The Importance of Space: Why Rest is Key to Productivity

Yifat Shirben
May 27
4 min read

Updated: Jul 22

Most modern workplaces are always on the lookout for productivity hacks. They chase ways to do more in less time, streamline processes, and boost efficiency. However, in the pursuit of doing more, we often overlook the one thing that makes sustained productivity possible: space. Time to breathe. Room to reset.

Resting Alone: The Limits of Individual Wellness

Forward-thinking wellness leaders in corporate environments understand that rest isn't a luxury – it's a strategy. This perspective gives rise to features like sleep pods, quiet rooms, or protected meeting-free time. These features help carve out moments that allow the nervous system to settle and recharge. They create the mental clarity that helps individuals return with more focus and ease.

However, even well-designed wellness efforts can come with hidden challenges. Employees may worry about how they’ll be perceived for using these spaces. They might also feel uncertain about how to relax during unstructured time. Without clear support or permission to truly pause, these spaces can inadvertently add pressure rather than relieve it.

Bringing Teams Together (But Maybe Asking Too Much?)

In response to these challenges, many wellness programs have started offering more structured, guided events. These events aim to set aside time for de-stressing while fostering team unity. Think mindfulness sessions, movement classes, or interactive workshops—experiences meant to teach long-term tools for well-being.

While these activities are valuable, they can still generate friction. Many require active participation and a certain comfort level with being seen or sharing. For teams already running on low bandwidth, even something meant to restore can feel like just another obligation.

We often underestimate how much energy goes into maintaining momentum. Moments meant to be restorative, like lunch breaks, mindfulness sessions, or team walks, can carry subtle expectations to participate, reflect, and engage.

Bridging the Gap Between Individual Rest and Team Connection

Sometimes, what teams really need is a container. They require a moment where they don’t have to decide, initiate, or manage anything themselves. It could be an experience where they are gently guided but not pressured to engage. A space where they come together as a group while enjoying the chance to rest.

I know I'm biased, but that’s precisely what sound baths are designed for. They offer a full sensory pause—not just a break, but a structured environment for deep rest. Sound baths are simple and accessible. They don’t require participants to do anything other than lie down, listen, and let their bodies reset—often more deeply than expected.

In a sound session, there’s no pressure to talk, move, or perform. There is no shared vulnerability or comparison. Just sound. The nervous system knows exactly what to do with that because it’s wired to respond positively to such experiences.

It’s not uncommon for people to realize that they haven’t truly rested in months. Not screen-time rest or scrolling on the couch, but the kind of rest where the body feels safe enough to exhale.

Participants relaxing at a sound bath wellness activity

What It Offers Individuals – and How That Ripples Through Teams

After a sound bath, most people describe feeling lighter and more grounded, as if their batteries have been recharged. It’s not just a trend; the phrase "the sleep of a thousand hours" might be quite fitting. Participants return to their workdays feeling clear-headed, calm, and ready to re-engage—not because they were told to reset, but because they genuinely did.

What’s even more surprising is how something so inward can foster a shared experience. From what I’ve observed repeatedly, creating a quiet space where people aren’t expected to talk allows a natural kind of connection. Individuals emerge with something to reflect on and often, something to discuss. Without the pressure of icebreakers or expectations, a shared pause can quietly bring the team closer together.

Is It Right for Your Team?

Sound baths are designed to meet people where they are—no special skills or prior experience required. They are naturally inclusive, culturally neutral, and accessible across age groups and roles. This gentle approach ensures that even the most skeptical participants can feel at ease.

Yes, you may encounter some skeptics in the room. But that’s the beauty of sound baths. With no pressure to do anything but lie down and relax, those who arrive doubtful tend to leave feeling surprisingly refreshed. I’ve seen enough examples to know this: people are often more open to rest than we perceive, especially when it’s offered without expectation.

The experience can vary significantly depending on the facilitator. With the right approach, a sound bath doesn’t feel spiritual or abstract—it instead feels grounding, accessible, and safe. If you're curious what that looks like, I explored it more in this post about how sound healing doesn’t have to be spiritual.

Where It’s Showing Up in Sydney

More and more Sydney-based workplaces are integrating this kind of restful experience into their wellness offerings. This integration is not intended to replace existing practices but to offer something softer alongside them.

We’re witnessing sound baths included in:

Strategy day programs as a way to recharge before team discussions.
End-of-quarter rituals to support nervous system reset.
Wellness weeks or offsites looking for something fresh and calming.
Team-building days where connection and reflection are prioritized, without the pressure of high-energy activities.
Ongoing wellness programs to provide a different kind of rest and balance.
Onsite individual sessions for teams seeking flexibility or privacy.