How to Tackle the Hidden Emotional Exhaustion Under Executive Success
The Hidden Impact of Emotional Stress at Work
A Deloitte study found that 70% of executives are considering leaving their roles for jobs with better wellbeing support.
And yet, most workplaces are still offering light-touch solutions:
Mindfulness apps
Desk yoga
‘Mental health awareness’ and ‘mindset’ workshops
The deeper problem
Performance-driven professionals suppress emotion in favour of control
Emotional exhaustion leads to disengagement, conflict, and poor decisions
Strained relationships at home and work quietly erode leadership confidence
And most won’t say a word… until something breaks.
It’s Time to Rethink Corporate Wellness
We don’t just need policies; we need psychological space.
Progressive organisations are turning toward meaningful escapes, not just ‘retreats’, but bespoke wellbeing experiences that encourage emotional reset.
Structured time out of the office, especially in natural settings, has been shown to reduce anxiety, regulate nervous systems, and improve mood. One study by the University of Exeter found that 2 hours a week spent in nature drastically improves mental health.
Where Innovation Meets Restoration
As an award-winning psychotherapist and workplace wellbeing mentor, my team and I facilitate Coastal Escapes on the Dorset coastline.
These immersive, therapeutic experiences are designed for high-performing women to attend solo to work on herself, or with a partner or family member to deepen connection and communication in their relationship - all in a way that collapses time away from the distractions and demands of everyday life.
The aim? To step away from daily pressure, reflect and rebalance; to process and heal carried emotional burdens so that they return to life and leadership with renewed clarity and calm. Finally free from the high-functioning anxiety they endured behind that exhausting mask of outward success.
It’s a subtle approach. But it works.
When we help leaders breathe again, they come back better - for their teams, their families, and themselves.
Final Thought: What Your Team Actually Needs
If your leaders are misaligned, emotionally overloaded, or withdrawing - it’s not weakness. It’s a signal.
Leaders who feel safe to recalibrate emotionally are the ones who lead cultures of trust, retain talent, and think clearly when others panic.
Sometimes, the most strategic move is to step outside the boardroom. Literally.
Are you interested in rethinking your workplace wellbeing strategy or exploring private escapes for senior professionals?
Contact me directly for more information here.
Lisa x
Lisa Skeffington is a multi-award-winning consultant psychotherapist and self-esteem expert. She is the Founder of the Empowered Momentum Community, an exclusive membership for ambitious midlife women, and her latest book, ‘From Anxious to Empowered Momentum’, is out now..