All focus sessions
The complete list of focus sessions on SoftlyStill — 1,260 pieces, newest first, 30 to a page.
90-minute focus block for language practice — a washing machine, when you are somewhere unfamiliar
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to practise out loud.
Start the block →Focus session for studying: 45 minutes, brown noise, when you feel restless rather than tired
45 minutes of studying, with brown noise and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for drawing: 50 minutes, a library, when nothing else has worked today
50 minutes of drawing, with a library and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for reading: 90 minutes, plain quiet, when you are on your own
90 minutes of reading, with plain quiet and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →45-minute thesis writing session with forest at dusk and a timer, if you are fitting this around other people
Sit down, press start, and add to the pile for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute design work session with birds at dawn and a timer, when you have more time than usual
Sit down, press start, and make decisions for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →A 25-minute block for decluttering, with brown noise, when you have been putting it off
A single 25-minute block for decluttering — one surface at a time.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for admin and email, with a stream, if you are sceptical about all of this
A single 45-minute block for admin and email — in one pass, without opening new tabs.
Start the block →A 50-minute block for portfolio work, with plain quiet, when you are cold and want to be warm
A single 50-minute block for portfolio work — the last ten percent.
Start the block →25-minute focus session for problem solving with a train carriage, when the day has been loud
25 minutes on problem solving — before looking anything up. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for coding with vinyl crackle, when you feel fine and want to stay that way
45 minutes on coding — one function at a time, not the whole system. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →90-minute focus session for practising an instrument with white noise, if you have five quiet minutes
90 minutes on practising an instrument — slowly, with the metronome. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 25 minutes of exam revision (distant thunder), when you have tried everything else
One block of exam revision with distant thunder underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 50 minutes of data work (rain on a window), when you have just finished work
One block of data work with rain on a window underneath. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →Deep work timer: 90 minutes of editing (a fireplace), before you go back to something hard
One block of editing with a fireplace underneath. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.
Start the block →25-minute focus block for brainstorming — vinyl crackle, when you want to be left alone
A timer, a short prep list, and 25 minutes to generate options.
Start the block →50-minute focus block for research — a fan or air conditioner, if you are new to this
A timer, a short prep list, and 50 minutes to follow one thread.
Start the block →90-minute focus block for applications and forms — distant thunder, when your attention is scattered
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to get through the questions.
Start the block →Focus session for planning: 45 minutes, café murmur, when you have been meaning to start
45 minutes of planning, with café murmur and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for writing: 50 minutes, a library, before something difficult
50 minutes of writing, with a library and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Focus session for language practice: 90 minutes, distant traffic, when the house is busy
90 minutes of language practice, with distant traffic and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →45-minute studying session with forest at dusk and a timer, when the weather has kept you inside
Sit down, press start, and take in the material for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →50-minute drawing session with a washing machine and a timer, when you are short on time
Sit down, press start, and fill the page for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.
Start the block →A 25-minute block for reading, with brown noise, on a day that started badly
A single 25-minute block for reading — pages rather than paragraphs.
Start the block →A 45-minute block for thesis writing, with a library, when you are at home and cannot settle
A single 45-minute block for thesis writing — sections, not the whole thing.
Start the block →A 50-minute block for design work, with plain quiet, after eating too much
A single 50-minute block for design work — rough versions first.
Start the block →25-minute focus session for decluttering with forest at dusk, when you only have a few minutes
25 minutes on decluttering — one surface at a time. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →45-minute focus session for admin and email with birds at dawn, when you want something simple
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 →90-minute focus session for portfolio work with brown noise, when you want to finish something
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: 25 minutes of problem solving (a stream), when you are doing this for the first time
One block of problem solving with a stream underneath. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.