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.

Breathing3 min

How to use 6-2-6-2 breathing for a hospital waiting room, after eating too much

The pattern is 6 · 2 · 6 · 2, which is even and rhythmic, with brief holds on both sides.

Breathe →
Breathing2 min

3-6 breathing for a stolen moment of caregiving, if you have done this a hundred times

The pattern is 3 · 6, which is a gentle two-to-one ratio.

Breathe →
Meditation5 min

Grounding meditation for focus (5 min), on a train journey

A 5-minute grounding session for focus, on a train journey. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation15 min

15-minute gratitude meditation for overwhelm, in the evening

For the times in the evening when overwhelm takes up more room than you would like — 15 minutes, gratitude.

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Sleep20 min

Sleep story: a kitchen late at night, when you are not in the mood — for a racing mind

One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.

Settle in →
Focus25 min

25-minute coding session with rain on a window and a timer, when you are cold and want to be warm

Sit down, press start, and work through the problem for 25 minutes. One pomodoro, long enough to get somewhere and short enough to start.

Start the block →
Breathing3 min

How to use Slow box breathing for jet lag, if you are tired of apps

5 · 5 · 5 · 5 breathing: a wider square, once four feels comfortable.

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Meditation10 min

Meditation for the inner critic: 10-minute letting go session, in a waiting room

A 10-minute letting go session for the inner critic, in a waiting room. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation3 min

Meditation for waking up: 3-minute breathing session, before bed

When waking up shows up before bed, this 3-minute breathing session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Sleep10 min

A lake before dawn — a slow story for the end of the day, before you go back to something hard — for a restless night

Flat water, no wind, and light that has not arrived yet.

Settle in →
Focus45 min

45-minute practising an instrument session with a train carriage and a timer, when you only have a few minutes

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

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Breathing2 min

4-6 breath (4 · 6) for heated moments, if you have done this a hundred times

4 · 6 breathing: in for four, out for six.

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Meditation15 min

Noting for physical tension: 15 minutes, on the morning of an interview

A 15-minute noting session for physical tension, on the morning of an interview. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation7 min

Grounding for feeling not good enough: 7 minutes, at night

When feeling not good enough shows up at night, this 7-minute grounding session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Sleep15 min

The house after everyone is asleep, on a low-energy afternoon — for winding down

The hour when the house belongs to nobody and nothing needs doing.

Settle in →
Focus50 min

50-minute exam revision session with vinyl crackle and a timer, when you want something simple

Sit down, press start, and test yourself for 50 minutes. Fifty minutes, the length of a therapy hour, with ten minutes off afterwards.

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Breathing2 min

4-2-6 breath (4 · 2 · 6) for a reset, when you have already had a long week

4 · 2 · 6 breathing: a short hold in the middle, a long way out.

Breathe →
Meditation3 min

3-minute guided body scan practice for public speaking fear — before a presentation

A 3-minute body scan session for public speaking fear, before a presentation. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation12 min

Self-compassion meditation for restless legs (12 min), when you wake at 3am

When restless legs shows up when you wake at 3am, this 12-minute self-compassion session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Sleep20 min

Sleep story: the night train, when the house is busy — for an overtired night

Somewhere between two cities, in the dark, where nobody needs anything from you.

Settle in →
Focus25 min

A 25-minute block for data work, with white noise, when you want to finish something

A single 25-minute block for data work — checking as you go.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Coherent 6-6 breath (6 · 6) for a cold morning, on a low-energy afternoon

6 · 6 breathing: six and six, the slower end of coherent breathing.

Breathe →
Meditation7 min

Deadline pressure: 7-minute softening meditation, before a hard conversation

A 7-minute softening session for deadline pressure, before a hard conversation. No app, no account — press start.

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Meditation20 min

Meditation for anticipatory anxiety: 20-minute noting session, between meetings

When anticipatory anxiety shows up between meetings, this 20-minute noting session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Sleep10 min

A caravan by the sea — a slow story for the end of the day, when you are somewhere noisy — for a restless night

Thin walls, wind outside, and the sound of shingle about fifty metres away.

Settle in →
Focus45 min

A 45-minute block for editing, with distant thunder, when you are doing this for the first time

A single 45-minute block for editing — the boring pass that makes it readable.

Start the block →
Breathing2 min

Quick 2-1-2-1 breathing — 2 · 1 · 2 · 1 — for the end of the working day, when you cannot concentrate on anything else

2 · 1 · 2 · 1 breathing: a brisk rhythm for when you need to be awake.

Breathe →
Meditation12 min

12-minute self-compassion meditation for better sleep, after a fight

Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 12 minutes of self-compassion for better sleep, after a fight.

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Meditation5 min

5-minute body scan meditation for overwhelm, on the way in

When overwhelm shows up on the way in, this 5-minute body scan session gives you somewhere to put it down.

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Sleep15 min

An attic room, when you only have a few minutes — for winding down

Sloping ceiling, rain on the roof a foot above your head.

Settle in →