Remote Work Doesn’t Have to Feel Lonely: Here’s How to Stay Connected
Have you found yourself happy in your remote job, but missing the connection with other humans? Does it sometimes feel as though you’ve traded in your human interactions for the comfort of working from home with your cat? I love my furry co-workers, but they’re not very conversational!
I’ve been working from home for the last 10 years, and before that, I was very much an Internet person and spent the majority of my teenage years and 20s online. I was in all kinds of communities and forums. I know how to connect online, but even I struggle with feeling lonely from time to time while working remotely.
Earlier this year, I started working for a new company. My supervisor is quiet and practically non-existent online. In fact, the entire team and company are pretty quiet. I’m used to being alone at my computer and filling the space on my own. However, so many on my team and in the company aren’t used to that kind of quiet. With the number of people new to being remote, I thought it’d be nice to share some tips to combat loneliness.
Connect with Your Co-Workers
Depending on where you work, you may already have a space to connect with your co-workers. If you’re unsure where it is, ask your manager, team lead or supervisor. If there isn’t one, you could suggest starting something. Or just send a quick email to let your team know you’re around if anyone wants to connect.
Lo-fi Playlist
These playlists are just enough to fill the silence without being overwhelming. Sometimes, music with lyrics and heavy instrumentals can be a lot on your brain – at least in my personal experience. You can find these in multiple places such as Spotify and other music platforms, but I prefer YouTube videos such as Work Office Lofi by Chill Village.
If you’re not used to Reddit, it can feel overwhelming. There are so many different communities within, and it can feel hard to find a space to fit in. However, it’s worth poking through to find your own little space. You can look for just about anything you want to talk about. You’ll find everything from off-topic fun like r/cats, to work-related spaces like r/socialmedia.
Background Noise Videos
One of my favorite things to do is leaving a YouTube video on, such as this video with office background noise. There are plenty of sounds to choose from as well! Maybe the rain helps you focus. Anything that fills in the quiet is helpful to combat feeling isolated and lonely. It helps keep your brain engaged without distraction.
Podcasts
This, in my opinion, is a wonderful way to not only stay informed on your favorite topics, but to feel like you have someone in the room with you. You can go with something light and funny, or explore shows related to your industry — like a marketing podcast if that’s your field.
Discord
There are lots of Discord servers to join and communicate in. My favorite, of course, would be my own, Status Online. Stop by and say hello! We’re always happy to talk to someone new.
Create Your Own Community
This can be for people within your company or work circle, but it can also just be a group chat with some of your friends and family. It can be a group text, Facebook Messenger conversation, or even your very own Discord server.
Bonus Suggestion: Consider getting a pet, if that’s possible — even a virtual one!
Please remember that you are not alone. It may feel like you’re on a desert island at times, but I promise there are plenty of ways to connect and stay social. You don’t need to be alone all the time – unless, of course, that’s what you prefer!