Developer interview · Part 7 of 12Data and daily state

Too tired to work out after working late? 4-7-8 breathing in Data2Dao

On a day when Aura is very low, Data2Dao does not recommend a workout and suggests a round of 4-7-8 breathing instead. This article explains the 4-7-8 rhythm, when the wooden fish (a temple block) and the singing bowl sound, how eyes-closed detection is used, and why the developer designed it this way.

Johnny, developer of Data2Dao · Updated October 12, 2026 · 4 min read · App version 1.6

Short answer

On a day when Aura is very low, Data2Dao generally does not recommend a workout; it suggests a round of 4-7-8 breathing, or going to bed early. 4-7-8 means inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 7 seconds and exhaling for 8 seconds. One round is 19 seconds, and four rounds take 1 minute 16 seconds. A wooden fish (a temple block) sounds at every change of breath and a singing bowl sounds on every full cycle, so you can keep up with your eyes closed.

Concept card "The simplest one: mindfulness meditation": a ring divided into three segments, inhale 4 seconds, hold 7 seconds, exhale 8 seconds; one round is 19 seconds and one set is 1 minute 16 seconds; the orange cat sits meditating in the middle of the ring — Video 39:10 · 4-7-8 breathing

Key points

Item	Details
Rhythm	Inhale 4 seconds, hold 7 seconds, exhale 8 seconds; one round is 19 seconds
Length	Choose 1 to 5 minutes
Sound	A wooden fish strike at every change of breath, a singing bowl on every full cycle, plus voice guidance
Eyes-closed detection	Optional. When it is on, the session starts automatically once you close your eyes; if you open them partway through, the orange cat speaks up to remind you
Dao Years	You earn them without eyes-closed detection too; with it on you earn more
Record	Saved to Apple Health as mindful minutes when the session ends
Where to find it	Meditation on the Train tab

What to do on a tired day

I'm worn out after a day of overtime. How will the orange cat treat me?

It hopes you will go to bed early. If you still want to do something, the app will suggest a round of breathing, and it generally will not recommend a workout.

The simplest thing is mindfulness meditation, which uses 4-7-8 breathing: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. One round is 19 seconds, and four rounds take 1 minute 16 seconds.

Many people find meditation hard because it asks you to empty your mind. People today always want to look at their phones and have a head full of things, so it is hard to settle down. I made two small design choices here.

One is the wooden fish. Each time the breath changes, for example from inhaling to holding, the wooden fish is struck once, so you know it is time to switch even with your eyes closed. There is also voice guidance.

The other is the singing bowl. It sounds once on every full cycle.

I used to find it very uncomfortable to follow meditation guidance. Listening this way feels good, and a few minutes go by before I notice.

Concept card "Two sounds in meditation": the wooden fish is struck once at every change of breath; the singing bowl sounds once on every full cycle; it is immersive, and a few minutes go by before you notice — Video 40:01 · Wooden fish and singing bowl

Why close your eyes

Why does meditation start automatically when you close your eyes?

First, it is convenient. Second, it follows the same idea as another app of mine, a flip-to-start focus timer: put the phone face down on the desk and the timer starts automatically, pick it up and it stops, which forces you to put the phone down and focus on your work.

Meditation is the same. If you have opened meditation but you are playing on your phone or typing on your computer, there is no point. So you still earn Dao Years when you open meditation the ordinary way, and you earn more with eyes-closed detection on: it starts automatically when you close your eyes, and if you open them partway through, the orange cat speaks up to remind you.

Two views of the Train tab: the orange cat sits meditating on a cliff, with the Start Meditation button below; the view on the right has the Eye Monitor (eyes-closed detection) switch circled — Video 41:13 · Eye Monitor on the meditation screen

FAQ

How do you do 4-7-8 breathing?

Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. That is one round, 19 seconds in total. Four rounds take 1 minute 16 seconds.

Can I meditate without eyes-closed detection?

Yes. You still earn Dao Years when you open meditation the ordinary way, and you earn more with eyes-closed detection on.

How long is one meditation session?

You can choose 1 to 5 minutes, and it is saved to Apple Health as mindful minutes when it ends.

Do I have to practice on a tired day?

No. You can take a leave day, up to 2 in every 7 days; or you can do just a round of breathing.

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