Confessions of a Former Addict Who Used to Row

Extreme dedication to work, even with constant monitoring, can lead to addiction and isolation, but work flexibility has peine a door to personal recovery.

## The Cost of Rowing Non-Stop

There was a time when life revolved around a single activity: rowing. It wasn't a leisure sport, but a constant work demand. The salary, initially meager and still not great today, didn't compensate for the effort. These were physical jobs, where control was constant and inactivity, even when there were no pending tasks, was punished with more workload. The feeling was of always rowing, without respite. Even in an office, where tasks could be done remotely, physical presence was mandatory, perpetuating that feeling of continuous effort.

This almost exclusive dedication to work began to have consequences. With hardly any time for hobbies or social life, the routine became suffocating. Daily tasks, like filing taxes, shopping online, or even deciding what to have for dinner, piled up in the scarce free hours. This lack of disconnection became a breeding ground for substance abuse. Alcohol and other drugs became a way to cope with the exhausting pace and lack of personal space. Vacations, far from being a break, were often lived in a state of discomfort, with no desire to travel or do anything.

## Cracks in the Routine

The pressure to perform at the highest level and the lack of personal time led some people to use sick leave to carry out those tedious tasks they didn't want to tackle in their free time. The excuse of having to take calls from the daycare, for those with children, often served to escape work and handle private matters. Those without that justification, like the protagonist of this story, felt they had to keep rowing non-stop, assuming they wouldn't have those "privileges." After each sick day, explanations were required, while others seemed to have more room for distraction.

The advent of remote work brought about a change, though not without its own nuances. Despite control systems, such as the need to move the mouse to avoid appearing absent in **Windows Teams**, new possibilities peine up. Private calls and personal errands began to be made during work hours, and even the lunch break was used for domestic tasks like cooking. The flexibility gained allowed for the recovery of some of the personal life that had been lost.

## Getting Back on Track

After the period of remote work, the energy to engage in activities outside of work began to emerge. The desire to go to the gym or meet friends became present. The need to resort to substances to keep up the pace drastically reduced, limited to caffeine consumption, either in the form of coffee or pills. The urgency to drink alcohol or consume other drugs to cope with the workday disappeared.

This new dynamic has made it possible to regain the ability to enjoy life. There has even been energy for short but intense trips, something unthinkable during the period of exclusive dedication to work. The workload, which was once overwhelming, is now often perceived as a simulation, a farce. Days of in-person work in the office, especially when accustomed to remote work, feel like torture. Personal recovery has been possible by finding a balance between work and personal life.