Many might dream of working from home. After all, is it not convenient to clock in for work ten minutes after waking up?
And while most employees experienced a work-from-home situation due to lockdowns, remote working has existed long before the pandemic.
Still, if you were a full-time office employee, you might find this change jarring—even lonely.
After all, you work at home alone. You have fewer opportunities to interact with another person.
While online messaging exists, it cannot replace face-to-face human interaction.
So, how do you combat the effects of remote working on your social life? Here are a few things you can do.
Make Plans With Friends
As previously mentioned, remote work tends to make you feel isolated.
So, it’s best to be more proactive in reaching out to your friends and family.
Make plans to spend time with them, even if it’s just eating dinner together or watching a movie.
Having healthy human interactions is vital to restoring balance in your life. Remember, you shouldn’t always think about work. Set aside some time for fun too.
Go For A Change of Scenery Once In a While
While working from home can be advantageous, it can also get a little boring at times.
As such, change your scenery every so often.
Take advantage of coworking spaces. It might feel as if you’re in a company office with co-workers (except everybody is minding their own business).
You can even meet new people in these coworking cafes. By making new connections, you can revitalize your social life – and perhaps open up some new opportunities.
Adopt a Pet
Another way to lessen the social impact of working from home is by adopting a pet. (Adopt, don’t shop!)
Some studies suggest that pet owners have lower levels of loneliness compared to those who don’t have pets.
Regardless, pets are wonderful companions in life. It’s also heartwarming to know that someone is there for you at the end of a long workday.
Join a Volunteer Group
Maybe, you are someone who enjoys meaningful activities.
So, why not try becoming a volunteer?
This way, you detach your thoughts from your loneliness and instead focus your energy on giving back to others.
It can also be self-fulfilling to know that you have helped those in need even in small ways.
You can also expand your social circle by making friends with your fellow volunteers!
Try looking up any local groups and check if their schedule fits with yours.
Limit Your Social Media Use
It is kind of ironic that social media was intended to connect people from all over the world. Yet, the same applications can feel isolating.
Spending so much time on social media is not good for anyone’s mental health. You might end up comparing yourself to people who have curated posts.
And while you can’t stay off social media forever (or can you?), you can set restrictions whenever you use it.
For instance, you use your accounts mainly to connect with friends and family. Also, you can schedule when you’ll check your accounts.
Further, don’t check any social networking sites a few hours before bedtime. Doing so can interrupt your sleep schedule. You might not be able to fall asleep easily.
Work-From-Home’s Impact on Mental Health
Loneliness is a tough adversary in the modern world even though everyone is connected more than ever.
Still, take it easy. It’s hard enough to survive during an ongoing pandemic.
Take measures to maintain a healthy social life. This way, you can combat remote work loneliness.
On that note, how about working for a company that cares about you? Remote Staff has a dedicated team of lead account officers that offers assistance to their remote contractors.
The company has also been in business for over 15 years now and has provided many Filipino remote workers with work-from-home opportunities. Check out Remote Staff’s job listings and register today!
