The biology of burnout: What happens when you overwork

Burnout isn't a mindset problem, it's a physiological one.

In this session, neuroscience-informed coach Sonia Ouarti explains what's actually happening in your brain and body when you push too hard for too long, and why the usual advice to "just take a break" rarely works.

You'll leave with a clearer understanding of burnout biology and practical first steps toward recovery.

Topics covered in this session

• Burnout is biological before it's psychological.

• You'll understand what's happening with your HPA axis, cortisol and nervous system, and why you can't think your way out of it.

• High performance is often borrowed energy. Learn to recognise when you're running on stress hormones rather than genuine resilience.

• Recovery requires working with your biology, not against it. You'll leave with grounded, evidence-based strategies that actually work.

About the speaker

Sonia is a neuroscience-informed leadership and performance coach with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and organisations through growth, change and high-pressure environments.

Before moving into coaching, Sonia spent more than 15 years in senior leadership roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS).

During this time, she designed and launched a number of global programmes focused on leadership development, organisational growth, and inclusive, high-performing cultures.

Today, Sonia works with founders, freelancers and growing businesses to support the human side of entrepreneurship. She often works with business owners who are ambitious and capable, but feeling stretched, overwhelmed or stuck as their business evolves.

Sonia holds a Master's degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from King's College London. Her work combines evidence-based coaching and brain science to help entrepreneurs understand how pressure impacts the brain and how to work with their biology, not against it.

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