Docs › Writing Studio › Zen Mode complete guide

Zen Mode complete guide

Last updated September 10, 2026 · 3 min read

Long-form writing needs distraction-free windows. Zen Mode strips out the UI and leaves a single centred column of text.

Slima Writing Studio in Zen Mode: the file tree, formatting toolbar, and AI Coach panel are all hidden — only a single text column remains, with every paragraph except the one at the cursor dimmed (sentence focus)

Enter Zen Mode

Common entries:

  1. Keyboard shortcut Cmd/Ctrl D (or F11)
  2. The Zen Mode button in the left activity bar (the focus / scan-frame icon)

After entry:

  • A single narrow text column
  • File tree, AI Coach, activity bar all hidden
  • Only the editor and what you type

What's in Zen Mode

Zen is a single centred column with a few built-in focus features:

  • Typewriter scrolling — the cursor stays at vertical centre, text scrolls up (on by default in Zen, nothing to toggle)
  • Paragraph / sentence focus — your current paragraph stays sharp while the rest fades, keeping you on the passage at hand
  • Floating reference window — the "Reference" button on the bottom strip opens a movable window for reference files, without breaking the view
  • Floating AI Coach — pull up a movable AI chat window when you need it
  • Go to chapter — the "Go to" button on the bottom strip (or Cmd/Ctrl G) jumps chapters without leaving Zen

A floating control strip at the bottom shows chapter position / word count plus Go to / Reference / Exit buttons.

Zen currently has no text-width (narrow / medium / wide) switch — the layout is a fixed single centred column.

Exit

Usually Esc, the Zen shortcut again, or the floating menu → "Exit Zen Mode".

Recommended Zen writing session

  1. Set a 25 / 50 / 90 min timer
  2. Mute OS notifications
  3. Enter Zen
  4. Use the bottom "Reference" button to pull up notes without leaving Zen
  5. Write

Related

Try it in Slima

Open the app and do this with your own book. Free to start, no credit card.

Open Slima
Was this helpful?