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.
12-minute softening meditation for self-doubt, in the afternoon slump
When self-doubt shows up in the afternoon slump, this 12-minute softening session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →Waking up anxious for no obvious reason, for people who have tried everything, after eating too much
Morning anxiety is common and usually chemical rather than psychological. Cortisol rises steeply in the first hour after waking.
Read →A boat at anchor, when you have tried everything else — for jet lag
A small harbour, a rope that creaks, and a boat that moves about a metre in the night.
Settle in →Focus session for design work: 25 minutes, rain on a window, when nothing else has worked today
25 minutes of design work, with rain on a window and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Coherent 6-6 breathing — 6 · 6 — for jet lag, when you are not sure this will work
Simple counts — 6 · 6 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Meditation for a racing mind: 7-minute grounding session, on a train
A 7-minute grounding session for a racing mind, on a train. No app, no account — press start.
Begin →20-minute guided gratitude practice for tight shoulders and neck — after work
When tight shoulders and neck shows up after work, this 20-minute gratitude session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →When to be careful with breathing exercises — a short read, if you are tired of apps
Breathing exercises are generally very safe, but there are situations where the standard advice needs adjusting.
Read →A hotel room somewhere (a sleep story), when you want something simple — for a night when you do not want to think
A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.
Settle in →Focus session for decluttering: 45 minutes, a train carriage, when you are on your own
45 minutes of decluttering, with a train carriage and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Quick 2-1-2-1 breathing for heated moments, on a day that started badly
Simple counts — 2 · 1 · 2 · 1 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Letting go for heartbreak: 12 minutes, in the queue
Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 12 minutes of letting go for heartbreak, in the queue.
Begin →Breathing for fear of flying: 5 minutes, at bedtime
When fear of flying shows up at bedtime, this 5-minute breathing session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →Releasing tension you did not notice you were holding, without the usual nonsense, if you have done this a hundred times
By mid-afternoon most people are holding their shoulders, jaw and hands without knowing. Here is a two-minute check.
Read →A garden in the rain — a slow story for the end of the day, when you feel restless rather than tired — for waking too early
Steady rain on leaves, and a chair under an awning that stays dry.
Settle in →Focus session for admin and email: 50 minutes, vinyl crackle, if you are fitting this around other people
50 minutes of admin and email, with vinyl crackle and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Uneven box breathing for a hard week, when you are at home and cannot settle
Simple counts — 4 · 4 · 6 · 2 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Gratitude meditation for falling asleep (20 min), in the hour before an interview
Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 20 minutes of gratitude for falling asleep, in the hour before an interview.
Begin →Grounding meditation for financial stress (10 min), at night
When financial stress shows up at night, this 10-minute grounding session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →The Point of Wandering Thoughts
Understanding why your mind wanders can deepen your meditation practice.
Read →Using the commute as a boundary between work and home — the version for a bad week, when you have already had a long week
The commute is the only transition most people get. Used deliberately, it stops the workday following you into the kitchen.
Read →A kitchen late at night, when you need something unremarkable — for the hours after a late shift
One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.
Settle in →25-minute portfolio work session with white noise and a timer, when you have more time than usual
Sit down, press start, and finish the pieces for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.
Start the block →4-8 breathing for days when everything is too much, after eating too much
Simple counts — 4 · 8 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Fatigue: 5-minute breathing meditation, before an exam
Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 5 minutes of breathing for fatigue, before an exam.
Begin →Meditation for focus: 15-minute letting go session, at 3am
When focus shows up at 3am, this 15-minute letting go session gives you somewhere to put it down.
Begin →Ten minutes outside is not a wellness cliché — explained without jargon, on a low-energy afternoon
It is the least fashionable intervention available and one of the most reliable. Here is what it actually does.
Read →Sleep story: a lake before dawn, when you have been on screens all day — for a racing mind
Flat water, no wind, and light that has not arrived yet.
Settle in →45-minute problem solving session with distant thunder and a timer, when you have been putting it off
Sit down, press start, and stay with the difficulty for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →5-2-7 breathing: 5 rounds for a long wait, if you are tired of apps
Simple counts — 5 · 2 · 7 — and a circle that keeps time.
Breathe →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.