Combating Loneliness While Working From Home

Combating loneliness while working from home can be a difficult task. Coming from a professional executive position to a work at home position was a very exciting move for me. I had always wanted to be my own boss, set my own hours, and work on my own terms. Little did I know that eventually, I would face the complication of pure loneliness. Here I will share with you some productive means of combating loneliness while working from home.

The truth is, it is not so much a loneliness for interpersonal relationships, it is a loneliness that revolves around the lack of professional transactions. I found myself missing the hustle and bustle of the average work day, the emails, the projects that I once managed, the employees that I once coached and dealt with on a daily basis, the management team that I worked so closely with; the basic level of responsibility and accountability of the workplace. I missed being the professional that I once was as well as the sense of achievement that I once enjoyed on a daily basis.

It actually took some time before it really hit me that I was lonely for all of the interactions and responsibilities that I was so used to. I am not sure if it was because I had less to do, more time to think, or what - but there was no doubt at all that I was definitely lonely. If you are reading this and you work from home you know exactly what I am talking about. I am going to share with you some of the ways that I have learned to completely combat this loneliness. These methods may or may not work for you, but they have helped me.

Instant Messaging Programs

Instant messaging programs can allow you a form of interaction with others when you work at home. Personally, I am not big on using these programs to communicate with people that I do not know or deal with on a regular basis. Most of my contacts consist of family members; people who I have went to school with, those that I once worked with, personal friends, neighbors, and even those that I work with in the virtual world. Believe me when I say, that just with these contacts I stay relatively busy. This is a safe, effective means of keeping in touch with others and makes time go by more quickly when I am busy working throughout the day.

Work Related Projects

If you work at home and are in a position where you can assist in work related projects, you should do so. I really miss the work that I did in the workplace. When I find myself tempted to give in to the job offers and invitations from past employers, I consider what I would have to give up and what my family would have to sacrifice. It is then that I try to start projects that relate to who I am as a professional. I focused a lot on employee motivation and customer service in the workplace. When I establish projects that relate to these two elements in the "virtual" workplace that I am currently a part of, it seems to help me in combating the loneliness while working from home. While it does not allow for a lot of interaction with others while I am doing it, it does provide me with a sense of familiarity and comfort that I grew accustom to in the workplace. It provides me with a sense of accomplishment and allows me to feel as if I still carry the value that I once carried when I worked outside the home.

Schedule Some Time for Yourself

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to working at home is scheduling some time for yourself. If you allow yourself, you will find that you work nonstop - with few to no breaks. This can be quite challenging. Even in the workplace, you get breaks. If you were a workaholic at work, if you work from home, you will take up those same characteristics. If you work in a "virtual" work environment the people who identify this trait in you will likely appreciate this to the point where they allow you to continue on doing this. Hey, they need breaks too - why not just load all the work on top of someone who they know will always be there? If you find that you are in this position you will also find that you are quite lonely.

Hearing about your virtual coworkers going out, spending time with their friends and families, or just spending some time resting and relaxing can be very detrimental to your self esteem if you do not allow yourself to enjoy some of these things too. Take the time - find out who you are and what you like to do - then DO IT! This is necessary if you want to combat loneliness while working from home.

Conclusion

Loneliness while working from home is a very real issue. If you support your family financially in this manner, you are quite likely to experience the difficult issue of being lonely too. There are many reasons why this may occur. If you experience this issue it is important to reach out and find ways to combat this issue. Depression, anxiety, and even suicide contemplation and attempts are very serious issues that you may find yourself experiencing if you are not equipped with the tactics to combating loneliness while working from home.

 posted by Chris Simpson