Recovery Experience (REQ)

Four ways of refuelling after work: detachment, relaxation, mastery and control – shown as a profile across all four dimensions.

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Recovery Experience (REQ) – questionnaire preview

In 2007 Sabine Sonnentag and Charlotte Fritz described four experiences that make up recovery after work: detaching mentally, relaxing, challenging yourself differently, and controlling your own time. The instrument measures each of these four dimensions with four statements on a five-point agreement scale. Its practical appeal lies in the profile: two people with identical exhaustion scores recover in very different ways, and the lowest dimension is usually the most effective place to start.

When should you use this template?

This template is a great fit for:

  • As a complement to burnout and well-being checks
  • In leadership and health programmes on the topic of recovery
  • To prepare a coaching conversation about strain and balance

Every question in this template

  1. 1

    I understand that participation is voluntary and anonymous, and I take part. *

    Consent
  2. 2

    How much do the following statements apply to your evenings and days off? *

    Matrix
    Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
    I forget about work.
    I don’t think about work at all.
    I distance myself from my work.
    I get a break from the demands of work.
    I kick back and relax.

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Frequently asked questions

What exactly does “detachment” mean?
This means psychological detachment: not being mentally at work once the day is over. It is the best-evidenced of the four factors and is more closely linked to well-being than relaxation alone.
Is a high score everywhere the goal?
No. The four dimensions are different routes, not levels. What matters is the profile – in particular whether one dimension falls clearly behind.

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