Anyone left due to burnout then regretted it?

[BlueRaspberry7]

After a year or so of a heavy, mismanaged workload and external problems, I hit burnout. After voicing concerns several times and not feeling particularly heard, I handed in my notice.

At this point, leadership sent me home for a week. They have apologised for things getting to this point and want to find solutions to make the role more manageable.

I trust they will put these into action, but it's a busy role regardless and I'm worried it will get bad again.

I do need to earn an income - but not necessarily as much as this, or in such a fast paced role. That said, better the devil you know (?) and I hear the job market is terrible.

I'm curious if anyone has left a job under similar circumstances and regretted it?

I think you need to think about what you'd like the role to be like - what would make it manageable? Would you like to reduce your hours, do a job share or divest some responsibility? Go back to them with a detailed outline of what WOULD work for you. You've got nothing to lose - you've technically already handed in your notice, so the worst that will happen is you both decide the future doesn't look rosy and you go on your way. However it sounds like they want to keep you, so you hold a bit of the power. Rolss can often be adapted or changed or new roles created. If in 6 months time they haven't stuck to your agreement, you can walk. But you have to decide what you want the role to look like.

@Maraudingmarauders that's sound advice, thanks.

As difficult as it may be, also consider what - if anything - you have contributed to the situation. I am a people pleaser so find it hard to keep boundaries. People email me out of hours and I respond. Then they know that so will email me on another occasion out of hours and that time they are expecting a response, which I will then give. Likewise, people will ask me if I can help with a task, I do (even though it may be their responsibility) and create another vicious circle.
Now, my situation isn't entirely my fault. My work load is bigger than is manageable in the hours and, for various reasons, we had a couple of people doing roles in which they were out of their depth so they needed more support than usual. However, due to the way I've worked for the past few years, I think the chances of me properly enforcing boundaries successfully in my current role is limited.
As with you, they are trying to persuade me to stay and are suddenly full of praise but if they had actually valued me rather than taken advantage, that would have been evident before now. Actually, I think my line manager is surprised that I'm sticking to my guns and refusing to be persuaded to stay. For years, he's said to jump and I've not just jumped but done a double backflip,

@sangriaandsunshine

your situation and work personality sounds incredibly similar to mine. I take full accountability too for not pushing back, setting my boundaries or going directly to leadership about this sooner. The fact they now say that my workload has been mismanaged for a year or more tells me they were aware of it. Yes they're taking steps to address it now, but why not six months to a year ago? Because I did the work without complaining, like you - a people pleaser.

What are you going to do now /next? Have you officially resigned? Well done for taking control of things now. I've learnt a significant lesson about not bending over backwards to please at work.

@BlueRaspberry7 I have resigned but, as I'm just going to take some time out rather than go to a new job, there seems to be a general view that I will stay, at least on a part time basis. It's not as if they're offering me more money or other improvements to my current terms or even asking me what could be changed to persuade me to stay. Instead, they're simply issuing project plans for Q1 and even Q2 next year with my name (rather than role) on them. I think this is because my line manager and other senior staff just think that they can tell me what to do again and I'll do it, as I have in the past.
I know that I have to go as I think the chances of me successfully putting boundaries in place around a part time role are minimal. I am worried though as it is a niche area where everyone knows each other at a senior level so anyone looking to hire me in the future will pick up the phone and speak to my line manager. I don't want him to perceive me as being "difficult" just because I am actually standing up for myself for once as then it might be challenging to find future work.
As @Maraudingmarauders asks, what can you change about your role so that you could continue to do it? Is that what you want? How did they manage for the week you were off? Have you spoken to any recruitment consultants or otherwise looked for jobs?

@sangriaandsunshine I'm a little confused as to why your employer is still factoring you in to planning when you've resigned? It sounds like they don't have much respect for your decision? Sorry if I've misinterpreted that.

Have you gone back to them with the terms that would convince you to stay - if there are any? Or do you feel it's really done.

Please don't worry about becoming known as "difficult" or a tricky employee. It sounds like you have evidence that they weren't willing to help make the tile work for you. Did you see a Dr at any point for a sick note?

One difference in my situation is that they are taking accountability for a mismanaged workload and offering solutions to rectify it.

Like you say, I'm going to come up with a list of my own suggestions to offer.

I've also been offered a chat from a previous employer - similar company - to discuss potentially going back there.

In truth, I want to jump ship from that industry and re train in psychology, but that's a fantasy as we need my income and would take years of expensive studying.