Journey 11 · Nurture
Switching Off From Work Goes With Less Exhaustion
Across many studies, employees who mentally switch off from work in their free time report better well-being and less exhaustion.
Researchers call it psychological detachment: not only being away from work, but mentally switching off from it during your free time. A review of this research (Sonnentag, 2012) found a consistent pattern across many studies: employees who detach this way report better well-being and less exhaustion.
These are links, not proof that switching off causes the benefit, and not every break restores you automatically. The pattern fits a simple idea: time off may do the most good when the mind gets time off too. Tallying unfinished tasks from the sofa is the opposite of detaching.
In Journey 11, Nurture, guided by Nayeli, rest counts when the mind rests too, so no tallying of lists. A small daily act can mark the line, such as standing up after logging off and taking three slow breaths. What could tell your mind that the workday is over?
The research
Strong evidence Replicated findings and meta-analyses.
- Sonnentag, S. (2012). Psychological detachment from work during leisure time: The benefits of mentally disengaging from work. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21(2), 114–118.
A free account for life, with All-Access free for your first 30 days. No card.
Join free
