Host
Work Wives
Services
Brain heath, burnout prevention, work/life balance, wellbeing
Year
2024
Another initiative of The Work Wives, the 2024 women’s wellbeing retreats in Ubud, Bali (the last before Johanna went on maternity leave in 2025) were designed for women navigating high mental load, competing responsibilities, and early signs of burnout. The retreats were a mix of practical workshops, restful downtime, and rejuvenation through massage, yoga, meditation, sound bowl sessions, and social connection.
Johanna’s workshops focused on how the brain responds to stress, why certain patterns repeat, and how to shift them using simple, evidence-based neuroplasticity techniques. Core content included stress regulation, cognitive load management, boundary setting, and rebuilding energy without relying on willpower or unrealistic routines.
Sessions combined short teaching blocks with guided application. Participants learned how to interrupt stress cycles in real time, improve focus and decision-making under pressure, and implement small behavioural changes that hold up in day-to-day life. There was also a focus on identity and role strain – particularly relevant for women balancing work, caregiving, and personal expectations.
The groups were consciously smaller, curated, and made up of women from a mix of professional and personal backgrounds, which allowed for grounded, honest discussion without the usual pressure to present as “coping.” That context was important – it meant the work could be applied immediately, not just understood in theory.
The outcome was profound but tangible: participants left with a clearer understanding of how their brain and body respond to stress, and a set of tools they could actually use – practical shifts that reduce burnout risk and improve day-to-day functioning. If you feel that you, your friends, or your community could benefit from a similar event, please reach out here.
