Many businesses have maintained a fully remote status even after pandemic restrictions have eased. For some, working from home can be lonely.
Here are some helpful tips for combating work from home loneliness & isolation:
Whether it's your patio, a coffee shop, or a local park, the first step to fighting feelings of isolation is getting yourself out of your everyday office and out in the world. Choose a local, safe, and outdoor location to get some Vitamin D and a new view. If you have a friend who also works remotely, bring them along with you so you can work together. Even if you aren't speaking to many of the other people, you might find that the simple act of getting out of the house helps you feel like you're a part of a bigger community.
If you work alone, you could take advantage of your schedule's flexibility to build in time for extra socializing during your week. Whether that means doing a kind gesture for a neighbor, taking your dog to the park, or catching up on errands, make time to socialize during the work week in ways you wouldn't be able to do if you worked in an office.
If you don't get to spend much time working or socializing with your teammates as a remote worker, make plans with friends or family members during the week when you're feeling lonelier than usual to share how working from home has been for you. Talking and sharing about your experience with a loved one or a professional is always a healthier route than keeping it all in.
Exhibit A: Shayanne’s kitten, Pikachu, has been declared the light of her life. She would definitely recommend it.
Whether people at your company use a shared internal wiki or instant messaging for day-to-day communication, use that system to join or form groups where you can communicate socially with your team members, no matter where they're located. From a Slack group for sharing photos of your pets to a monthly Zoom meeting for working parents at the company, build ways to connect socially on top of your existing communication systems to keep in touch with your teammates when you're feeling less connected.
When you need to brainstorm, discuss ideas, or present your point of view on a subject with one of your colleagues, hop onto a video or audio call to communicate. Whether you're trying to explain a complicated concept or disagree with your teammate, you'll quickly grow frustrated trying to communicate effectively via text. If you're already feeling lonely as a remote worker, feelings of isolation could increase if you're running up against miscommunication and misunderstanding on a regular basis. Instead, take advantage of video conferencing software, phone calls, or pre-recorded explainer videos to help you communicate more effectively.
Please let us know if there's anything more we can do to help you! You know where to find us ❤️
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