'You're either an "innie" or an "outie" at work. Only one of them is right.'

Question: When was the last time you thought about your work-life balance?

Was it when you were asked to come back into the office after spending years WFH?

Was it when your boss called you on a Saturday afternoon asking you a "quick" favour?

Was it when you came in crying about your breakup?

Work-life balance is something that changes all the time depending on our type of work, our lifestage and our approach to our jobs.

The phrase has now taken on new meaning since Apple TV's cult show Severance hit our screens.

It's a dystopian series set in a world where employees can surgically separate their work and personal memories, creating an 'innie' (work self) and 'outie' (personal self). These terms are not to be confused with the type of belly button you have… it happens.

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Although we can't literally split our consciousness (from what I know, scientists reading this… please confirm), the show raises an interesting question: Should we bring our whole selves to work, or should we maintain a clear boundary between our professional and personal lives?

Some of us are natural 'innies'— people who find genuine fulfillment and purpose in their work lives and can lock in the minute we walk through the doors. For us, the idea of compartmentalising our work selves feels impossible because our careers have become intrinsically linked to our identity.

I'll put my hand up here.

At 28, I'm not embarrassed to admit that my job has felt like my life's purpose for the past six years. Like Dylan from Severance (who finds genuine joy in his work), my 'innie' would probably be having a brilliant time while my 'outie' might feel lost and undervalued.

Some workplaces encourage this. The whole "bring your whole self to work" and "we're a big family" rhetoric creates social environments that blur the lines between professional and personal life. Team building activities, work friendships, and office culture all contribute to this melding of identities.

Some people are better 'innies' than others. I've had multiple experiences of going to drinks with colleagues and being shocked when I find out that they have kids or are married after knowing them for years. I didn't realise that not everyone lays it all out on the table (guilty).

Although it's not something I would do, I can still see the appeal of maintaining two separate identities for those two aspects of your life. Having strict boundaries between our work and personal selves is not just healthy, it's necessary for long-term mental health and clarity.

The character Helly is a great example of this. Her 'innie' rebels against her work existence while her 'outie' sees it as necessary. This dynamic mirrors many real-world workers who view their jobs as just that — jobs, not identities (can't be me, but must be nice).

However, even the most passionate 'innies' can hit walls (guilty again). There have been times in my own career where the idea of severance doesn't sound half bad — when work bleeds into every aspect of life, leaving only early mornings and late nights for personal existence.

During these periods, the ability to clock out completely becomes incredibly appealing.

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Many people say they love the idea of being severed because they don't care for their jobs, so having no memory of work sounds ideal. But they're missing a crucial point — those memories don't disappear; they're experienced by another version of you who's essentially trapped there. We associate either our "innie" or our "outie" as our true self. But the show has taught us that both those people are us.

Helena's 'innie' Helly develops a completely different personality from what her 'outie' expects. Her character shows how our professional selves can grow and change in ways that might either surprise and delight our personal selves or completely terrify us.

Personally, I think that the idea of Severance is circumstantial, depending on what life stage you are in— both professionally and personally.

During periods of career growth, allowing your work self to blend with your personal identity can be incredibly fulfilling. During other times, maintaining stronger boundaries is crucial for your mental health and personal growth.

As remote work is still common practice for a lot of workplaces and with constant advancements in technology, the lines between office and home are getting more and more blurred.

However, unlike the characters in Severance, we have the ability to adjust our boundaries as needed — our work-life balance.

Creating a sustainable relationship with work that allows both your professional and personal selves to thrive should be the end goal.

Although, as someone who loves shortcuts… the experimental brain surgery doesn't sound half bad.

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If you want more from Emily Vernem, you can follow her on Instagram @emilyvernem.

Feature image: Apple TV/Canva.