How do I know if I am recovered from burnout?

[Kumudu]

Nearly 3 months into burnout and I feel more energy , finally updated my CV this week and started applying for jobs; but I can’t wait to close this chapter and put everything behind me.

I have resigned and thought I return to pay the rest of my notice; basically because I don’t like to leave jobs in bad terms, I loved the first few years and want to say goodbye to my colleagues; but as time is approaching I am not sure anymore. I have 3 months notice but will be reduced to 9 weeks discounting 2 weeks sickness and 2 weeks annual leave.

Do you ever recover from burnout?

I feel like I need more time but not sure if this job has put me off work forever. I am not particularly excited about job hunting and having to sell and prove myself again, but it has to be done.

I had burnout (which included depression and anxiety brought on by being bullied). I took a part-time job in something completely different, really low stakes and not challenging for a few months with a temp agency, and then went for permanent jobs to pay the mortgage and hopped around until I found something I loved.

I knew I had recovered when I could completely switch off at 5pm and not think about work until 9am the next day. Leaving was the best thing that ever happened to me (work-wise). Knowing that those initial part-time jobs were just to keep me busy meant I had time to actually be bored and think about what I wanted to do. When I applied for full-time perm roles again, I knew what was important to me (supportive team, no arseholes, no politics, challenges I was allowed to fail) and what I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot barge pole.

I think you realise after burnout how it feels and never really stop checking for it. I personally have taken a year after it left me with serious health complications, which doctors misdiagnosed and I ended up nearly dying because my body started shutting down. All very dramatic, but it does leave mental trauma as well. I did go through a period of a couple of months where I began berating myself for not earning/doing/producing enough - or what I used to - but it soon made me feel like I needed my medication again, which I had weaned myself off. Add to that that if you are applying for jobs in the current market AI will want completely odd things from your CV, so you need to really tailor it in the very basic way AI likes, just to get an interview. If you do decide to go back to work don't underestimate this as it can also knock confidence if you don't realise that making your CV too specific or explaining time out of work at ALL means your CV goes directly to the bin. Good luck!

Thank you. Glad to hear it worked well for you at the end. I feel like I need something low key, not very demanding for awhile, part time ideally.

Part of my burnout was also due to politics and unfair treatment.

Sorry to hear this, very traumatic experience for you. Hope you are in a better place now

Thanks for the advice reg AI and CV

I had burnout in 2022 secondary to overwork, overwhelm and horrific politics within the role. I had 3m off sick, went back for 2 days then resigned with no other job to go to. Nothing was going to change so I cut my losses to recover. I had another 3m off then got a part time job in a similar field with a lot less pressure. Almost 3 years later, it feels like a distant memory but as previous poster has said, I'm very aware and vigilant to never have it happen again.
I did some CBT and I was also honest with my new employer about potential triggers which took the pressure off me. I have occasional imposter syndrome still (but who doesn't really??) and have to talk myself up sometimes that I'm competent and capable and good at my job. 2.5yrs into the new job, I'm finally able to trust myself and be ambitious again without thinking it'll harm me. However I won't work full time and I won't manage people. Both of those are my non-negotiables as that's what led to the burnout initially.
So overall, yes you can recover and you can recover well. I'm more content and balanced than ever before. But my top tips would be: be kind to yourself, know your triggers, know your worth and accept your vulnerabilities without fear.

The psychological impact has taken me about 5 years to get over

I had burnout last year, it crept up on me over several years and the wheels fell off spectacularly. I handed in my notice knowing I had 12 weeks and at the risk of outing myself we had a family tragedy within 2 weeks which lead to me having 6 weeks off.

I resigned without another job to go to but did apply for another job within a week and was successful. I’ll be honest though, I am still rebuilding my confidence nearly a year later, my previous job destroyed me and it’s been tough.

My new job is completely different and it’s been hard to build confidence from such a low base but I do really enjoy my new role at the same time. Think it’s just time really.

Thank you all.

I don’t think I am fully recovered; as my anxiety is increasing as time is approaching for me to return to complete my notice. I am not sure I made the right decision; i could potentially extend my sickness until the end of my notice.

It does seem to take time to recover completely; I am doing everything I can: yoga, meditation, eating well, swimming. I have more energy but ultimately I think I just want out of this job as soon as possible.

And yes, It has such of a knock on effect on your confidence. It is terrible how much this impacts you.

That really is a long time; sorry to hear this

I ended up going back with only 3 weeks of my notice period to work and that felt doable for me.

I tried to focus very much on tying up loose ends and handing things over. It was still tough and I found myself getting drawn back into things that lead to my burnout in the first place.

I think even if my dbro hadn’t had his accident, I would have ended up going off sick because I was broken. If you feel you need longer off, I would take it. Burnout is so hard💐

Extend your sickness until the end of your notice would be my advice.

I'm off work with burnout at the moment too, and have been wondering the same.

I don't feel better, but money's incredibly tight on SSP and I'm going to need to do something in the next couple of months.

My situation is a little different as my burnout was only partly work-related (I had a horrendous 2 years in my personal life) and so going back wouldn't be intolerable, but I can hardly get through a day without going back to bed to sleep for hours.

It's so, so hard.

I really resonate with this. I wanted to say that now you are out of the immediate situation I'd recommend having a blood test to check you aren't deficient in B12, have thyroid issues or anything that can also be causing your low energy and mood. My doc kept insisting I was depressed and anxious when if he had given me a blood test we could have sorted out the root cause rather than me being on meds I didn't need. I've gone from being able to sleep for 12hrs a day to normal sleep patterns. I had a lot of trauma too and I don't think Dr's often think of the obvious; you forget to eat properly and don't look after yourself when you are in trauma. Just a nudge to check it out anyway as it has made a huge difference to me.

Could you try a staggered start to work? Maybe a couple of half days to start off with to see how you get on?

Thank you all. I told them after I resigned that I will return to complete my notice when current sickness leave ends; however as time is approaching some of the symptoms are coming back: I slept little last night, have mild headache and stomach/digestive issues, a feel of fear and anxiety about the work.

I think I will extend my leave. We have 13 weeks fully paid and another 13 half paid and with the possibility to claim income protection.

I will speak to the dr this week.

I am doing everything I can to recover but ultimately I think it takes time to get back to your normal self. I really don’t wish you anyone as it is not a nice feeling.

Thank you,

I have blood test early this year; everything was normal but B12 was low and I have had 3 injections so far. I take other vitamins, I exercise, practice mindfulness, eat well.

In fact I was feeling better until the day of returning start approaching and symptoms started returning so I think is the job the root of the problem.

I work for a big 4, the job is quite demanding and stressful, and this on top of politics and unfair treatment caused the burnout

I think I will extend my leave. We have 13 weeks fully paid and another 13 half paid and with the possibility to claim income protection.

I will speak to the dr this week.

In that case def speak the Dr. and suit yourself because

1. You can change your mind
2. Your work probably aren't expecting you back anyway.

I think the only way I can tell that I am starting to feel better is if I am no longer thinking about work 24/7. I was in a place where I could never switch off completely. I am making a huge effort to maintain a better work/ life balance understanding the importance of this and the consequences of if I don’t.

That is the thing; even when I am not working this job is in my head most of the time.

Cant wait to close this chapter and put it all behind me.

Thanks for the advice,

I have made the decision to speak to the dr and extend my sickness leave; started getting a feel of relief already as the thought of returning to pay my notice started filling me with dread and triggered some of the symptoms, slept 3 hours last night

As you said I can change my mind. I told them I would return to complete my notice but the reality is that I am not recovered.

Well done for prioritising your recovery.

Sounds like you need more time to recover OP. I found that introducing small things like a daily walk and gym or yoga helped to create structure that prioritised by health and better sleeping habits followed which allows you to think more clearly. When you are ready the answers will come.

Thank you. I think I do need more time.

Not sure why I was thinking when I told them I was going to come back to pay the rest of my notice. I just didn’t want this job to end like this; however I am still dreading the work and feel a bit tearful when I think of it.

Well done, sounds like it’s absolutely the right decision.

I think it’s normal to feel guilty for ‘letting people down’, that’s partly why I ended up burnt out in the first place, prioritising everyone else’s needs over mine!

My job used to consume every minute of my day, weekends, evenings, holidays were all spent worrying what I was going back to! It usually was as bad as I imagined unfortunately.

It’s not a way to live at all! The turning point for me was when I found myself having vague suicidal thoughts. Never any intent to end my life but it shocked me that I’d got to that point and I will never let a job do that to me again!

So true. It does consume your mind even when you are not working.

I asked a couple of friends if they had Monday blues and they said not; this got me thinking that I am definitely in the wrong job; more than Monday blues it was a feeling of dread; also every time my boss messaged me, which wasn’t often but I sort of developed this fear; wondering what they were going to say.

I want to let go, forget, put it all behind me, but doesn’t seem so simple.