Proactive mental health for leaders

Pausa:

A science-based proactive mental health program for leaders

A structured 72-hour digital detox and physiological reset, followed by a 12-month integration program that strengthens clarity, resilience and long-term performance.

Designed for leaders who operate under constant pressure and want to maintain high performance without burning out.

Pausa follows a two-phase, evidence-based structure designed for measurable improvement and long-term adherence.

Phase 1 — The 72-hour Reset

A digital detox combined with nature immersion and guided workshops. The goal is rapid physiological recalibration and restoration of cognitive clarity.

Phase 2 — The Pausa Circle

After the Reset, participants join a year-long cohort of founders and executives. The Pausa Circle provides structure, accountability and community support.

The Pausa Method:

Reset. Rewire. Sustain

"Health is not valued 'till sickness comes." - Thomas Fuller

• Intimate by design:

  "We host a maximum of 6 leaders at a time. This isn't a crowded conference. It's a private, focused environment for deep work."

The Pausa Location:

1.5h from Lisbon, six private cabins immersed in nature

• Designed for rest:

  "Each cabin is free of digital distractions. No TVs, no Wi-Fi. Just a comfortable bed, a journal, and the sound of nature."

• Space to connect:

  "Our communal space is where we gather for workshops, share meals, and engage in guided conversations."

After 72 hours in nature, participants showed a 70% drop in stress, lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety and higher well-being.

[Source]

50%

boost in cognitive function

4:1

Return on Investment

The 3-day nature immersion combined with a screen-break is linked to a 50% boost in cognitive function, creativity, and problem-solving skills by restoring the brain's attentional capacity.

[Source]

Investment in proactive mental health yields a proven minimum return of US$4 for every US$1 invested, driven by increased productivity and better health outcomes.

[Source]

Proven Benefits

70%

decrease of stress

"Resilience is a muscle that anyone can strengthen." — Sheryl Sandberg (Author, Option B)

The World’s Top Performers on Mental Health:

Insights from CEOs, Olympians, and Founders who lead under pressure

"It’s OK to not be OK. We need to normalize asking for help." — Michael Phelps (23x Olympic Gold Medalist)

"You cannot access empathy if you're not willing to be vulnerable." — Brené Brown (Research Professor & Author)

"Mindfulness has been the most transformative tool to help me become a better CEO." — Marc Benioff (CEO and Co-Founder of Salesforce)

"Sleep is not a luxury; it's a biological necessity for productivity, creativity, and decision-making." — Arianna Huffington (Founder, Thrive Global)

"Inspiration doesn’t come from constant pushing. It comes from slowing down and letting silence do its work. That's when I experienced a sense of clarity I hadn’t felt in a long time." — Felix Haas (Entrepreneur & Investor, Lovable)

Take a moment.

For real.

Stop now, and take a few deep breaths.

"All graduates of the Pausa Reset are invited to join The Circle — an active, private community of like-minded founders and leaders."

The Pausa Circle

A high-trust circle of founders and top talent committed to clarity, consistency, and long-term performance.

Upcoming Reset
🗓️ 2026, Feb 5, 14:00 – Feb 8, 14:00
📍 Just 1.5 hour from Lisbon
🏡 6 private cabins - 4 still available
💶 €1.260,- per participant (introductory rate)
Includes full program, private cabin, transfer from/to Lisbon, all meals, post-retreat integration plan

Upcoming Pausa Reset Dates:

Join a curated group of founders and leaders for 72 hours of guided reset

Next Resets
🗓️ March 2026

🗓️ April 2026

🗓️ May 2026

Modern leadership roles come with sustained cognitive load, constant digital interruption and limited recovery time. These conditions impair decision-making, emotional regulation, strategic clarity and long-term performance.

Pausa for Executive Teams is a structured 72-hour reset combined with a 12-month integration program, designed to improve the mental, cognitive and physiological capacity of leadership groups.
It is a science-based preventive mental health solution that reduces burnout risk and strengthens sustainable performance.

Pausa for Executive Teams:

A proactive mental health and performance program for leadership teams

1. Improved leadership clarity and decision quality

Chronic stress reduces cognitive flexibility and slows decision-making.
The Pausa 72-hour protocol lowers physiological stress and stabilises sleep patterns, helping leaders regain focus and make sharper, more effective decisions.

2. Lower burnout risk and absenteeism

Burnout can cost organisations €25,000-€40,000 per employee.
Pausa offers a preventive approach that reduces these risks far more efficiently than recovery-based interventions.

3. Stronger team cohesion

Shared offline experiences strengthen trust, alignment and communication within leadership teams.
Pausa’s facilitated sessions support deeper connection and psychological safety.

4. A credible tool for talent retention

Top performers expect meaningful support for long-term well-being.
By investing in preventive mental health, companies signal a forward-thinking, people-centred culture that helps retain key talent.

Why companies choose Pausa

Request Corporate Proposal

Our team will get in touch with you within 48 hours.

"I grew up in an environment where burnout wasn’t something people talked about. In a military family, admitting stress or vulnerability wasn’t encouraged. Later, as a corporate professional and then a solo founder across four companies, I experienced firsthand what happens when pressure is constant and recovery is never prioritised. You keep going because others depend on you, but the stress builds quietly until it is impossible to ignore.

Over the years, I learned how to rebuild clarity, regulate stress and maintain performance without sacrificing my health. Pausa is the result of that journey -> a way to offer other leaders the tools I wish I had much earlier. Today, the demands on founders and executives are higher than ever, and mental resilience directly shapes decision quality, team stability and long-term outcomes.

Pausa is built on evidence-based methods grounded in neuroscience, behavioural science and internationally recognised health guidelines. Our aim is simple: to help leaders stay clear-minded, steady and effective before stress turns into burnout."

The Pausa Founder:

My mission. My passion. My cause

Yaroslav Derevianko

Co-founder of Pausa

LinkedIn