Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

Anna Katharina Schaffner, Ph.D. is a professional burnout and executive coach and a writer. She used to be a professor of Cultural History at the University of Kent. She specialises in helping people overcome burnout and overwhelm and to rediscover their passion and purpose. Her unique blend of expertise as both a writer and a coach reflects a lifelong dedication to the art of self-improvement. She is the author of Exhaustion: A History (Columbia University Press, 2016) and The Art of Self-Improvement: Ten Timeless Truths (Yale University Press, 2021). Her latest book is Exhausted: An A-Z for the Weary (Profile, 2024). Anna is deeply passionate about helping her coaching clients transition from a state of exhaustion to a state of vitality in which they can direct their energy to what really matters in their life. In her coaching practice, she combines state-of-the-art and science-based coaching techniques, including co-active coaching and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), with tried-and-tested ancient wisdom. Her focus is on the importance of deepening self-knowledge and working on values, purpose, and character strengths. She also integrates ancient Stoic techniques and the art of letting go into her practice. You can book a free coaching exploration call with her here. Anna’s journalism has appeared in the Times Literary Supplement, the Guardian, Psychology Today, PositivePsychology, Aeon, PSYCHE, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and other places. Her research has been discussed on BBC Radio 4, in Vogue, National Geographic, The Atlantic, Philosophie Magazine and in other media. You can find some of her writing here. You can find Anna on LinkedIn and on Instagram.

Spiritual Modesty: Why Humility Is More Powerful Than You Think

Spiritual Modesty: Why Humility Is More Powerful Than You Think

May 20, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.
Parental Burnout and the Pressure to Be Perfect

The Rise Of Parental Burnout: Why Today’s Parents Are So Tired

May 16, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.
Anticipatory Stress: Are Your To-Do Lists Torturing You?

Anticipatory Stress: Are Your To-Do Lists Torturing You?

May 16, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

The Power of the Conditioned Mind

August 18, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

The 7 deadly sins lives within each one of us

August 18, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

What’s So Great About Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? 7 Reasons

February 8, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

Cosmic Insignificance Therapy: Embracing Our Place In The Universe

February 8, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

How To Combat Burnout? 5 Surprising Tactics For Battling Burnout

February 8, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

Transformative Reads: 12 Best Self Improvement Books

June 23, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.

The Stealthy Exit: Understanding The True Problem With Quiet Quitting

February 8, 2025
Anna Katharina Schaffner Ph.D.
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