Whether you’ve taken a two-week holiday or enjoyed a quieter pace over the summer, returning to work in August or September can feel unexpectedly jarring. The shift from slower days to packed schedules, inboxes, and performance demands can unsettle even the most resilient among us.
At Bloomfield Health, we often hear from patients who notice a spike in anxiety, low mood, or fatigue during this period. In some cases, the return to work after a break brings underlying issues—like burnout, undiagnosed neurodiversity, or chronic stress—into sharper focus.
Here’s how to make the return more manageable and protect your mental wellbeing as you transition back into work.
Many people feel low or anxious after time off. It’s common to question your role, your work-life balance, or even your career path after a break. These feelings often pass within a week or two—but if they don’t, it may be worth exploring further with a clinician.
Tip: Allow yourself a buffer. If possible, avoid scheduling major deadlines or emotionally demanding meetings in your first few days back.
Sleep, eating, and exercise routines often shift during holidays.
A sudden return to 6am alarms and long commutes can be a shock to the system.
Where possible, reintroduce structure in stages—especially if you’ve experienced mental health challenges in the past.
Tip: Consider a ‘soft start’—returning midweek or working reduced hours for your first few days if your employer allows it.
Returning from a break can highlight whether your baseline level of functioning is sustainable.
Ask yourself:
If the answer to any of these is yes, it may be worth speaking to your GP or a mental health professional.
Bloomfield Health offers private psychiatric assessments, including diagnostic reviews and workplace mental health support. Learn more about our services.
Is it the volume of work, the environment, team dynamics, or a sense of being misaligned with your role? Externalising specific stressors helps reduce overwhelm and is a first step toward problem-solving or boundary-setting.
Tip: Keep a short journal or note on your phone of moments that feel particularly stressful or demoralising during your first weeks back.
Tip: You don’t need a formal diagnosis to request flexibility or adjustments. But if issues persist, a formal occupational mental health assessment can be helpful.
Burnout and depression often overlap, but they require different types of support. Key signs that you might need more structured help include:
Having something to look forward to can protect against chronic stress.
If the return to work is triggering panic attacks, insomnia, low mood, or a sense of being “not yourself,” it may be time for a formal assessment. At Bloomfield Health, our clinicians are experienced in:
Contact us today for a confidential discussion.
Remember: It’s not a personal failure to struggle after a break. In fact, it may be an important signal from your body or mind. With the right support, it’s possible not just to return—but to reset.
We are registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC),
the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
