Starting Fresh After a Layoff: Why “Nesting” in Your New Office Matters More Than You Think.

Recently, I had a conversation that stuck with me. Someone shared that they’d just started a new job after being unexpectedly laid off from their previous employer. The new company feels stable, supportive, and full of opportunity, but emotionally, they still feel stuck at the moment their last job ended. Immediately I knew how that felt. I've been there.

They described something many people don’t talk about:

The fear of “nesting” in their new office.

Not because they don’t like the job. Not because they don’t feel welcome. But because they’re afraid of setting up a space they might someday have to pack back into a cardboard box and carry through the dreaded “walk of shame” that comes with a termination.

This is what workplace trauma looks like, and it often follows us long after the job itself is over.

The Hidden Weight of a Layoff

A layoff doesn’t just remove a paycheck. It disrupts identity, routine, and psychological safety. Even when the next opportunity is a great one, the body remembers the shock, the uncertainty, and the suddenness of the transition. That memory can subtly shape how we show up in new spaces.

In this case, it was showing up as hesitation to unpack, decorate, or personalize a new office.

“What if I get comfortable again just to have it taken away?”

It’s a survival response, not a personality flaw.

Why Personalizing Your Space Matters

Here’s the advice I shared:

You get to decide what “comfortable” looks like, but avoid treating your new workspace like a temporary shelter. Your environment influences your mindset. A sparse, impersonal office can reinforce the belief that you’re only passing through, even when you aren’t.

A few personal touches. A photo, a plant, a piece of art, a small object that grounds you can:

• Signal to your brain that you are safe

• Create a sense of ownership and belonging

• Reduce anxiety and hypervigilance

• Support confidence as you step into your new role

• Show colleagues that you’re invested in being there

It’s not about filling every shelf. It’s about creating a space where you can finally exhale.

Trauma Doesn’t Disappear But It Can Be Reframed

Carrying trauma from a past layoff into a new job can unintentionally create a negative internal narrative:

• “This won’t last.”

• “Don’t get too comfortable.”

• “Always be ready to pack up.”

But that mindset can hold you back, making it harder to build relationships, express ideas, and fully step into your potential.

By intentionally shaping your space, you’re also shaping your mindset. It’s a small but powerful act of reclaiming control.

A New Chapter Deserves a New Beginning

The goal is not to ignore the pain of the past. Your experience was real. But you also deserve the freedom to show up fully in the present.

If you’ve recently started a new role after a painful layoff, consider this your permission:

• Add one item to your desk that makes you feel grounded.

• Hang something on the wall that inspires you.

• Let your space reflect who you are—not what you fear.

You’re not recreating the past. You’re building something new. And you deserve to settle into it.