How to Return to Work after Burnout

How where we burn out can hold emotion and trauma — and how to prevent burnout recurring when you return to work

After burning out as a consultant in 2019, Allison found herself overwhelmed at the thought of returning to the place where her burnout had happened.

“Even just imagining the place — walking into the reception area, the elevator, passing colleagues in the hall — made me feel tense and anxious.”

As it turns out, Allison returned to work in 2020 which meant working from home. This had its advantages.

“Working from home helped me to stay in touch with the signals my body was giving me, so I am better at setting and keeping boundaries. It also meant I didn’t have to deal with the sensory impact of going back to that place. I’m working full time again and enjoying my work much more.”

After burnout, you can have a strong physical and psychological reaction to the building — or even go into the kind of building — where your burnout took place. The relentless stress endured, the emotions that were suppressed, the signals ignored, the exploitative behaviors of bosses, colleagues or systems. All these contribute to a kind of trauma which can endure for years.