An employee who was once suffering from burnout shares the one trick that saved their mental health: 'No guilt, no stress'

A professional recently opened up about how they regained control over their mental well-being and restored balance between work and personal life while managing the pressures of a high-stress job. Sharing their experience on the subreddit Indian Workplace, they explained that the previous year had been overwhelmingly difficult, filled with anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and a deep sense of burnout. Everything felt out of place—until they made one strategic shift that changed everything.

The turning point came when they decided to separate work and personal communication completely. They repurposed their old phone number exclusively for professional use and purchased an inexpensive secondary device to house that number. Then, they got a brand-new number for all personal interactions and kept it on a different smartphone.

Their work device was programmed to turn on and off automatically according to their office hours. Once the workday ended, the phone would be shut off, placed inside their work bag, and stored away in a cupboard—physically and mentally distancing them from their job. They stopped checking work-related messages, emails, or calls once their shift ended. Their laptop remained shut outside working hours as well.

To strengthen the boundary further, they told colleagues they lived on the outskirts of the city where mobile coverage was poor. They even used a friend’s address located in that area, so anyone trying to reach them would be met with a message stating the number was unreachable.

This simple yet firm boundary had a significant impact. With no constant notifications, no sense of guilt, and no lingering pressure after hours, they felt mentally lighter and emotionally recharged. Life outside work began to feel real again.

"This boundary changed my mental health big time no constant pings, no guilt, no stress i actually feel like a person again after work," they wrote.

They also pointed out how younger professionals, especially Gen Z, seem to have a better grip on setting limits and maintaining separation between their personal lives and jobs. Even LinkedIn and work-related apps were kept on the office-only phone, while personal devices had separate email IDs and apps to avoid overlap.

One commenter on Reddit shared a similar story where a colleague tried the same strategy but faced criticism from management and eventually had to resign. Another simply appreciated the original poster for reclaiming peace of mind.