In this episode of Back After Burnout, host Karina Schneider explores post-burnout self-care strategies that go beyond routine wellness activities, focusing on preventive and responsive approaches for sustainable workplace integration.

Learn how to identify early warning signs, create actionable response plans, and build self-care systems that support your recovery journey as you navigate returning to work after burnout.

Key Takeaways:

• Self-care after burnout requires two pillars: preventive strategies (building routines to prevent stress) and responsive strategies (quick actions when warning signs appear)
• Recovery is not linear—expect ups and downs during your first months back at work
• Integration means applying what you learned in recovery to your daily work life
• Identify your energy drains and energy sources to guide your self-care decisions
• Create a personal "troubleshooting manual" with your early warning signs and first-response actions
• Plan ahead for potentially draining situations (like conferences) with specific preventive strategies
• Building a care team provides essential support throughout your return-to-work journey

More on Care Teams in episode 10, https://www.swisscastnetwork.ch/show/back-after-burnout/10-who-is-in-your-care-team/

00:00 Introduction: Post-Burnout Self-Care Beyond Routine

00:15 Struggles with Self-Care Habits

01:24 Preventive and Responsive Self-Care Strategies

05:41 Building Your Personal Post Burnout Self-Care Plan

Back After Burnout is produced by the SwissCast Network, the only podcast network with podcasts produced in, for, or about English-speaking Switzerland.

Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.

Mentioned in this episode:

A SwissCast Network Production

Check out the other great shows in the SwissCast Network!

SwissCast Network

In this episode of Back after Burnout, host Karina Schneider discusses the importance of having a support system during your return to work after experiencing burnout. She explores the concept of a "care team" - the people who can provide specific support as you transition back to your professional life.

Key takeaways:

• How to identify your personal care team members
• The importance of communicating your specific needs to your support network
• Practical examples of support requests for different relationships
• Overcoming hesitation in asking for help

This episode provides actionable steps to ensure you have the right support structure in place as you navigate the challenges of returning to work post-burnout.

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of a Care Team

00:55 Defining and Communicating Your Needs

02:42 Practical Steps to Engage Your Care Team

Back After Burnout is produced by the SwissCast Network, the only podcast network with podcasts produced in, for, or about English-speaking Switzerland.

Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.

Mentioned in this episode:

A SwissCast Network Production

Check out the other great shows in the SwissCast Network!

SwissCast Network

Why does change feel so threatening—even when we know it's good for us?

In this episode, transformation leader Oksana Prokhorova reveals the neuroscience behind our stress responses and shares practical tools to build change capacity without burning out. She explains how our amygdala treats workplace deadlines like predatory tigers, why that 10-minute walk between meetings is a non-negotiable, and the surprising truth about when to drink your morning coffee.

If you're navigating a return to work after burnout or simply trying to stay resilient through constant change, Oksana offers evidence-based strategies that actually work—from micro-dosing change to protecting your brain's "Ferrari-level" performance with proper maintenance.

Oksana Prokhorova is a transformation leader specializing in human-centered, neuroscience-informed change management in highly regulated industries. Connect with her on LinkedIn for more practical neuroscience insights.

01:28 Introduction & Welcome

02:26 Oksana's Background

03:32 Why Change Management Matters for Mental Health

05:33 The Neuroscience of Change

09:49 Change Capacity Patterns

15:09 The Stress Cycle

18:35 Returning After Burnout

23:28 Manager Responsibilities

26:00 Recognizing Burnout Signs

30:14 Personal Responsibility Discussion

34:48 Resources & Closing

Back After Burnout is produced by the SwissCast Network, the only podcast network with podcasts produced in, for, or about English-speaking Switzerland.

Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.

Mentioned in this episode:

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A SwissCast Network Production

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