How can companies facilitate psychological detachment from work?

Summary

Psychological detachment from work refers to an individual's ability to mentally disengage or "switch off" from work-related thoughts and activities during nonwork time. It is characterized by not thinking about work-related issues, not engaging in work tasks, and generally distancing oneself mentally and emotionally from work demands. This state of detachment allows employees to recover from work stress and replenish their mental and emotional resources, contributing to their overall health, well-being, and subsequent work performance.

This systematic qualitative review by Agolli and Holtz (2023) analyzes 159 empirical studies on factors that facilitate or inhibit psychological detachment from work. The review highlights the importance of detachment for employee health, well-being, and performance, particularly in contemporary