Why You Need to Prepare for Your Return to Work
The transition from a period of burnout to a successful return to work is not merely a matter of resuming one’s previous role; it is a nuanced process that requires careful navigation and support.
Throughout the discussion, Karina talks about the various emotional responses that individuals may encounter as they reintegrate into their workplaces, including apprehension and a sense of inadequacy. It is imperative to understand that the workplace environment plays a significant role in either facilitating or hindering this transition.
Karina reviews the statistics that reveal a disheartening reality: a substantial number of individuals do not thrive upon their return, instead experiencing continued struggle or, in some instances, a departure from their roles altogether. This highlights the urgent need for organizations to prioritize structured reintegration plans and supportive managerial practices.
However, she also stresses that individual preparation is equally vital. Drawing parallels to training for a marathon, she encourages listeners to invest in their own readiness, advocating for themselves and leveraging the skills gained during recovery to navigate their return effectively. This episode is not just about returning to work; it is about reclaiming one’s sense of agency and purpose within the professional realm.
- Thrivers, survivors or exiteers: A longitudinal, interpretative phenomenological analysis of the post-return-to-work journeys for workers with common mental disorders. - Nielsen, K., & Yarker, J. (2024). Thrivers, survivors or exiteers: A longitudinal, interpretative phenomenological analysis of the post-return-to-work journeys for workers with common mental disorders. Applied Psychology, 73(1), 267–295.
Takeaways:
- This podcast episode emphasizes the importance of understanding that recovery and returning to work are distinct processes that require intentional preparation.
- Listeners are encouraged to acknowledge the myriad emotions they may experience upon returning to work after a period of burnout, including fear and doubt.
- The episode highlights that a significant proportion of individuals returning to work after mental health leaves do not thrive due to inadequate preparation and support.
- It is crucial for individuals to engage in self-preparation for their return to work, akin to training for a marathon, to foster confidence and resilience.
- The conversation underscores that workplaces must provide structured support for reintegration, yet individuals should not underestimate their role in this process.
- Ultimately, the podcast aims to empower listeners to embrace their return to work as an opportunity for personal growth and meaningful change.
Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
00:00 - Introduction: Welcome and Purpose
00:28 - Understanding Recovery vs. Returning to Work
01:11 - Imagining a Supportive Return
03:33 - Challenges and Realities of Returning to Work
04:59 - The Importance of Preparation
06:14 - Personal Reflections and Empowerment
07:13 - Conclusion: Embrace Your Return
Speaker A
Hi, I'm Karina Schneider and this is Back After Burnout, a podcast dedicated to honest conversations and real strategies about returning to work after burnout.
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If you're listening to this while on sick leave and recovering from burnout, I'm really glad you're here.
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This podcast is for you.
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Not to add pressure, not to hand you a checklist, but to offer guidance and perspective for when you start thinking about returning to work.
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But here's something that's not said often enough.
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Recovery is one journey.
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Returning to work is another.
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They overlap, for sure, but they're not the same thing.
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While you probably have all the support you need during your absence and recovery, at least I hope so, it might not feel the same once you step back into your workplace.
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In fact, it's possible that the very idea of returning to work can trigger intense emotions for you.
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Fear, Doubt, insecurity, Guilt.
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Unfortunately, we don't talk about what happens in this overlap, and most workplaces probably don't offer specific guidance or support for your first days back.
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And you deserve that support too.
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Imagine this for a second.
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You get a new job doing work you really love.
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You're excited and enthusiastic about this next phase of your professional growth.
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On your first day, you have some quality time with your manager and colleagues.
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Your work desk is decorated with a welcome sign and a gift.
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They walk you through your onboarding plan, every step with information about what you need to do or who to speak with.
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Everyone is so generous to offer help and support.
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You've even been assigned a buddy.
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You feel relieved, supported, excited, confident about the months ahead.
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Now, what if your return to work after burnout felt similar to this?
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What if your employer invests the same amount of time and effort ensuring your first days felt good and celebrated?
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Years of client work and ongoing research don't often present a rosy picture like this.
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And we don't always know better either, to no fault of our own.
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As an HR professional, mental health first aider, and someone who's gone through this experience myself, I've realized how little information is available about the ins and outs of reintegration, how underprepared individuals and leaders are in managing absences, and how little is understood about the necessity of intentional preparation to make the transition back to work successful.
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My hopes as you go through this podcast are that you feel reassured that your questions and concerns are valid, that you feel more empowered and in control in making this transition work for you, and you feel equipped to tackle your questions and next steps.
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If work to you means being self employed, leading volunteer or vocational work or being a full time parent.
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This podcast is for you too.
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Let's dive a little bit deeper.
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Most of us assume that once we're medically cleared, we can just ease back into work and pick up where we left off.
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That our team will be understanding, that we'll bounce back quickly, that our energy and confidence will magically return once we start working again.
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And then reality hits.
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It's harder and more uncomfortable than we thought.
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Our assumptions are not playing out.
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It feels like we've been blindsided or we've missed a step.
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Returning to work is a process, not just a date in your calendar, and outcomes can vary.
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A 2023 study found that only about one in three people who return to work after mental health related leaves actually thrive in the return.
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The others?
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They either quietly struggle or end up leaving the organization.
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So what's causing the 2/3 to struggle or leave the gap, I find, is that there is little emphasis on the preparation needed before your first day back.
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As a result, the risk of a rocky return is real.
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You re enter too quickly without the right conversations and your confidence takes another hit.
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Your energy is still fragile, but the expectations around you haven't shifted.
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You notice people aren't sure what to say to you, or they tiptoe around your absence.
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You're starting to face performance issues, maybe even microaggressions at work.
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And then it feels like all the work you've done to feel better has just taken 10 steps back.
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Now, if I were in your shoes, I'd be thinking a lot of the preparation and support should be coming from my employer.
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Indeed, the workplace plays a huge role here.
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Most research will point to structured manager support and reintegration plans as keystones to successful returns.
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That's where people thrive.
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They stay well and feel like they belong again.
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And that matters not just for your well being, but for the team, the culture, and the business.
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But leaving it solely to your employer means you've missed half the picture.
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Don't underestimate the influence your own preparation can have on your return to work experience.
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Think of it like training for a marathon.
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You wouldn't just lace up your shoes and go.
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You'd build stamina, work on a training plan, and build a team around you for support.
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When it comes to returning to work, your preparation is about rebuilding your confidence and agency, learning to advocate for yourself, and applying all the new skills you've learned through your recovery.
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All of this will make a difference in the quality of your experiences back at work.
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In the scenario that your workplace is rather unsupportive or worse, even toxic.
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Your own preparation can help buffer you from the negative consequences of that and help you stay clear eyed on the decisions you take next.
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After talking about this with a client, Karen, she shares I feel my worries and anxiety about this new chapter have been validated and it helped guide conversations I had with my therapist on how to best prepare my first weeks back.
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I feel so much more empowered and I can be intentional about my next steps now.
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Why does this matter?
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The significance of your return to work is personal to you.
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Maybe it's just about a job, but for many situations I've seen, the return to work is more than just that.
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It's about your ability to continue to do work you love and remain employable.
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Your ability to financially provide for yourself and perhaps your family.
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Your belief in your self worth and value to others.
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Your strengthened identity and core values.
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Your opportunity to make meaningful change in your life.
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Whatever it is for you, it's a reminder that returning to work goes well beyond the administration and the logistics of absence management.
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I invite you to reflect on this for a moment.
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Setting aside the details of the date and the job.
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What would it mean to you to have a successful return to work?
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So if you're still on leave or just beginning to think about what's next, please know you don't have to figure it out all at once, but do give yourself the space to prepare to reflect about what's changed.
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You don't have to return as the version of you that burned out.
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You can return as someone wiser, more grounded, more boundaried.
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That version of you that doesn't need to be perfect, just the real human version of you.
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And if you'd like support or company alongside your return, keep listening.
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This space is here for you.
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I'll see you next time.
