Why pausing at work might be the most productive thing you do all day

By Tara Buhagiar – Mindfulness facilitator  

In the ever-moving rhythm of the modern workday, it’s easy to forget that stillness can be just as powerful as momentum. We fill our calendars with back-to-backs, push through lunch, and wear ‘busy’ like a badge of honour. But what if the most impactful thing you did in your workday wasn’t another meeting or another email - but a deliberate pause? 

At Trinity Curated Wellness, our Align & Restore sessions were designed with this exact idea in mind: to offer busy professionals a guided moment to breathe, reset, and return to their day more grounded, clear, and capable. And it turns out, the science is backing us up. 

The case for stillness 

You don’t need a whole afternoon off or a wellness retreat in Byron to feel the benefits of a break. Just 50-odd minutes of guided stillness - like meditation, breathwork, or healing sound - can measurably shift your state. 

• Better focus, fewer mistakes.
  Research shows that even short meditative breaks improve attention span and working memory - two things most of us are running low on by 3pm. 

• Stress less.
  A 2016 review out of Harvard University found mindfulness practice can lower cortisol and help regulate the nervous system more effectively than a holiday (yes, really). 

• Smarter teams.
  Studies also show stillness enhances emotional regulation and empathy, which makes for more connected teams and better communication. 

• Business impact.
  Companies that integrate wellbeing into daily culture see less absenteeism, more engagement, and stronger retention.  

So how do you build it in? 

Start small. If you’re a leader, join the session yourself. Your presence matters. If you're part of a team, try blocking your calendar for a “focus reset” after lunch. If your workplace offers Align & Restore - come along. No experience is needed, and you don’t have to be good at meditating. You just have to show up. 

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about remembering that your nervous system wasn’t built for 10 hours of go-go-go. 

About Tara Buhagiar

Tara B. is an internationally recognized Mindfulness Meditation Teacher who has facilitated courses, workshops, and meditations for individuals and workplaces online, on-demand and onsite since 2017. She empowers people with tools to help reduce stress, cultivate compassion and improve quality of life.

Tara has served global communities guiding over 50,000 meditators on the Insight Timer Meditation App and PUML Health App. Her meditations are well loved and support relaxation, focus and gratitude. In 2024 she incorporated singing bowls into group practices to further enhance relaxation.