All focus sessions
The complete list of focus sessions on SoftlyStill — 1,260 pieces, newest first, 30 to a page.
50-minute focus session for coding with distant thunder, when you have woken up too early
50 minutes on coding — one function at a time, not the whole system. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 25 minutes of practising an instrument (rain on a window), when the day has been loud
One block of practising an instrument with rain on a window underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 45 minutes of exam revision (a fireplace), when you feel fine and want to stay that way
One block of exam revision with a fireplace underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 50 minutes of data work (vinyl crackle), if you have five quiet minutes
One block of data work with vinyl crackle underneath. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for editing — a fan or air conditioner, when you have tried everything else
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to cut and tighten.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for brainstorming — distant thunder, when you have just finished work
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to generate options.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for research — café murmur, before you go back to something hard
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to follow one thread.
Start the block →Focus session for applications and forms: 25 minutes, a fireplace, when you want to be left alone
25 minutes of applications and forms, with a fireplace and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for planning: 45 minutes, distant traffic, if you are new to this
45 minutes of planning, with distant traffic and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for writing: 90 minutes, forest at dusk, when your attention is scattered
90 minutes of writing, with forest at dusk and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →25-minute language practice session with a washing machine and a timer, when you have been meaning to start
Sit down, press start, and practise out loud for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →50-minute studying session with brown noise and a timer, before something difficult
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 →90-minute drawing session with a library and a timer, when the house is busy
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 →A 25-minute block for reading, with plain quiet, when the weather has kept you inside
A single 25-minute block for reading — pages rather than paragraphs.
Start the block →A 50-minute block for thesis writing, with forest at dusk, when you are short on time
A single 50-minute block for thesis writing — sections, not the whole thing.
Start the block →A 90-minute block for design work, with birds at dawn, on a day that started badly
A single 90-minute block for design work — rough versions first.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for decluttering with brown noise, if you are sceptical about all of this
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 →50-minute focus session for admin and email with a stream, when you are cold and want to be warm
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 →90-minute focus session for portfolio work with plain quiet, when you only have a few minutes
90 minutes on portfolio work — the last ten percent. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 45 minutes of problem solving (a train carriage), when you want something simple
One block of problem solving with a train carriage underneath. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 50 minutes of coding (vinyl crackle), when you want to finish something
One block of coding with vinyl crackle underneath. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for practising an instrument — white noise, when you are doing this for the first time
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to drill the hard bars.
Start the block →45-minute focus block for exam revision — distant thunder, if you are doing this in the middle of the day
A timer, a short prep list, and 45 minutes to test yourself.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for data work — rain on a window, when you need to stop thinking about work
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to work through the numbers.
Start the block →Focus session for editing: 25 minutes, a fireplace, if you are doing this instead of scrolling
25 minutes of editing, with a fireplace and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for brainstorming: 45 minutes, vinyl crackle, when you need something unremarkable
45 minutes of brainstorming, with vinyl crackle and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for research: 90 minutes, a fan or air conditioner, after a difficult conversation
90 minutes of research, with a fan or air conditioner and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →25-minute applications and forms session with distant thunder and a timer, when you are somewhere noisy
Sit down, press start, and get through the questions for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →50-minute planning session with café murmur and a timer, after a long day
Sit down, press start, and decide what happens when for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →90-minute writing session with a library and a timer, when you are waiting for something
Sit down, press start, and get words down for 90 minutes. 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.