Work is an integral part of our daily lives and a large part of our personal identity. However, with the rise of remote jobs and flexible working hours, more and more people are facing a new challenge: loneliness at work.
Loneliness at work can be defined as the feeling of isolation and exclusion that one feels when working alone or at a distance from other team members. This can be difficult to manage and can have a negative impact on productivity, mental health and overall quality of life. Boredom should not be confused with loneliness, we never feel more lonely than when we are doing nothing.
For some workers, loneliness can be a deliberate choice. Self-employed people, for example, often choose to work alone to have more freedom and flexibility in their schedule. However, for many others, loneliness is imposed by circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, flexible working hours or remote jobs.
Whatever the reason for this loneliness, it is important to know how to cope with it and how to avoid it having a negative impact on the quality of working life. Here are some strategies that workers can use to overcome loneliness at work:
- Establish a routine: When you (tele)work alone, it can be easy to drift off and lose track of the day. By establishing a daily routine, you can ensure that you are productive and focused on your tasks.
- Staying in touch: It’s also important to ensure that you maintain regular contact with your department, management and colleagues.
- Find a coworking space: If you work remotely, you may want to consider joining a coworking space to connect with other professionals and break the solitude.
- Taking care of yourself: It is important to take care of your mental and physical health when working alone. Take regular breaks, exercise, eat well and maintain a regular sleep routine.
- Learn new skills: Solitude can be an opportunity to learn new skills or to improve in a particular area.
- Use your time alone to focus on your professional development.
Loneliness at work can be a challenge, but it can be overcome. By establishing a routine, keeping in touch with colleagues, finding a shared workspace, taking care of yourself and learning new skills, you can reduce the negative impact of loneliness on your professional and personal life.
Nowadays, smartphones and mobile applications have revolutionised the way we interact with the world around us. Many app developers have realised that one of the main concerns in our lives is loneliness and have created apps specifically to help combat this.
Anti-loneliness apps have become popular in recent years, offering a range of features to help users connect with others and feel less lonely.
Meetup is one example. This app allows you to join local groups that share similar interests to yours and meet new people.
