Sleep story · still, water
A lake before dawn, when you are doing this for the first time — for a racing mind
Flat water, no wind, and light that has not arrived yet.
Lights off. Press begin and let the story read itself to you, at the pace of sleep.
Screen on or off — we suggest dimming it, or simply closing your eyes after the first paragraph.
The story, in full
The mist sits about a foot above the surface and does not move. Your boat is tied up and moving just enough to be noticeable. Nothing on the lake is in a hurry, including you.
A single bird crosses the water low and slow, without calling. The air is cold in a clean way, and smells of water and cut grass. The water makes a small sound against the posts, once every few seconds.
Notice how much of you has already stopped moving. Let the space between your eyebrows smooth out.
Feel the weight of your head on the pillow. Your fingers can stop doing anything at all.
There is a wooden jetty a few metres out, with one plank that has gone grey and soft. The lake is completely flat, the way it only gets in the hour before the light comes.
Your ankles can go loose now. Let your hands be completely still.
If your mind has wandered, that's not a mistake. Noticing is the practice. Notice if you've been frowning at your own thoughts.
Let your upper arms fall wherever gravity puts them. Your eyelids can be too heavy to open, and that is fine.
Slower now. Let the next part go past without you.
Let the breath be the only thing you are doing. Let each breath be a little smaller than the last. Almost nothing to do now.
If this is your first go, stay with the plainest version of the instructions.
Goodnight. There is nothing left to do.
12 paragraphs, roughly 2 minutes read slowly aloud. Written for still, water.
If this story does not settle you, try A boat at anchor, when you need something unremarkable — for jet lag, A library at closing time (a sleep story), when your attention is scattered — for a restless night or A library at closing time, when you have been on screens all day — for a restless night.