compartmentalising
Keeping things separate
Compartmentalising is the British spelling of compartmentalizing—dividing something into separate sections or categories.
The word often describes a psychological strategy of keeping different areas of life or conflicting thoughts mentally separate: He was compartmentalising his work stress so it wouldn't affect his family life.
The approach can be healthy coping or unhealthy avoidance, depending on context.
Grouping by shared traits
- sortingArranging into sequence
- filingStoring documents systematically
- sectionsDivided portions of something
- foldersPaper organizers with pockets
drawers · organising · structuring · systems · labelling · grouping · arranging · classifying
Dividing into parts
- isolatingSetting apart from contact
- dividingSeparating into parts
- emotionsPsychological feeling states
- copingManaging under strain
detaching · boundaries · trauma · feelings · distancing · protecting · shutting · suppressing
Restricted from disclosure
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- informationKnowledge about something
- secretsConcealed information
- protocolsEstablished codes of conduct
intelligence · confidential · need-to-know · access · restricted · sensitive · espionage · operations
Job and leisure spheres
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- separationState of being apart
- rolesPositions or functions held
- switchingChanging from one to another
hats · personas · professional · personal · boundaries · contexts · identities · domains
categorising
Grouping by shared traits
- sortingArranging into sequence
- filingStoring documents systematically
- sectionsDivided portions of something
folders · drawers · organising · structuring · systems · labelling · grouping · arranging · classifying · ordering
separating
Dividing into parts
- isolatingSetting apart from contact
- dividingSeparating into parts
- emotionsPsychological feeling states
coping · detaching · boundaries · trauma · feelings · distancing · protecting · shutting · suppressing · mental
classified
Restricted from disclosure
- clearancePermitted passage or approval
- informationKnowledge about something
- secretsConcealed information
protocols · intelligence · confidential · need-to-know · access · restricted · sensitive · espionage · operations · silos
work-life
Job and leisure spheres
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
- separationState of being apart
- rolesPositions or functions held
switching · hats · personas · professional · personal · boundaries · contexts · identities · domains · spheres
compartmentalisingintegrating
Combining into a whole
synthesising · unifying · consolidating · merging · combining
compartmentalisingconfronting
Addressing directly
working through · acknowledging · unpacking · opening up · processing