Small Calm

Small Calm / a bench of small exercises

Try one small exercise. Then read what the evidence says.

Short, working exercises for everyday stress, each with a plain note on what is known about it and what is not. They are exercises, not treatment.

BreathePaced breathing

Exercise, not treatment

Time left 2:00

Source of these settingsNHS: Breathing exercises for stress, which suggests counting steadily from 1 to 5 on the breath in and again on the breath out

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band 01

Breathe and ground

Slow your breathing, or bring attention to what is around you.

Paced breathing timer

A circle that grows and shrinks at the pace you choose, with a clock and a count.

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Working tool
Try
2 min

5-4-3-2-1 grounding

Five senses, counted down one step at a time, with circles to tap as you notice.

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Working tool
Try
3 min

The 3-3-3 rule

A popular grounding tactic, and what the sources say about it.

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Explainer
Read
4 min

band 02

Scan and sit

Body scan, a timed sit, and the reading behind meditation.

Mindful minutes timer

A silent timed sit with a ring that fills and a few short cues.

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Working tool
Try
1 to 10 min

How to meditate

A plain how-to for a first sit, from health service guidance.

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Explainer
Read
4 min

MBSR and MBCT

Structured eight-session programmes, and what NICE says about one of them.

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Explainer
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4 min

band 03

Sleep

A wind-down checklist and the evidence on stress and sleep.

band 04

Evidence

What trials, reviews and health agencies say, including where they say little.

Stress and anxiety

Where the two overlap, and how anxiety disorders differ.

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Explainer
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4 min

Risks and limits

Who may need extra care, and where the evidence is thin.

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Evidence
Read
4 min

band 05

Get help

Where self-help stops and professional care starts.

Finding care in the Bronx

What to look for and where to start when looking for mental health care in one borough.

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Evidence
Read
5 min