Burnout is the cultural phenomenon we can’t seem to escape. We know the causes, the signs and the toxic workplaces that often cause it.

But what happens after we’ve burned out? How can we start to get stuck back into our working lives without falling into the same bad habits?

“Burning out from pushing too hard can feel like a kind of self-betrayal, so it can be difficult to trust ourselves again,” writes psychologist Seth J Gillihan for Psychology Today. “[But] with care and attention, we can rediscover the joy of rewarding, life-giving work.”

So if you’re returning to work after a well-needed break, these are the six steps, both preventative and curative, that you should be taking.

Returning to work after burnout? These are the 6 steps you need to follow