Embracing the Right to Disconnect as sovereign of your workscape

Work and life used to be very separate. But for many people now, those lines are blurry. Australia’s Right to Disconnect legislation (PDF) (effective 26 August 2024) offers a welcome reset.

This law protects employees from work-related contact outside agreed hours. But more than a legal safeguard, it’s an invitation to reclaim agency. You get to define how work fits into your life, not the other way around. Even if you are not in the Australian jurisdiction, these rights offer a beacon of possibility for how the expectations with your employer can change.

For those exploring the Self unLimited path, this change speaks directly to two core responsibilities: Reign and Rules.

Reign and Rules in action

Reign is about leading yourself through your workscape. That includes making conscious choices, holding a long view, and stewarding your time. The Right to Disconnect supports your authority to protect space—for rest, creativity, or connection.

Rules are the operational settings you choose for how you work. They’re not imposed—they’re yours to define, evolve, and communicate. When you take charge of your boundaries, you shape a life that is intentionally aligned.

This isn’t about rigidity. It’s about clarity. It’s about making invisible pressures visible—and negotiating with awareness.

What boundaries can look like

Start with something manageable. Maybe it’s no emails after 6:30pm. Or turning off notifications on weekends. Or not saying yes to early morning meetings without a buffer.

Boundaries work best when they are yours. When they reflect what’s sustainable, not just what’s expected.

Use the My Code of Practice activity (PDF). It helps you define your personal terms and conditions. These may go beyond digital communication—they may include availability, response times, and attention spans. Defining them helps you show up with intention and consistency.

Once you’ve done that, consider how you’ll share them. Maybe it’s an out-of-office message. Or a note in your email signature. Maybe it’s a quiet shift in habits that you hold yourself to.

For a little inspiration (and humour), here’s an actual workplace sign posted on someone’s door:

Dear visitor,
In order to protect my concentration and sanity I have decided to implement a door policy;
Door open: Very welcome to knock and come in, yes I would love to have a chat!
Door closed: Please do not knock at my door or come in unless you have urgent business.* I am extremely easily distracted and I will talk to you until the end of time instead of writing my dissertation.
Never: come in without knocking.

*List of things that are urgent business:
• the building or someone is on fire
• you’re bringing me coffee
• revolution
• there is a dog

It’s funny—but also wise. Because without clear boundaries, everything becomes urgent. And you become exhausted.

What it can also look like

Mateo’s Monday Rule
Mateo, a project manager in a global company, used to dread Sunday nights. The weekend’s peace evaporated with every Sunday email from his manager. He created a simple boundary: no email on Sundays. He let his manager know and explained why. The result? His sleep improved. His anxiety eased. His energy on Monday returned. Within weeks, his manager adjusted too. Sundays became sacred again.

Nina’s 5:30 Shut-Off
Nina works in HR. She used to feel proud of being available at all hours—until she burned out. After a health scare, she committed to logging off at 5:30pm. She created a custom auto-response for after-hours messages. She updated her team about her availability. The result? More restful evenings. More time with her son. And surprisingly, more respect from her peers. “People took my time more seriously once I started protecting it,” she said.

These choices weren’t grand declarations. They were simple, clear steps to protect what mattered.

Some practical actions

I have been practicing and assuming my own right to disconnect for over two decades. Here is a list of the things I do, that work for me to maintain healthy boundaries between work and personal life. These are part of the Code of Practice for Helen unLimited.

• I do not use my work email account for personal email correspondence. I let my friends and family know that they should only use my personal email account to reach me. This means that when I want to read and respond to their messages I do not ‘accidentally’ see work matters and get distracted by them.
• I do not have my work email account on my personal phone. When I am in personal mode outside work hours I do not want to temptation to ‘just take a quick peek’ and get drawn in.
• I set aside a 15-30 minute Correspondence time at the beginning of each day to check all my communication and correspondence channels for what has come in and might need my attention.
• I turn off Notifications option in platforms and Apps. I will see any incoming messages when I do my regular Correspondence time (see previous point).
• I add a note to my work email signature that declares the windows of my availability. This helps to manage others expectations about when they can expect to engage with me.
• I do not send emails outside the declared window of availability. Sometimes I might have something on my mind that I ‘just need to get out’ – in which case it is okay to write a Draft email, but I won’t send it until the appointed time. I do not want people to think the window of availability is a ‘suggestion’ rather than a boundary.
• When I am disconnecting beyond those normal hours – like on vacation – I write an Out of Office Auto responding message that lets those who send me a message, know about when they might expect a response. And if necessary gives me alternative people to speak with if the matter is urgent.
• I book time with myself for the start and end of the week to check what needs attention and close out any matters and manage any expectations. I do NOT do the beginning-of-the-week check on a Sunday evening. There is time to do that on Monday morning. I never book a meeting for the first hour of a Monday morning, so I know I have the time to check-and-prepare for the coming week.
• I have a light disconnect ritual. I close down Apps and all Browser windows on my computer. Nothing is left open when I turn off my computer. I straighten things on my literal desktop so the space is clear to return to. For me, a cluttered desk feels like a cluttered mind. If I ‘square’ things away in the physical space, it feels organised in my cognitive space.

A tool for fair exchange

The value exchange concept can also support your boundaries. What do you contribute to work? And what do you claim or create in return?

This isn’t just about pay. It’s about time, autonomy, flexibility, and boundaries. These things carry value too.

You can do the Value Exchange Ledger activity to make your expectations visible. It can support conversations where you clarify needs. It also helps you negotiate fairly, with confidence and clarity, and remind you where to hold firm!

When you treat time and focus as forms of value, your priorities shift. You begin to say no to things that drain you. You protect energy for what matters more.

Your workscape, your call

Legislation may create the conditions. But you create the culture—first for yourself, then with others. The right to disconnect is a prompt. It invites you to reflect. What do you want your working life to look like?

Being Self unLimited is about agency. It’s about saying: I will lead my working life—not be led by it.

Your workscape is yours to shape. Whether you live in Australia or elsewhere, the opportunity is here. It starts with clarity. It grows through practice. And it builds a life that fits you.

You hold the reins. Use them.

Author

Helen Palmer is a workscape navigator and creator of the Self unLimited philosophy. With a strong belief in personal sovereignty, she helps people craft workscapes that honour both their values and their wellbeing. She supports individuals to lead themselves with intention, setting their own rhythms and boundaries in how they work. 

This article was written and the image generated with creative assistance from ChatGPT (generative AI tool).