Double-Edged Sword: What “Severance” and Science Teach Us about Work-Life Separation

In a perfect world, we would all clock out of work and immediately forget about project deadlines, office politics, and that awkward email thread that spiraled out of control this afternoon. 

This dream is precisely what the Apple TV+ series Severance explores—but with a dystopian twist. The show presents a reality where employees at Lumon Industries undergo a procedure that literally severs their work and personal memories, creating two distinct personas: the “innie” (work self) and the “outie” (personal self). 

In Season 2, the division between “innie” and “outie” worlds weakens perilously. In Episode 9, the protagonist Mark Scout (or Mark S. as he’s known inside Lumon) even requests time off for his “innie,” challenging Lumon’s work-life balance claims. This raises the question: how achievable is true separation between work and personal life, and is it truly beneficial…for anyone?

The Case for Work-life Separation: Science supports the idea that drawing clear boundaries between work and personal life can lead to greater well-being. According to research from the American Psychological Association, individuals who can psychologically detach from work during off-hours report lower stress levels and better overall mental health.

• Improved Relationships – Separating work stress from home life and vice versa feels like a heavy lift however it’s a muscle worth working. A Harvard Business Review study found that employees who struggle to “leave work at work” often experience tension in their personal relationships.
• Reduced Burnout – A study in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that employees who establish firm work-life boundaries experience lower rates of burnout and recharge more effectively.
• Increased Productivity – Although a lot of us think of ourselves as “good multi-taskers”, science tells us otherwise. When we stay focused – at work or at home – we are better listeners to the people around us and more productive on the current task – both of which are more fulfilling, too.
• Mental Health Benefits – Studies in cognitive psychology suggest that mental compartmentalization helps reduce rumination, a key factor in anxiety and depression. (Still looping that ambiguous sentence you read in that email you got? Yeah, I am too.)

The Drawbacks of Strict Separation: While work-life separation has undeniable benefits, it’s not without its downsides.

• Reduction in Creativity – Many of our best ideas come from cross-pollination of all of our life experiences. A strict separation might stifle creative problem-solving.
• Emotional Disconnection from Work – In Severance, the “innies” live a bland existence. While real-world W/L separation isn’t that extreme, completely cutting emotional ties with work can lead to disengagement and reduced job satisfaction.
• Missed Growth Opportunities – Personal and professional growth often feed into each other so this could be a missed chance for self-improvement that arises from blending skills across both worlds.
• Swimming Up Stream in a Digital Age – With emails, Slack, and Zoom constantly pinging us, true separation is difficult to achieve. Striving for an unrealistic boundary might create more stress than it alleviates.

Striking the Right Balance: So, should we sever our work and personal lives? Not entirely. To me, the key is nourishing ourselves as human beings first and from that place, integrate both worlds. Experts suggest strategies such as:

• Time-Based Boundaries – Work with your boss to set clear work hours, and invite them to help you stick to them as much as possible. That said, when reasonable, be flexible to adjust your hours on a case by case basis.
• Tech Boundaries– Disable notifications outside of work hours, create space for others to do the same. Consider addling this to your email signature line: “While it suits me to email now, I do not expect a reply outside of your own working hours.”
• Mindset Shifts – Use transitional rituals like exercising, taking 5 cleansing breaths before you start your car after leaving the office,  or reading a quick article on your phone, to mentally shift from work to personal mode.
• Intentional Integration – Allow hobbies and passion projects to seep into personal time so you’re not just doing chores and tasks at home after laboring over work projects all day.

While a complete split might sound tempting, true fulfillment comes from leading with your values and finding peace and presence in both settings.

 What do you think will happen in the Severance season finale this week?