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Cyclic Sighing Timer — Free Online Tool

Huberman Lab protocol — double inhale + long exhale, 5min for mood

Cyclic sighing: double nasal inhale + long mouth exhale. Stanford 2023 (Huberman lab) showed 5min daily outperforms box breathing for mood. Free timer.

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press start · 5-minute protocol
2
0 / 33 cycles
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Cyclic Sighing Timer

Cyclic sighing is the breath protocol that came out on top in the 2023 Stanford study from the Andrew Huberman lab (Balban et al., Cell Reports Medicine). Over 28 days, 5 minutes per day of cyclic sighing produced greater mood improvement and lower respiratory rate than box breathing, cyclic hyperventilation, or mindfulness meditation. The pattern is simple: double nasal inhale, long mouth exhale. The first inhale fills the lungs about halfway, the second short inhale tops them off, and the long exhale (about twice as long as the total inhale) activates the parasympathetic nervous system.

How the visualization works

The waveform at the top of the frame shows the signature 2-1-6 second pattern: a steady rise for 2 seconds (inhale 1), a sharper rise for 1 second (the "double" inhale), then a slow 6-second fall (exhale). The playhead line shows where you are in the cycle. The amber wisps flow UP into the nostrils during both inhales, and the mouth opens with a long stream flowing DOWN during the exhale. One full cycle is 9 seconds. The default target is 33 cycles for a 5-minute session.

How to use this tool

  1. 1

    Sit comfortably

    Sit upright. You will do this for 5 minutes once per day for best results.

  2. 2

    Inhale 1 (2s)

    Slow inhale through your nose, filling lungs to about half capacity. The first inhale wisp flows up.

  3. 3

    Inhale 2 (1s)

    A second, sharper inhale through your nose to top off the lungs (the "double inhale"). The second wisp flows up.

  4. 4

    Exhale long (6s)

    Slow, complete exhale through your mouth — twice as long as your inhale. The mouth opens, a long stream flows down.

  5. 5

    Repeat for 5 minutes

    About 33 cycles. Studies show this protocol outperforms box breathing for mood when done daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cyclic sighing?
A breath pattern of two consecutive nasal inhales followed by one long mouth exhale. It triggers the "physiological sigh" — the body's natural mechanism for resetting the lungs and the nervous system. Spontaneously, we do this every few minutes; cyclic sighing makes it intentional.
Where does the research come from?
A 2023 randomized study from the Andrew Huberman lab at Stanford (Balban et al., Cell Reports Medicine) compared 5-minute daily breathwork practices over 28 days. Cyclic sighing produced the greatest improvement in mood and the greatest reduction in respiratory rate, outperforming box breathing and mindfulness meditation.
Why does it work?
The double inhale maximally re-inflates collapsed alveoli (small lung sacs). The long slow exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system (vagus nerve), slowing heart rate and reducing stress signaling. The combination resets both the lungs and the nervous system in one cycle.
How long should I practice?
The Stanford study used 5 minutes per day. Effects accumulate over days — most participants saw the strongest mood improvement after 1–2 weeks of daily practice.
Does this tool store my data?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser. No accounts, no tracking, no upload.

Key Takeaways

  • Cyclic Sighing Timer is a free, browser-based calculator tool — huberman lab protocol — double inhale + long exhale, 5min for mood.
  • No signup, no downloads, no file uploads — your data stays on your device.
  • Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Install as a PWA for offline access.

How to Use Cyclic Sighing Timer

  1. Open the tool: Launch Cyclic Sighing Timer on Toololis — no account or download needed.
  2. Enter your data: Paste text, enter values, or select a file directly in your browser.
  3. Get instant results: Everything is processed locally — results appear immediately.
  4. Copy or download: Save your output or share it. Bookmark for quick access next time.

Cyclic Sighing Timer — Quick Facts

Price
Free — no limits, no watermarks, no paywalls
Privacy
100% browser-based — no data is sent to any server
Platform
Any modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile
Category
Calculator Tools on Toololis
Offline
Works offline after first visit (Progressive Web App)
FeatureDetails
ToolCyclic Sighing Timer
CategoryCalculator
Signup RequiredNo
File UploadNone — processed in browser
Mobile SupportFully responsive
CostFree forever

Why Use Cyclic Sighing Timer?

You should try Cyclic Sighing Timer for a quick, private way to huberman lab protocol — double inhale + long exhale, 5min for mood. All processing happens in your browser. Your files and data never leave your device. According to web.dev, client-side processing is the gold standard for privacy.

On the other hand, dedicated APIs or desktop tools suit batch processing better. They also handle server-side automation. For everyday tasks, browser tools offer the best speed, privacy, and convenience.

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100% Privacy. This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your data is never uploaded to any server.