Returning to work after burnout

For anyone finding their way back to work/business/life after a burnout please know that all of the below are "normal" (more is the pity)...

- anxiety about taking on too much and ending up in the same awful place as before

- guilt about letting team/projects/clients down when you crashed (also shame/embarrasment) 

- resentment (and anger) at your line managers/peers for lack of support

- FOMO about staying relevant and having a career if you have boundaries

- lack of trust in your own capacity and self efficacy

- confusion about where to put your limited energy and focus

- disconnection. And questions about whether you even want to reconnect. What if that means going around the burnout loop again?

- lack of intrinsic motivation (a part of your caring might feel like it has been used up)

- not recognising yourself...maybe you identified as someone who could take on anything. Who are you if that is not true?

- loneliness - maybe you have a different job title, a different office, a different peer group, routine or reporting line as well as a different internal world.

Also potentially enthusiasm, curiosity, excitement in the mix...(but our current cultures are more accepting and tolerant of these emotions). 

Returning to work or "normal" can feel overwhelming. Of course it does.

You're often returning to an environment that contributed to and witnessed a collapse. Having contradictory emotions, stages, thoughts, worries makes SO MUCH sense. 

50% of my current 1:1 clients have experienced burnout and are working with me as they recover and reintegrate. It's big work.