counting done for you.
Breathe →25-minute focus block for practising an instrument — a library, if you have five quiet minutes
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to drill the hard bars.
Start the block →Uneven box breathing exercise for a work break — if you have five quiet minutes
Rounds of 4 · 4 · 6 · 2, with the counting done for you.
Breathe →45-minute focus block for exam revision — plain quiet, when you have tried everything else
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to test yourself.
Start the block →4-8 breathing exercise for Sunday evening — when you have tried everything else
Rounds of 4 · 8, with the counting done for you.
Breathe →90-minute focus block for data work — forest at dusk, when you have just finished work
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to work through the numbers.
Start the block →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.