Thijs Launspach
Psychologist and bestselling author on stress, burnout and mental health
Thijs Launspach is a psychologist, speaker and bestselling author. With books such as Fokking Druk, Je Bent Al Genoeg and Asociale Media, he ranks among the most widely read Dutch authors on stress and mental health. In addition, he writes columns for the AD and articles for Vrij Nederland, produces podcasts, teaches at The School of Life and appears in numerous programmes. LinkedIn recognised him as a Top Voice on the topic of work-life balance. His keynotes and workshops are interactive, accessible and humorous, with tips that participants can implement immediately. Not psychology at a distance, but practical tools for the week ahead.
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Biography
Psychologist and author
Thijs Launspach (1988) is a psychologist, speaker and bestselling author. His expertise lies in mental health, stress, burnout, the millennial generation and the impact of social media. In his work, he translates psychological research into practical insights people can apply to their daily lives.
A series of bestsellers
He wrote, among others, Fokking Druk (2018), Werken met Millennials (2019), Werk Kan Ook Uit (2020), Je Bent Al Genoeg (2022), and Asociale Media (2023). In 2022, the English edition of Fokking Druk was published under the title Crazy Busy. This was followed by We Doen Allemaal Maar Wat (2024), Het Is Jullie Zo Gegund (2025), and Smartphonevrij Opgroeien (2025), written together with the parent movement of the same name.
Columnist, podcast maker, educator
Thijs writes columns for the AD and articles for Vrij Nederland, produces the podcasts Hoe ben je zo?! and the Thijs Launspach Podcast, and teaches at The School of Life. Previously, he was a lecturer at the University of Amsterdam. LinkedIn recognized him as a Top Voice on the topic of work-life balance.
Interactive and humorous
His keynotes, workshops and inspiration sessions have in common that they are interactive, accessible and humorous, so that the content is better received and stays with the audience longer. Every contribution is customized: a few weeks in advance, a preliminary meeting takes place to map out the situation, wishes and needs.
Expertise
Stress and burn-out
Stress is inevitable, pressure is a choice. Based on Fokking Druk, Thijs addresses the distinction between healthy and unhealthy stress, how to recognize warning signs before it's too late, and which skills make the difference: setting priorities, managing your time, saying no, and truly relaxing. In doing so, he focuses equally on what organizations need to change and what individuals can do.
Mentally Healthy in a Demanding Time
The idea that you must be even happier and even more successful is baked into our time. No matter how hard you work on yourself, there's always something to be dissatisfied about. In You Are Already Enough, Thijs shows that connection is the antidote in a world of never-enoughness, and that self-improvement is often the problem rather than the solution.
Technology and Attention
In Asociale Media and Growing Up Smartphone-Free, Thijs explores the game that big tech plays with our attention: how the manipulation works, what it does to our health and that of children, and how to escape it. He provides practical guidance for individuals and for parents, schools and professionals who want to establish a healthier norm together.
Generations in the Workplace
Are millennials really that different from previous generations? Thijs explores the opportunities and vulnerabilities of this group, why burnout rates are so much higher, and what leaders can specifically do to empower young employees instead of burning them out.
Themes
Stress Management and Burn-out Prevention
The distinction between healthy and unhealthy stress, how to manage pressure in both work and personal life, and what's needed to prevent burnout.
Mental health
Holding your own in a world of performance pressure, happiness tyranny and unrealistic expectations. About the feeling of never being good enough and what helps against it.
The impact of social media
How big tech steers our attention, what effect that has on our health, and how you can break free from that grip.
Growing up smartphone-free
The impact of early screen exposure on children, and why delaying it pays off. For parents, schools and professionals.
Leading Young Employees
Why burnout rates among young employees are significantly higher, and what you can do as a manager to empower them.
Work Happiness and Organizational Policy
What organizations can contribute themselves to reducing stress, beyond offering a mindfulness course.
Why Thijs
Psychologist, not a person with lived experience
His story is grounded in his expertise and research, not in a single personal narrative. For organizations taking this theme seriously, that's a different kind of authority.
Widely read
With eight books, including multiple bestsellers and an English-language edition, part of your audience is already familiar with his work. The keynote will therefore offer deepening rather than introduction.
Heavy subject, light tone
Stress and burn-out are topics people tend to shut down about. Thijs keeps it humorous and accessible, which allows the message to actually get through.
Directly applicable
Every session delivers concrete tips and practical tools. No awareness without follow-up, but something participants can use the next day.
Fifteen minutes to several days
Keynote, workshop, training, guest lecture or chairmanship of the day. Thijs fits into virtually any format your program requires, in Dutch and in English.
Always an initial consultation
A few weeks before the meeting, he reviews the situation and wishes with the client. This ensures the session aligns with what is actually happening in the organization.
Talks
'Fokking Druk': Stress and Preventing Burn-out
20 - 90 minutesHealthy and Unhealthy Stress
Based on his bestseller, Thijs explains how to make the distinction, which signals you should take seriously, and how to reduce stress in work and personal life.
What the individual can do
Setting priorities, managing time, saying no, planning and relaxing. Practical and directly applicable, with interaction instead of a list of tips.
What the organization must do
Relevant for employees, managers and policymakers. Thijs addresses what companies can contribute themselves to reducing stress and preventing burnout.
You are already enough: mentally healthy in a disturbed world
20 - 90 minutesPerformance Pressure and Happiness Terror
How do you hold your ground in a time when you're expected to be even happier and even more successful? Thijs shows how deeply this idea is embedded in our culture.
Why Self-Improvement Doesn't Work
No matter how hard you try, there's always something to be dissatisfied about. Thijs explains why this approach structurally leads to a dead end.
Connection as an antidote
The alternative is not working harder on yourself but doing something different. With concrete tools for those who know the feeling of never being enough.
Antisocial Media: escaping the grip of your screen
20 - 90 minutesThe game of big tech
Thijs dives deep into how social media is designed to capture your attention, and what impact that has on your health.
What it does to children
Based on Smartphone-free Growing Up, he addresses the impact of early screen exposure, and why postponement pays off for parents, schools and professionals.
Take back your grip
Clarifying insights plus practical tools participants can put to work immediately. Less conflict, more peace, more control.
Reviews
“Dealing with stress, in other words how to prevent stress, and how to prevent burnout and what are the signals that this is lurking – these things became so clear to me after Thijs's lecture. Expressed in a very clear way, both the mental and certainly the physical aspects.”
“Thijs is an enthusiastic speaker. He has a clear voice and immediately wins over his audience. He also takes his audience into account and involves his listeners right from the start of his story. He clearly indicates where his narrative is heading. You know right away what to expect!”
“Top presentation. For our large media company with 1100 employees, we wanted to create an internal show in webinar format, with the current theme of 'burn-out and stress management' as the central focus. Thijs was very enthusiastic about the idea and knew exactly how to tailor it to our wishes. A very professional, likeable speaker who conveyed his clear message in a playful way extremely well.”
“Our experience with Thijs Launspach was excellent. The contact was very pleasant, smooth, and he gets things done efficiently. Together we reviewed the program during the intake and discussed what we expected from him. We look back on a wonderful event and are pleased with the speaker we booked.”
