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.
Sleep story: a hotel room somewhere, if you are sceptical about all of this — for a racing mind
A room you did not choose, in a city you do not have to know.
Settle in →90-minute focus block for exam revision — a stream, when you have woken up too early
A timer, a short prep list, and 90 minutes to test yourself.
Start the block →Coherent 5-5 breathing for a long wait, when you want to finish something
A five seconds in, five seconds out — about six breaths a minute pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →The inner critic: 10-minute breathing meditation, in the middle of the night
10 minutes to meet the inner critic with less of a fight. A breathing practice, in the middle of the night.
Begin →Meditation for deep work: 20-minute letting go session, when the news hits hard
Nothing to learn and nothing to fix: 20 minutes of letting go for deep work, when the news hits hard.
Begin →Why your weekend does not feel like rest — a short read, if you have five quiet minutes
Rest is not the absence of work. If the weekend is full of decisions and obligations, it does not restore anything.
Read →A garden in the rain — a slow story for the end of the day, when you are not sure this will work — for a restless night
Steady rain on leaves, and a chair under an awning that stays dry.
Settle in →Focus session for data work: 25 minutes, plain quiet, when the day has been loud
25 minutes of data work, with plain quiet and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →6-2-6-2 breathing for creative work, when you are doing this for the first time
A even and rhythmic, with brief holds on both sides pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →15-minute softening meditation for physical tension, beside your desk
15 minutes to meet physical tension with less of a fight. A softening practice, beside your desk.
Begin →5-minute gratitude meditation for shame, after a horrible day
For the times after a horrible day when shame takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, gratitude.
Begin →How to get through the first hour without your phone, without the usual nonsense, when you have tried everything else
The first hour sets the tone for attention all day. You do not need willpower — you need the phone to be somewhere else.
Read →A kitchen late at night, when you have just finished work — for winding down
One small light on, a cooling cup of tea, and the rest of the house dark.
Settle in →Focus session for editing: 50 minutes, a train carriage, when you feel fine and want to stay that way
50 minutes of editing, with a train carriage and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →Slow box breathing for Friday evening, if you are doing this in the middle of the day
A a wider square, once four feels comfortable pattern, counted for you on screen.
Breathe →Meditation for test anxiety: 3-minute self-compassion session, on your commute
3 minutes to meet test anxiety with less of a fight. A self-compassion practice, on your commute.
Begin →10-minute guided body scan practice for restless legs — when you are overwhelmed
For the times when you are overwhelmed when restless legs takes up more room than you would like — 10 minutes, body scan.
Begin →How to study when you cannot concentrate — the version for a bad week, when you have just finished work
Concentration is usually a problem of task size, not willpower. Shrink the task until starting feels almost silly.
Read →Sleep story: a lake before dawn, when you have already had a long week — for an overtired night
Flat water, no wind, and light that has not arrived yet.
Settle in →Focus session for brainstorming: 90 minutes, birds at dawn, if you have five quiet minutes
90 minutes of brainstorming, with birds at dawn and a note on what to do when you drift.
Start the block →4-6 breathing: 6 rounds for physical discomfort, when you need to stop thinking about work
The pattern is 4 · 6, which is in for four, out for six.
Breathe →Noting for burnout: 7 minutes, ahead of a full day
7 minutes to meet burnout with less of a fight. A noting practice, ahead of a full day.
Begin →Anticipatory anxiety: 15-minute softening meditation, on a slow Sunday
For the times on a slow Sunday when anticipatory anxiety takes up more room than you would like — 15 minutes, softening.
Begin →A wind-down that starts before you are tired — explained without jargon, before you go back to something hard
Waiting until you feel sleepy usually means waiting until midnight. The wind-down is what creates the sleepiness.
Read →The house after everyone is asleep — a slow story for the end of the day, before something difficult — for jet lag
The hour when the house belongs to nobody and nothing needs doing.
Settle in →45-minute research session with white noise and a timer, when you have tried everything else
Sit down, press start, and follow one thread for 45 minutes. A single class period, the length most people can hold before the quality drops.
Start the block →4-2-6 breathing: 6 rounds for exam nerves, if you are doing this instead of scrolling
The pattern is 4 · 2 · 6, which is a short hold in the middle, a long way out.
Breathe →Body scan meditation for better sleep (12 min), at the end of the day
12 minutes to meet better sleep with less of a fight. A body scan practice, at the end of the day.
Begin →Self-compassion meditation for irritability (5 min), first thing
For the times first thing when irritability takes up more room than you would like — 5 minutes, self-compassion.
Begin →Meditation Habit: Beyond Day Five
Discover how to turn daily meditation into a lasting routine.
Read →Newest first. Everything here is free — no account, no streaks, nothing to install.