How to Avoid Loneliness When You Work Entirely from Home

As someone who feels incredibly lonely the majority of the time, I was excited to read this article and see what they suggest for lessening the feeling.

Speaking for myself only, these three tips are not very effective at combating loneliness.

I already participate in online communities of like-minded people (hi, HN). Although the research is still young, it seems like the predominant opinion is that participating in online forums/social media is not effective at combating loneliness and in some cases can exacerbate the issue.

Video conferencing, although effective for working efficiently with a team, I fail to see how this helps with loneliness. I'm in the office most days, and even face to face contact does not curb loneliness - because loneliness is not the same as being alone.

The third tip may have some merit. Making a concerted effort to communicate with more people (especially about non-work things) seems to have helped me a little bit. I recently read another article on loneliness that suggests trying to talk with a few strangers a day - and it seems to be helping me a bit.

I never realized how much people depend on their vocation as their primary social connection until reading these blog posts about loneliness that have sprung up lately. Can an office job really give you all the deep personal stimulation you need in life? I like my coworkers and feel they are my true friends and still I would feel lonely knowing they go home to families and following a personal purpose if I went home watching Netflix every night. Life is easier having a purpose, so if you’re struggling with loneliness that you attribute to working away from a water cooler, then you might benefit from some deeper soul searching. Source: I’ve been working mostly remotely for 10yrs.

Try coworking. Many places have flexible memberships. Even one day a week or once a month can make a difference.