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.

Meditation10 min

Breathing for self-criticism: 10 minutes, before bed

10 minutes to meet self-criticism with less of a fight. A breathing practice, before bed.

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Meditation20 min

Study focus: 20-minute letting go meditation, before a hard conversation

For the times before a hard conversation when study focus takes up more room than you would like — 20 minutes, letting go.

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Guide3 min read

The five minutes after a difficult meeting — where to start, when you have already had a long week

Back-to-back meetings leave no room to come down. Five deliberate minutes changes the next hour.

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Focus45 min

45-minute admin and email session with distant traffic and a timer, when you are on your own

Sit down, press start, and clear the queue for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.

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Breathing2 min

How to use Physiological sigh for the early months, when the weather has kept you inside

A 2 · 6 rhythm — a second short sip of air on top of the first, then a long release.

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Meditation15 min

Softening meditation for a mindful pause (15 min), at night

15 minutes to meet a mindful pause with less of a fight. A softening practice, at night.

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Meditation5 min

Gratitude meditation for guilt (5 min), after a fight

For the times after a fight when guilt takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, gratitude.

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Guide3 min read

What to do when you wake at 3am — the unglamorous version, on a low-energy afternoon

Waking in the middle of the night is normal. What turns it into an hour of lying awake is the reaction to it.

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Focus90 min

90-minute portfolio work session with a fan or air conditioner and a timer, if you are fitting this around other people

Sit down, press start, and finish the pieces for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.

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Breathing2 min

Gentle box breath (3 · 3 · 3 · 3) for a break at work, when you are short on time

A 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 rhythm — a smaller square, for when four counts feels long.

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Meditation3 min

Social anxiety: 3-minute self-compassion meditation, beside your desk

3 minutes to meet social anxiety with less of a fight. A self-compassion practice, beside your desk.

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Meditation10 min

Meditation for tension headaches: 10-minute body scan session, after a shock

For the times after a shock when tension headaches takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, body scan.

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Guide3 min read

Preparing for a conversation you are dreading — a plain-language guide, when you cannot concentrate on anything else

Most dread is about the first thirty seconds, not the conversation. Prepare for those and the rest gets easier.

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Focus25 min

A 25-minute block for problem solving, with a washing machine, when you have more time than usual

A single 25-minute block for problem solving — before looking anything up.

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Breathing3 min

4-7-8 breath (4 · 7 · 8) for Sunday evening, on a day that started badly

A 4 · 7 · 8 rhythm — in for four, hold for seven, out for eight.

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Meditation7 min

7-minute noting meditation for work stress, between meetings

A 7-minute noting session for work stress, between meetings. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation15 min

Softening for worry: 15 minutes, when you are overwhelmed

For the times when you are overwhelmed when worry takes up more room than you would like — 15 minutes, softening.

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Guide3 min read

When to drink coffee so it does not ruin your sleep — what nobody tells you, when you have been on screens all day

Caffeine has a long tail. The cup at 3pm is still in your system at 9pm, whether you feel it or not.

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Focus50 min

A 50-minute block for coding, with brown noise, when you have been putting it off

A single 50-minute block for coding — one function at a time, not the whole system.

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Breathing2 min

5-7 breath (5 · 7) for a stolen moment of caregiving, when you are at home and cannot settle

Rounds of 5 · 7, with the counting done for you.

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Meditation12 min

12-minute guided body scan practice for waking at 3am — on the way in

A 12-minute body scan session for waking at 3am, on the way in. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation3 min

3-minute guided self-compassion practice for frustration — before bedtime

For the times before bedtime when frustration takes up more room than you would like — 3 minutes, self-compassion.

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Guide3 min read

Using your body to come down after something stressful — the basics, done properly, when you have woken up too early

After a stress response, the body is left with fuel it did not use. Some of the recovery is physical, not mental.

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Focus90 min

A 90-minute block for practising an instrument, with a library, if you are sceptical about all of this

A single 90-minute block for practising an instrument — slowly, with the metronome.

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Breathing2 min

2-1-4 breathing — 2 · 1 · 4 — for the middle of the night, after eating too much

Rounds of 2 · 1 · 4, with the counting done for you.

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Meditation20 min

Exhaustion: 20-minute softening meditation, before work

A 20-minute softening session for exhaustion, before work. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation7 min

Brain fog: 7-minute noting meditation, on a day off

For the times on a day off when brain fog takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, noting.

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Guide3 min read

Do you actually need eight glasses of water — a short read, when the day has been loud

Eight glasses is a number with no particular evidence behind it. Thirst and urine colour are better guides.

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Focus25 min

25-minute focus session for exam revision with plain quiet, when you have woken up too early

25 minutes on exam revision — recall rather than re-reading. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

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Breathing2 min

Double-inhale sigh — 3 · 8 — for travel days, if you are tired of apps

Rounds of 3 · 8, with the counting done for you.

Breathe →