Before Rowing, Confessions of a Rower

Remote work has transformed work routines, allowing greater flexibility for personal tasks, but it has also blurred the lines between professional and private life, creating new ways of "rowing."

Remote work is here to stay, or at least it seems so. What used to be hours dedicated to commuting and being present in the office have now become a blank canvas to manage. Tasks like filing taxes, making online purchases, dealing with paperwork, or even deciding what to eat for dinner, could previously invade free time. Now, the flexibility of remote work allows fitting these errands between virtual meetings or during a coffee break. The line between the "working self" and the "personal self" has become more blurred.

## The Home Office

For many, the transition to the home office has meant a radical change. Where there was once a defined physical space for work, the home has now become the headquarters. While this offers the possibility of carrying out personal activities, it has also led to a feeling of not being completely disconnected. The workday extends, and the temptation to use those moments to "get ahead" on pending matters is constant. The result is a feeling of always "rowing," even when physically at home.

## Flexibility and Its Limits

The key to remote work lies in its flexibility. You can make private calls, manage personal affairs, and even, for some, use breaks for household chores or intimate moments. However, this same flexibility can create a different mental load. The need to be "reachable" or to demonstrate productivity, sometimes through tracking tools, can create subtle pressure. The old requirement of being physically in the office has been replaced by constant digital availability.

## Lost Balance

The experience of those who moved from physical jobs to in-person offices, and now to remote work, reveals a pattern. The workload, which once felt overwhelming, in some current environments seems to have mutated into a simulation of work. This, paradoxically, can make in-person workdays feel more arduous. Remote work, with its constant need to manage personal and professional life, can become a new way of rowing, where apparent freedom hides a reality of blurred boundaries and a continuous demand for self-management.