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Remote work has shown us that work and life were never truly separate—despite our best efforts to keep them apart.
- The 9-to-5 myth: For decades, we squeezed life around work—early gym sessions before sunrise, rushed after-work appointments, and weekends spent recovering.
- Blurring the lines: Now, we see that work and life don’t have to compete. One doesn’t need to come at the expense of the other—it’s about finding balance in a new, more flexible way.
- New challenges:
- Longer work hours
- Rising burnout
- Increased isolation
- The pressure of being ‘always on’
- The opportunity: A well-balanced remote work culture can help us live better, work better, and thrive in both.
In today’s episode of Remote Works, Darragh, Caitlyn, and Rebecca share how they’re making this balance a reality.
“The time you spend commuting is time that you’re giving away to nobody. I’m taking that time back to look after myself.”
Darragh Collins, PR Manager, Airbase, Canada
Darragh didn’t expect that time would be the most valuable thing remote work gave him.
- The old routine: Long commutes (often in the rain), office distractions, and squeezing in workouts after exhausting days.
- The challenge: Staying creative in a noisy office, where conversations about last night’s football made deep focus nearly impossible.
- The shift: Remote work gave him calmness, boosted his productivity, and helped him prioritize better.
- The real win: More time—for family, cooking, and well-being. Instead of losing hours to commuting, he reclaimed them for himself.
"Now, I cook proper meals, eat better, and exercise without forcing myself to go to the gym after a draining day. Taking back that time has been priceless."
“We need to start having a larger conversation about our wellbeing needs at work.”
Rebecca Churchill, CEO at Churchill Communications and Marketing, Virginia, US
Rebecca believes we need to have bigger conversations about setting boundaries for wellbeing in remote work.
- The challenge: As a business owner and single parent, she felt the pressure to hustle harder for visibility.
- The problem: Remote work creates new expectations—we assume everyone is always available because they’re online.
- The solution: Empathy and transparency. She leads by example, making her own boundaries visible.
- The action: She publicly shares her calendar, blocks personal time, and encourages her team to do the same.
"Remote work isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. We need to stop walking on eggshells when talking about wellbeing."
“I’ve stopped putting pressure on myself to look busy nine to five — that’s had the biggest impact on my mental health.”
Caitlyn Lewis, Managing Director, Supplier Day, Portugal
Caitlyn used to be a workaholic, stuck in the cycle of "looking busy" rather than being productive.
- The old mindset: Endless meetings, office small talk, and staying at her desk just to appear hardworking.
- The realization: Being busy isn’t the same as being productive—yet many wear it like a badge of honor.
- The shift: She redefined productivity on her own terms, moving to Portugal’s Algarve and founding her own business.
- The new reality: She works until she’s done—then heads to the beach, guilt-free.
"I used to design my life around work. Now, I design work around my life."
