SCIence-based Wellbeing
for leaders

Pausa

A science-based support for leaders designed to protect their wellbeing and improve healthspan

Phase 2 — Pausa Circle

After the Reset, participants join an ongoing cohort of founders and leaders. The Pausa Circle provides structure, accountability and community support.

Pausa method

A two-phase, evidence-based structure designed for long-term impact

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

Phase 1 — Pausa Core (3-Day offline Reset in nature)

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

• 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."

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."

Both the resets and the ongoing cadence are facilitated and supported by local specialists across sleep and recovery, nervous system regulation, movement, nutrition, gut health, and mental performance.

Expert support

Access to Pausa

3 steps

Why leader wellbeing matters

Pausa. A practical science-based wellbeing guide for leaders

Download more guides: Daily Habits Playbook | Optimized Workspace Guide | Sleep Protocol

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

World’s top leaders

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.

Why Pausa exists

"I grew up in an environment where burnout, depression 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, the space I wish I had much earlier. Today, the demands on founders and executives are higher than ever, and mental strength directly shapes decision quality, team stability and long-term outcomes.

Pausa is built on three pillars:
Science-based (neuroscience, behavioral science, evidence-based wellbeing protocols), expert-led (facilitators, therapists, coaches), and community (ongoing circles and alumni support). Our aim is simple: to help leaders stay clear-minded, steady and effective before stress turns into burnout."

Pausa Founder

My mission. My passion. My cause

Yaroslav Derevianko

Co-founder of Pausa

LinkedIn