Slow Stoic

Festina lente

Make haste slowly.

A calm Stoic journal for iPhone. A minute with Marcus Aurelius, Seneca or Epictetus each morning. Three quiet minutes each evening to set the day down. No streaks, no ads, no pressure.

Download on theApp Store

Free to startFor iPhone

The Today screen: a greeting, today's words from Marcus Aurelius, the morning and evening rituals, and the intention 'Listen more than I speak'.

How it works

  1. Morning1 minute

    Read, then intend.

    Today's words from the Stoics, and one thing you mean to do.

  2. Evening3 minutes

    Look back, kindly.

    Three small things you appreciated, and Seneca's three questions.

  3. Any timeAs you need

    Write to a Stoic.

    When something weighs on you, put it to Marcus, Seneca or Epictetus.

The morning ritual: today's words, the prompt 'Today I will…' answered with 'Listen more than I speak', and an optional section to prepare for the day.
I. Morning

Begin with a few true words.

Each morning, a short passage from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca or Epictetus. Read it, then finish one sentence: Today I will…

  • One intention. Small enough to keep, like “listen more than I speak”.
  • Prepare for the day, if you like. The Stoics called it premeditatio malorum: picture what could go wrong, and how you'll meet it.
The evening review: 'Did you keep it?' with the answers Yes, Partly and Not today, three small things you appreciated, and Seneca's questions.
II. Evening

Set the day down.

A gentle check on this morning's intention (partly is still a step), three small things you appreciated, and the questions Seneca asked himself each night:

  1. What did you do well today?
  2. Where did you fall short?
  3. What will you do differently tomorrow?
A conversation with Marcus Aurelius. The user writes 'I keep comparing myself to others' and receives a long, thoughtful reply.
III. Conversations

Write to Marcus, Seneca or Epictetus.

An emperor, a statesman and a teacher born into slavery, each with his own voice. Bring them what's on your mind, and get a considered reply rooted in their writings.

  • Unhurried, thoughtful replies. Not quick tips. Something closer to a letter.
  • Prompts when words don't come. “I'm dreading tomorrow.” “How do I find calm?”

To be clear: the replies are written by AI, in the spirit of each philosopher's writings. They are not their own words, and they can be wrong.

A month calendar with gold-filled days for completed rituals, and the totals '22 days of reflection' and '5 saved quotes'.
IV. The calendar

A quiet calendar, not a streak.

Your days of reflection fill in softly, one ritual or both. Miss a day and nothing breaks. There is no counter to protect and no guilt to carry. You simply begin again.

  • Reminders you choose. A morning and an evening time, or none at all.
  • Saved quotes. Keep the lines that stay with you.
The share sheet: a quote card by Marcus Aurelius under a moonlit sky, with Story, Post and Square sizes and Night or Dawn styles.
V. Share

Words worth passing on.

Turn any day's words into a quiet card for a story, a post or a message. Choose night or dawn. It looks like it belongs on your feed, not like an advert.

  • Story, post or square. Sized for wherever you share.
  • Or simply as text. For a friend who needs it today.
An iPhone home screen with three Slow Stoic widgets: today's intention, today's quote from Seneca, and a five-week calendar of rituals with '22 days of reflection'.
VI. Widgets

Your practice, at a glance.

Today's words on your home screen, new every morning, without opening the app. A small reminder of how you mean to live, right where you look most.

  • Today's words. A quote that turns over at dawn. Free.
  • With Slow Stoic+. Your intention for the day, the last five weeks as a quiet calendar, and a quote on your lock screen.

Very little is needed to live a good life. It is all within you, in the way you think.

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.67

Made to be put down

An app that doesn't want more of your time.

Four minutes is the whole idea. Slow Stoic is built to help you think, then let you get on with your day.

No streaks

No guilt, no badges, no numbers that punish a missed day.

Stays on your phone

Your journal is stored on your device. It isn't uploaded, synced or analysed.

No ads, no tracking

No advertising, no selling of your data, and anonymous analytics only if you say yes.

Your rhythm

Gentle morning and evening reminders, at times you pick.

Pricing

The practice is free.

Daily words, both rituals, your journal and reminders cost nothing. Slow Stoic+ is there if you'd like to talk with the Stoics more often.

Free

Slow Stoic

Everything you need for a daily practice.

  • Today's words, every day
  • Morning ritual and evening review
  • Your journal and quiet calendar
  • Morning and evening reminders
  • Shareable quote cards
  • Today's words widget
  • 5 messages a week to the Stoics

Subscription

Slow Stoic+

For when you'd like to keep the conversation going.

  • Everything in Slow Stoic
  • Daily conversations with Marcus, Seneca and Epictetus
  • Intention, calendar and lock screen widgets
  • Subscribe and cancel any time in the App Store

Questions

Before you begin.

Anything else? Write to support@slowstoic.com.

Are the philosophers real?

No. The replies are written by AI in the spirit of their writings. They can be wrong, and they are not Marcus's, Seneca's or Epictetus's own words. The daily quotes, on the other hand, are drawn from their actual writings.

Do I need to know anything about Stoicism?

Not at all. Each day's words are short and plain, and the rituals take a few minutes. You'll pick up the ideas simply by doing it.

Where is my journal stored?

Only on your phone. It isn't uploaded or synced. When you write to the philosophers, only that conversation is sent to produce a reply, never your journal. See the privacy policy for details.

What happens if I miss a day?

Nothing. There are no streaks to lose. The calendar simply shows the days you did reflect, and tomorrow is a fresh start.

What's free, and what is Slow Stoic+?

Daily words, the morning and evening rituals, your journal, reminders and five messages a week to the Stoics are free. Slow Stoic+ is a subscription for daily conversations (up to 40 messages a day and 600 a month), managed through the App Store.

Why “Slow”?

From festina lente, “make haste slowly”: steady progress without rush. A few unhurried minutes, most days, do more than an hour now and then.

Is it on Android?

Slow Stoic is available for iPhone.

Begin tomorrow morning.

One minute to start the day well. Three to end it. Free on iPhone.

Download on theApp Store