From Burnout to Coherence
Burnout is your biology begging for coherence
64% of high-performers show clinical cortisol dysregulation (Mayo Clinic, 2023). We’ve pathologized exhaustion as “dedication,” but burnout is a biological crisis where the prefrontal cortex shuts down, the amygdala hijacks decisions, and the body enters chronic survival mode (Polyvagal Theory, Porges).
The nervous system lens
Burnout manifests as sustained activation of the autonomic nervous system and dysfunction of the sympathetic adrenal medullary axis, leading to alterations in cortisol levels and increased allostatic load (World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 2021). This biological imbalance results in structural and functional brain changes, systemic inflammation, and heightened risk for cardiovascular disease.
Case study: The CEO who hummed
By modeling pre-meeting vagal toning—60 seconds of humming to activate the parasympathetic nervous system—and energy mapping (“Where’s your energy on 1-10?”), a CEO reduced decision fatigue by 41%, increased innovative solutions by 33%, and boosted collaboration by 27%.
Three coherence practices
Co-Regulate Daily: Implement 90-second grounding sessions together.
Name Collective States: Acknowledge, “We’re in survival mode—let’s pause and breathe.”
Reframe Language: Shift from “Why?” to “What’s needed now?” to foster solution-oriented thinking.
Sources
Mayo Clinic (2023)
Polyvagal Theory (Porges)
The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry (2021)
