Ryan Grant discusses new research on work recovery with Fast Company
Ryan Grant, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychological science, discussed new research on work recovery in Fast Company’s article, “Stop thinking about work earlier today to be more productive tomorrow.”
Grant’s new study, “What’s your 5 to 9? Antecedents and outcomes of profiles of trajectories of daily recovery experiences across the evening,” was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, the top journal in the field.
Funded in part by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research offers a detailed examination of how employees recover from work stress across the evening and why the timing of recovery matters
“On days when workload is higher, people are about 79% more likely to delay their recovery later into the evening,” Grant told Fast Company. “On days when people felt more accomplished at work, they were about 56% more likely to recover earlier in the evening.”
How to recover from work stress
Grant and co-authors Kristen Shockley, Auburn University; Fadel Matta, University of Georgia; and Malissa Clark, University of Georgia tracked how four key recovery experiences — detachment, relaxation, control and mastery — unfolded over time. Then, the team identified distinct patterns, or “profiles,” of how people recover across the evening.
“Our brains and our bodies can’t differentiate whether we’re at home or at work. As long as you’re thinking about work, it turns on these stress systems that, if left on too long, will lead to physical and mental health issues,” said Grant. “Especially for remote workers, it’s critical to have an end-of-day ritual that signals that the workday is done and it’s time to mentally detach.”
The research team recommend that employees build these intentional rituals such as a commute routine, a brief reflection or a transition activity to help mentally disconnect from work earlier in the evening. For organizations, the research underscores the importance of manageable workloads and opportunities for employees to end the day with a sense of accomplishment.
“One thing you could do at the end of the day is just write down a few small wins, or things you made progress on,” Grant said. “The next thing I would recommend is writing down what are called ‘implementation intentions’ — or what tasks you’re going to work on the next day, when you’re going to work on them, and how — which stops you from thinking about it until the next day.”