Taking Time Off After Workplace Trauma

Down time isn’t lazy, it’s essential

One of the most dangerous mistakes I see people make after leaving a toxic job? Jumping straight into the next one. Out of fear. Out of pressure.

Out of years of capitalist conditioning telling us to “stay busy” or risk being labeled lazy, ungrateful, or unemployable.

But here’s the truth: Your body is not ready.

If you’ve experienced abuse at work, your nervous system is still in overdrive.
🚨 You may overreact to harmless feedback.
🚨 You may feel threatened in neutral situations.
🚨 Your body might shut down entirely, and you need to take sick time off at the beginning of a brand new job.

💥 Not exactly the fresh start you were hoping for, right?

Before you make a move, ask yourself: “Why do I think I can’t take a break?”
If the answer is money, take a real look at:
– Your savings, including money coming from severance
– Support from a partner or family
– Ways to pause, even temporarily.

If the answer isn’t money, you might be wrestling with deep conditioning:
❌ The belief that your worth = productivity
❌ The fear of a résumé gap
❌ “Good girl syndrome” that says taking a break is selfish or lazy.

I get it. I’ve been there. I took nearly a year off after a toxic workplace experience, and I own it on my LinkedIn profile as, “Chief Resting Officer”. And I wrote about the experience here.

I didn’t even realize how much my body needed it until I gave myself permission to slow down.

You are allowed to stop. You are allowed to heal.

The next version of you deserves to start from a place of peace, not panic.

Have you taken time to recover after leaving a toxic job? Thinking about it now? Share your story, it might just give someone else the courage to rest.

Need assistance with how to exit your toxic workplace? Start here: https://www.michelersimon.com/legal