Returning to work after an extended absence

Hi Terrianne, 

What a journey you've had. You're so strong - and you'll get through the next hurdle of going back to work with the same strength and bravery. 

I did not have as long a break as you, but here a few tips that helped me:

• Don't put pressure on yourself and expect that you'd be able to work at the same pace or with the same vigour as before. Take it one day at a time. I have a type A personality, so that was the hardest part for me. 
• Plan to have free time before and after your working hours as far as you can so that you can get maximum rest - you'll be very tired. I reserved seeing friends or doing my chores on the weekends. I also asked my mom to stay with my for a few weeks to help with cleaning, shopping and cooking. 
• I underestimated the toll commuting and seeing people in person would take on me, so I found it helpful to wfh with special permission and then slowly eased myself back in with 1 day a week, then 2, etc. 
• If you're overwhelmed and tired, allow yourself to feel that and then do something that fills your emotional tank. I spent more time at the ocean before/after work. 
• It's ok to tell management that you can't take on too much work - my first week back, they put me on 3 new projects and I had to tell my manager that I couldn't cope with my workload. Hopefully yours will have a higher EQ. 
• I experienced brain fog during presentations (don't know if you do that type of work) which was very embarrassing for me. Go easy on yourself if similar things happen to you - you might look like the version of you that used to do the job, but your body is still healing and recovering. 

Hope that helps and all the best xx