step back

A reversion to a former state or situation.

To stop what one is doing and evaluate the current situation.

“Perhaps we should step back for a second and think about solving this problem a different way.”

To prevent oneself from becoming emotionally involved in a certain situation.

“As a therapist sometimes you have to step back from your clients' lives.”

(of a driver at a terminal station) to depart driving the train following the train they arrived into the station driving, so as to decrease service turnaround time.