Combatting Isolation And Loneliness | Remote Working

Remote working or ‘SmartWorking’ is becoming increasingly more popular among businesses, although this offers a wide range of benefits for remote workers, some SmartWorking can leave you feeling a little isolated.

Feeling isolated will affect every remote worker at some point during their SmartWorking career, but there are many ways for combatting isolation and loneliness.

CoWorking Spaces

If working from home five days a week feels too isolating, there’s always an option to find your local Coworking Hub. Coworking spaces / hot desking gives you the option you to network with diverse groups of professionals whilst doing your work in a full-service office environment.

Take advantage of technology

Use technology to communicate with your colleagues throughout the day. Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean you can’t have conversations with them or video chat. This will help you feel more connected to your work and the interaction will ease the feelings and help combatting isolation and loneliness.

Try new environments

If you dread entering your home office, try working in different parts of the house, or create a ‘summer office’, and if weather permits, work outside. Alternatively, take your laptop to a coffee shop for a few hours. Breaking everyday routines can jolt us out of feeling isolated.

This can also go two ways, as some remote workers like to travel from location to location. This can also lead to feeling isolated as not having a ‘home-base’ can sometimes give you the sense you don’t belong anywhere.

Create a healthy living plan

Clean eating and exercise is a great way to feel good and exercise groups are a great way to stay connected and get healthy at the same time.

Not only will your physical health improve, but you will find that your mental health also improves. A daily trip to the gym, or a run with a local running club can give you a much-needed mood boost.

Join remote worker communities

Pretty much everyone is on social media nowadays and on platforms such as Facebook, you can find Remote Working communities where like-minded professionals communicate daily and even arrange events and meetups for members.