Recovery during a short period of respite: The interactive roles of mindfulness and respite experiences

Work-induced exhaustion and diminished vigour require recovery periods to offset future deleterious consequences for mental and physical health. It is therefore important to understand the factors that effect recovery. This study sought insight into the roles of the personal trait of mindfulness (which refers to paying attention to present experiences) and situational circumstances (respite experiences) that facilitate recovery during a short period of respite, expressed in decreased exhaustion and increased vigour. Two hundred nursing employees from 27 units of a hospital in the northern part of Israel responded to three sets of questionnaires before, during and after two-day periods of respite. Results showed that the nurses' level of exhaustion decreased and level of vigour increased after the short respite, indicating a successful recovery. Mixed Linear Model analyses identified the nature of respite activities and experiences (fewer non-work hassles and relaxation) and mindfulness as crucial catalysts of the recovery process. Mindfulness moderated the effects of non-work hassles and relaxation experiences on the levels of exhaustion and vigour after the short respites. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings for the recovery process are discussed.