Detachment and recovery after work: An overview

Introduction

Psychological detachment, i.e. the need to detach from work, when not at work, is becoming more vital, due to the increasing technological advances that make it easier to stay connected to the workplace, through e.g., e-mail, ‘smart’ phones and teleworking. These changes have contributed to researchers progressively highlighting the importance of recovery from the work environment, especially in terms of maintaining a good balance between work and life, and thereby, enabling better health and wellbeing. This article discusses: the detachment and recovery concepts; their relationship; and impact on workers’ health, wellbeing and productivity.…