Inc. Magazine
Struggling to separate work from life? Try creating an end-of-day ritual to signal the shift, changing your environment to reset your mind, and keeping work and personal identities distinct. Setting tech boundaries, like silencing notifications, can also help protect your downtime and improve overall well-being.
4 ‘Severance’-Inspired Ways to Separate Work From Life—No Surgery Required
Author: Marcel Schwantes
Apple TV’s “Severance” has become the streamer’s most-watched show to date, and the premise hits close to home: a workplace where employees undergo a surgical brain procedure that separates their work memories from their personal lives. It’s a fascinating—and unsettling—exploration of corporate control, but also a reflection of something deeper.
Many professionals today aren’t just overworked—they’re always working. The line between work and life has blurred so much since Covid, people are looking for more ways to disconnect from work.
While we can’t surgically separate our professional and personal selves, we can take meaningful steps to create healthier boundaries. Avery Morgan, chief human resources officer at academic platform EduBirdie, connected with me to offer practical strategies leaders and professionals alike can use to reclaim time and energy outside of work.
1. Create an intentional end-of-day ritual.
In “Severance,” employees forget about work the moment they leave their floor in the elevator. “In real life, you have to create your own version of that mental exit,” Morgan advises. “Instead of just closing your laptop in hopes that your brain cooperates, set up a strict end-of-day ritual.”
This could be writing down unfinished tasks, closing out work apps, or even making tea—whatever feels natural and repeatable. The point is to send a clear signal that it’s time to shift gears.
2. Transition your environment—and your mindset.
Logging off and disconnecting from your devices is a good start, but it isn’t enough. I often advise my coaching clients that to really disconnect from work and alleviate their anxiety, they may need to change their environment or a typical routine that keeps their minds amped up. Morgan agrees and offers up some good tips.
“If you’re working from home, avoid doing it from the same space where you rest or spend time with family,” Morgan advises. “At the end of the day, move to a different area, even if it’s just a different chair.”
You can also use short, high-contrast activities to help reset your focus—like going for a walk, blasting some good music, or splashing cold water on your face. These small shifts can help your brain step out of work mode.
3. Separate your work identity from your personal one.
One of the more thought-provoking ideas in “Severance” is the total personality split between who you are at work and who you are outside of it. While this level of separation isn’t possible—or even healthy—in real life, the concept of compartmentalizing your work self can be useful.
“You can reinforce this separation with subtle cues. For example, your ‘outie’ might never wear beige, while your ‘innie’ always sports a perfectly neat bun,” Morgan suggests.
Other small cues help. Changing your clothes after work, or putting away your work badge can reinforce the boundary.
4. Set up tech boundaries that actually stick.
Notifications are one of the guiltiest culprits—that quick email check after hours can easily spiral into another hour of work.
“Your phone is the biggest reason work bleeds into your personal life,” says Morgan. “Even if you’re not actively working, seeing unread emails or Slack notifications keeps your mind tethered to the office.
The fix? Use your phone’s built-in tools to create space. Set up focus modes or downtime features to pause notifications from email or messaging apps when the workday ends, advises Morgan.
“If your anxiety is stronger than that and you still check your phone, use an app like Freedom to block email and messaging apps entirely,” Avery explains.
Personally, my rule is to turn off my phone after 7 p.m. so I can spend time with family, enjoy a good meal, and watch some TV (like, yes, “Severance”) uninterrupted. Whatever method you choose, the point is to avoid falling back into habits that pull you back into work unintentionally. Don’t confuse these techniques for work-life boundaries to be about checking out or not being unavailable—it’s about protecting your downtime and personal life so you are recharged and ready to take on tomorrow’s workday. It’s about showing up more fully in both work and your life outside of it.
Leaders who model clear boundaries also help their teams do the same, reducing burnout and improving focus over the long haul. All you need are a few intentional habits that put you back in control of your life.
Credits: TCA, LLC.