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.

Focus25 min

25-minute editing session with forest at dusk and a timer, when you are doing this for the first time

Sit down, press start, and cut and tighten for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

How to use Coherent 4-4 breathing for a grey day, when you cannot concentrate on anything else

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

Breathe →
Meditation15 min

Panic: 15-minute grounding meditation, in the hour before an exam

15 minutes to meet panic with less of a fight. A grounding practice, in the hour before an exam.

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Meditation7 min

Physical tension: 7-minute gratitude meditation, late at night

For the times late at night when physical tension takes up more room than you would like — 7 minutes, gratitude.

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Sleep15 min

A fire dying down — a slow story for the end of the day, when you have been on screens all day — for jet lag

The last hour of a fire, when it stops being a fire and becomes warmth.

Settle in →
Focus45 min

45-minute brainstorming session with a washing machine and a timer, if you are doing this in the middle of the day

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

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Breathing3 min

How to use Box breathing for a cold morning, when you have been on screens all day

Simple counts — 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation3 min

Letting go meditation for loneliness (3 min), before public speaking

A 3-minute letting go session for loneliness, before public speaking. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation12 min

12-minute breathing meditation for public speaking fear, at your desk

For the times at your desk when public speaking fear takes up more room than you would like — 12 minutes, breathing.

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Sleep10 min

A library at closing time, when you have more time than usual — for a night when you do not want to think

The last hour, when the lights go down row by row.

Settle in →
Focus90 min

90-minute research session with brown noise and a timer, when you need to stop thinking about work

Sit down, press start, and follow one thread for 90 minutes. One full ultradian cycle, for work that needs a long runway.

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Breathing2 min

Tight box breath (4 · 1 · 4 · 1) for the end of the working day, when you have woken up too early

Simple counts — 4 · 1 · 4 · 1 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation7 min

Meditation for sleep: 7-minute gratitude session, before a conversation you are dreading

A 7-minute gratitude session for sleep, before a conversation you are dreading. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation20 min

20-minute guided grounding practice for deadline pressure — between calls

For the times between calls when deadline pressure takes up more room than you would like — 20 minutes, grounding.

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Sleep12 min

Sleep story: a boat at anchor, when you are waiting for something — for waking too early

A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.

Settle in →
Focus25 min

A 25-minute block for applications and forms, with a library, if you are doing this instead of scrolling

A single 25-minute block for applications and forms — dull but finite.

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Breathing2 min

3-6 breath (3 · 6) for the hours after people leave, when the day has been loud

Simple counts — 3 · 6 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation12 min

Breathing for low energy: 12 minutes, after a conflict

A 12-minute breathing session for low energy, after a conflict. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation5 min

Letting go for better sleep: 5 minutes, on the train

For the times on the train when better sleep takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, letting go.

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Sleep15 min

A hotel room somewhere — a slow story for the end of the day, when you want to finish something — for the hours after a late shift

A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.

Settle in →
Focus45 min

A 45-minute block for planning, with plain quiet, when you need something unremarkable

A single 45-minute block for planning — on paper, so you can see it.

Start the block →
Breathing3 min

3-5-7 breath (3 · 5 · 7) for a lonely evening, when you feel fine and want to stay that way

Simple counts — 3 · 5 · 7 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation20 min

Softening meditation for appreciation (20 min), after bad news

A 20-minute softening session for appreciation, after bad news. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation10 min

Gratitude meditation for self-criticism (10 min), before a busy day

When self-criticism shows up before a busy day, this 10-minute gratitude session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Sleep10 min

A garden in the rain (a sleep story), if you are tired of apps — for a racing mind

Steady rain on leaves, and a chair under an awning that stays dry.

Settle in →
Focus90 min

A 90-minute block for writing, with a train carriage, after a difficult conversation

A single 90-minute block for writing — the first draft, not the good version.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Physiological sigh — 2 · 6 — for a hard conversation, if you have five quiet minutes

Simple counts — 2 · 6 — and a circle that keeps time.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Anxiety: 5-minute self-compassion meditation, when it all piles up

A 5-minute self-compassion session for anxiety, when it all piles up. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation15 min

Meditation for physical tension: 15-minute body scan session, in the late afternoon

When physical tension shows up in the late afternoon, this 15-minute body scan session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Guide3 min read

A wind-down that starts before you are tired — what actually helps, when you are somewhere unfamiliar

Waiting until you feel sleepy usually means waiting until midnight. The wind-down is what creates the sleepiness.

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