Use a Clinical Psychologist's Break-Taking Brain Hacks to Be More Productive Than Ever Chris Mosunic, chief clinical officer at mental-health brand Calm, reveals how to make the most of your work day.

Work can be stressful, and the glorification of hustle culture doesn't help — in fact, it's been proven to reduce productivity and lead to burnout.

Taking breaks throughout the day — even small ones — is a great way to take some of that pressure off. Studies have shown that microbreaks lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes can improve workers' concentration and outlook.

Related: Understanding BIZ Experiencesial Burnout (And How To Deal With It)

"There is a shared responsibility from employers to be doing their part by actively encouraging employees to take mindful breaks and promote a positive working environment," Chris Mosunic, clinical psychologist and chief clinical officer at mental-health brand Calm, tells BIZ Experiences.

Even though many employees know taking breaks can benefit them and their work, only one in three actually say they often or always do, according to a Calm Business study. Respondents cited being too busy (56%), feeling guilty (24%) and worrying about looking unproductive (17%), as the top three reasons for skipping them.

But refusing to take breaks can do more harm than good. "When we're in back-to-back meetings, the body will experience heightened stress levels and a decrease in attentiveness, which can make it hard to focus," Mosunic explains. "It's a myth that being over-scheduled and very busy at work is more productive; in fact, the opposite is true. Nonstop work and hustle culture are detrimental to our wellbeing."

According to Mosunic, taking a break during a busy day at work allows our brains to re-focus on ourselves — "essentially recharging energy and regaining alertness."

When it comes to how you take a break, Mosunic encourages getting creative and paying attention to which activities "most invite relaxation and a mental reset." And keep in mind that a short break is always better than forgoing one altogether.

"For instance, if you don't have time for a full 10-minute meditation, simply close your eyes and take five deep breaths," Mosunic says. "You can also arrive to your meeting one minute late to take a moment to breathe deeply and regroup. No one's going to penalize you for a 60-second delay, but the benefits to your health (and productivity) when you give your brain a short break are important."

Mosunic suggests taking a walk if the weather permits, leaving your desk to grab a beverage and moving your body and/or mind (Calm's Daily Move videos can help). Additionally, consider kicking off Zoom meetings with a breathing exercise or listening to a stress-reducing playlist throughout the day.

Related: Frequent Breaks Make BIZ Experiencess More Efficient. Here's Why.

On May 9, Calm invites employees across the globe to partake in a workplace mental health break: BRB: The Working World Takes a Break. The event, which will open with a meditation session led by wellness expert and Calm's chief purpose officer Jay Shetty, will explore how we can have healthier relationships with work and feature influential leaders in the mental health space.