You're so right about how a simple boundary can change everything. I was in the same boat, constantly tied to my work phone even during dinner. My fix was setting a hard rule to silence all work apps after 6 PM and charge my phone in the kitchen overnight. The first few days I kept reaching for it out of habit, but I forced myself to read a book or cook instead. After a while, that urgency to be always available just faded, and I started sleeping way better. It's amazing how physically separating yourself from the tools of work can reclaim your personal time.

Reading your post hit close to home because a buddy of mine went through something almost identical. He's a graphic designer who was constantly checking Slack and emails late into the night. His turning point was deciding to physically leave his work laptop in his home office after 7 PM. For weeks, he'd catch himself almost wandering in there out of habit, but he forced himself to watch a movie or call someone instead. Now he says his sleep improved and he actually looks forward to those uninterrupted evening hours. It's wild how such a simple boundary can reshape your entire relationship with work.