Five Minutes Away

How it works

A short guide to Five Minutes Away

What the app does, how a five-minute escape unfolds, and what it deliberately isn't. Everything below reflects how the app actually behaves.

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1

The first time you open it

A brief intro shows you what the app is for. At the end, you can step straight into a real scene — no sign-up needed. After that first taste, you can create an account (Google, Apple, or email) or keep going as a guest.

2

Open and feel where you are

The home screen greets you by time of day and asks how you're feeling. From there you can pick a mood, browse a world, or tap Quick Escape to drop straight into a random calming scene.

3

Three ways in

Choose by mood, explore a world, or use a quick shortcut. With moods (10 options, from Morning through Anger), the app offers two simple paths: a 5-minute mood-shaped breath exercise, or a scene that fits how you feel — for moments when you'd rather not pick. The 13 worlds let you choose by atmosphere (Ocean, Forest, Mountains, Lost Cities, and more). Quick Sleep and Focus are one-tap shortcuts on the home screen.

  • 10 moods
  • 13 worlds
  • Quick shortcuts
4

Stay for five minutes

Every scene is a 5-minute looping visual — made to be stayed in, not watched. You can adjust how it sounds, dim into audio-only, or close your eyes and let it play.

5

Sound your way

Mix what you hear in real time: natural sound, music, both, or audio-only with the screen resting. Each has its own volume; change anything at any moment. The music isn't stock — we compose every piece in-house, choosing instruments and tempo (BPM) to match each mood, so the sound truly fits how you feel.

  • Audio-only
  • Natural sound
  • Original music
6

Drift to sleep

Open the Sleep panel from any scene to set a timer. Free users get 15 minutes. Premium adds 30, 45, and an "All night" mode that loops the scene gently for up to eight hours.

  • 15 min (free)
  • 30 / 45 min
  • All night (premium)
7

Meditate and breathe

A dedicated meditation space, centered on a single calm breathing orb. Pick a duration (5, 10, or 15 minutes) and a sound — silent, nature, or music. If you don't pick a breathing pattern, the first minute opens as a gentle breath intro and the rhythm then settles. If you do pick a pattern — Calm (4-2-6), Box (4-4-4), 4-7-8, Coherent (5-5), Extended (4-0-8), or silent — it guides you for about five minutes, then the orb relaxes and you stay with the rhythm on your own.

  • 5 / 10 / 15 min
  • 6 breathing patterns
  • Guided, then free
8

Take care, gently — Check on me

An optional premium feature. After you pick a trusted person, the app quietly asks if you're OK at the intervals you choose. If you don't reply to a check-in, it asks again 6 hours later. If still no reply 6 hours after that, an email goes to your trusted person asking them to check in with you. One tap acknowledges anytime. Their contact details are kept securely with your account and used only for this. It is not an emergency or monitoring service.

  • Optional
  • Premium
  • You're in control
9

What's free, what's premium

Free includes the full meditation flow, mood and world browsing, a handful of scenes per category, and a 15-minute sleep timer. Premium unlocks every scene, longer sleep modes (including "All night"), unlimited favorites, offline downloads, and Check on me. Premium is monthly, yearly, or a one-time lifetime purchase. No ads, ever.

10

What this isn't

Five Minutes Away is a relaxation and escape app. It is not a medical, healthcare, therapy, crisis, or emergency service, and Check on me is not a monitoring or alerting system in that sense. In an emergency, please contact your local emergency services.