The Most Productive Hour of Your Team’s Week Might Look Like Doing Nothing (Together)

Yifat Shirben
May 27
4 min read

Most modern workplaces are always on the lookout for productivity hacks, chasing ways to do more in less time, streamline processes, and boost efficiency.

But 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 already understand that rest isn't a luxury – it's a strategy. Whether it's sleep pods, quiet rooms, or protected meeting-free time, they're starting to carve out moments that allow the nervous system to settle, recharge, and create the kind of mental clarity that helps people return with more focus and ease.

But even well-designed wellness efforts like these come with hidden challenges. People may worry about how they'll be perceived for using them, or feel uncertain about how to actually relax when given unstructured time. Without clear support or permission to truly pause, these spaces can end up adding pressure rather than relieving it.

Bringing Teams Together (But Maybe Asking Too Much?)

In response, many wellness programs began offering more structured, guided events designed to both set aside time for de-stressing and bring teams together. Think mindfulness sessions, movement classes, or interactive workshops – experiences meant to teach long-term tools for wellbeing.

While these are valuable for many, they can still come with some friction. They often require active participation and a certain level of comfort with being seen, sharing, or performing. And for teams already running on low bandwidth, even something meant to restore can feel like just another thing to do.

We often underestimate how much energy goes into maintaining momentum. Even moments meant to restore like a lunch, a mindfulness session, a team walk, can come with subtle expectations to participate, reflect, and engage.

Bridging the Gap Between Individual Rest and Team Connection

Sometimes, what teams really need is a container – a moment where they don’t have to decide, initiate, or manage anything themselves. Where they’re gently guided but not required to do anything, coming together as a group but without the pressure to engage, and offered a real opportunity to rest.

I know I'm biased, but that's exactly what Sound baths are designed for.

They offer a full sensory pause – not just a break, but a structured environment for deep rest. It's simple, accessible, and doesn’t require people to do or achieve anything. Just lie down, listen, and let the body reset – often more deeply than expected.

In a sound session, there’s no pressure to talk, move, or perform. No shared vulnerability. No comparison. Just sound. And the nervous system knows exactly what to do with that because it's wired to do so.

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

Participants relaxing at a sound bath wlelness activity

What It Offers Individuals – and How That Ripples Through Teams

After a sound bath, most people describe feeling lighter, more grounded, and as if their battery has been recharged (it’s not called "the sleep of a thousand hours" for nothing). They return to their workday feeling more clear-headed, calm, and ready to re-engage – not because they were told to reset, but because they genuinely did.

And what’s surprising is how something so inward can become a shared experience. From what I’ve seen again and again, creating a quiet space where people aren’t expected to talk or perform ends up creating its own kind of connection. People emerge with something to reflect on – and often, something to talk about. Without pressure, without icebreakers – just a natural, shared pause that quietly brings the team closer.

Is It Right for Your Team?

Sound baths are designed to meet people where they are – no special skills, mindset, or previous experience required. They’re naturally inclusive: culturally neutral, accessible across ages and roles, and gentle enough for even the most sceptical participants.

And yes, you may have sceptics in the room. But that’s the beauty of it – because there’s no pressure to do anything but lie down and relax, even those who arrive doubtful tend to leave feeling surprisingly refreshed. I've seen it enough times to know: people are often more open to rest than we think – especially when it's offered without expectation.

That said, the experience can vary significantly depending on who facilitates it. With the right approach, a sound bath doesn’t feel spiritual or abstract – it 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. Not to replace what already works, but to offer something softer alongside it.

We’re seeing sound baths included in:

Strategy day programs as a way to recharge before team conversations
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 the goal, without the pressure of high-energy activities
As part of ongoing wellness programs to offer a different kind of rest and balance
Onsite individual sessions for teams that need flexibility or privacy