There are 6 strategies to help you deal with solitude while working on your own
If being on your own leaves you feeling isolated, check out these six easy, affordable strategies to deal when working from home.
The act of working on your own has plenty of benefits.
It's easier to get things done all in all. You don't have to play the game of office politics. You're able to enjoy your time as you want, when you'd would like and be the master of your own day-to-day destiny.
But there's one really big downside that I wish I'd been warned about by someone:
If you're not the most robust introvert, working on your own and completely by yourself- is lonely.
As in, draw a picture of the volleyball, and then name it "Wilson" levels of solitude. And that loneliness, whether it creeps into your life or strikes your whole body at the same time is a huge distraction from your groove when you're working to manage a business.
We understand that we've experienced it. Today, we'll tell you the best way to deal with it with our six favorite coping strategies to combat isolation when flying by yourself.
Let's get started.
The business world isn't as lonely in the presence of a team rooting for your. Sign oin for free to gain access to the creator community as well as friendly assistance and the tools you need to grow.
How to deal with loneliness while working remote.
#1. Take the time to exercise
Although it might sound like something unrelated, our first way to fight loneliness when working alone is to incorporate fitness into your routine.
Why? Nothing is more beneficial for mental wellbeing than exercise.
A study published in Front Psychiatry Scientific Journal has revealed the fact that exercise can reduce anxiety. Additionally, it release endorphins. The result of which helps you create positive emotions and decrease your sense of discomfort.
Productivity aside, loneliness leads directly to declines in mental wellbeing. Its adverse effects can worsen anxiety, depression and mood disorders. It can also lead to mental decline.
Exercising is a great way to proactively take care of yourself and reduce the impact of loneliness on your mental wellbeing.
Sadly, though, only 23 percent of Americans are getting enough exercise.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, adults should take at the very minimum 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous-intensity each week.
The fact that people aren't getting enough exercise doesn't come as a shock. If you look at the length of time that is spent on a computer screen, it's an overwhelming daily time of 12 hours for adults, and 60 hours and 40 minutes each day for teens.
That's right, you could be whittling away half your life in front of screens, or much more when you're still not getting up to take the time to exercise.
Look, will exercising cure loneliness? It's unlikely. It can help you combat some of its worst effects, and as it pertains to preventatives the cost is low.
Get up and go. If dancing is your thing and do some yoga that is high-intensity even if you're not.
Whatever you do, don't get caught in the trap of spending your entire day by squinting in front of screens. This is not healthy and it only adds to the compounding effects of loneliness.
As does skipping breaks in general.
#2. Make sure you take regular breaks (free from your gadgets and screens)
When you stop for a workout or walk around the block or get up and stretch, taking regular breaks between your tasks is essential, especially for those who work on their own.
In the event that you're working by yourself, remote, or from your home office, it's simple to stay entranced by your laptop screen, without having to endure the typical conversation at the water cooler or desk interruptions from officemates and colleagues.
Also, as you've probably guessed screentime is a hazard trap to fall in.
Based on a University of Illinois study, taking a break every one hour can help you be more productive by giving your brain an opportunity to take a break for the space it needs to renew energy and focus.
Like fitness, it's becoming a popular way of life to miss out on breaks. This includes your lunch break.
According to research by Tork, 62 percent of millennials would go for a longer lunch break If they had the chance, as compared to only 46% of boomers.
Additionally, 16% of young people declare they'd go as far as accepting a 10% salary cut in lieu of a daily lunch break.
The fact that this is close to twice the number of Gen-Xers and more than triple the number of boomers suggests that in our culture, we're heading towards the habit of not taking lunch breaks.
This is to say that don't fall victim to the pressures of culture that come with having to take breaks. Although it might seem like you're staying productive, the reality is it contributes to further health decline, on top of the effects of being confined to the desk.
You should instead take a short break every hour, which helps you stay focused, increase your energy, and overall performance.
If you can, go to the next level and plan some appropriate breaks- those with your friendsin the afternoon after work.
#3. Make plans for social events after work
Though it's not specifically related to battling solitude during the workday The third recommendation to combat loneliness is simple and simple -- create social plans outside of work.
Socializing on social media doesn't count. It needs to be face-to-face regardless of whether it's the Zoom call or not.
A UCSD research found that face-to-face social interactions can improve your health however, engaging on Facebook could negatively impact your mental and physical health.
If you don't want to arrange a time for socializing in between work hours, try combining some of our ideas to plan lunch time with a person you love or take a midday break for a walk with a friend.
If you're in no situation to go out in the city, an online Happy Hour, knit time or cat .GIF hour is just as well.
Or, you can schedule a face-to-face social activity in your calendar, and make sure you do often.
An estimated 20 percent of those working remotely struggle with loneliness, making it one of the most difficult challenges of working in solitude (tied with collaborating and communicating).
In addition, with an overwhelming 98 percent of workers who work from home planning on continuing the lifestyle for the remainder of their careers, this isolation issue will be here to stay, and is only getting increasingly important in battling.
That said, we know how important it is to schedule time in your life to socialize isn't always an option. There are families to look after to, pets that be awed by, and a dozen additional obstacles that make it difficult to stay on top of your schedule.
There's a second option -- online communities.
#4. Be part of an online mastermind group
Our fourth way to fight loneliness while working alone is to interact with co-workers and colleagues through a group or online mastermind.
Affiliating to a relevant group on the internet is an effective way to engage and build friendships with other like-minded individuals.
Additionally, it offers you an opportunity to work with others, which comes with the added benefit of fueling your motivation. Actually, you'll be able to stay focused on your work 64% longer when working with others compared doing it on your own.
Brit Kolo, the creator of Marketing Personalities, told me that joining a mastermind group is the most beneficial investment she's made in her company so far -- not just because of expansion of the business, but also because of friendships that last a lifetime and the supportive community it provides.
"I've become a better person, executive, and as a leader. My fellow business owners who are part of my mastermind have become friendships for life, and I don't say it lightly."
Signs point to the society in need of more thought-leadership similar to what you can discover in mastermind groups. A HRPA study found that a whopping 63% of young people think their leadership capabilities aren't being developed.
The most important thing is finding your tribe, and develop a bond with them. These are relationships that you could and should nurture with the live chat feature.
Not coincidentally, that's our next suggestion for cutting out loneliness in an isolated environment.
#5. Leverage video conferencing
A different way to stave from loneliness working remotely is to use live video applications to stay in touch with colleagues and your friends.
Why video conferencing? It works, according to a landslide majority of users.
98% of people consider that videoconferencing can help to build connections within and out of their companies.
Furthermore, 96% of respondents agree or strongly agree that video conferencing is a reliable method to enhance the communication between remote team members.
If you're traveling on your own and not having a team, you are able to rely on video conference to communicate with others on a deeper level, whether team members or not.
Video chats are more interesting as opposed to, for instance calling or email because it adds an additional level of non-verbal communication typically absent from non-face-to-face communication.
70 70% of communication is non-verbal. That implies that when you're dependent on text or audio the connection is only around just 30% of the information at best.
It's not likely make anyone feel better about their loneliness -- at least not in the way it could be improved on, anyway.
Video will also help with collaboration and innovation. So much so that in a study conducted by LifeSize, 50% of companies which use video conference are more creative, and 55% of them collaborate better.
If you're looking for free video-conferencing software, you should consider Skype , Webex and Zoom .
It is important to take advantage of technology and use live video conference to connect directly with others throughout your working day.
Our final tip goes one step further by interacting in person on coworking space.
#6. Make it a coworking space or place in the backyard of your house
If you're sure that it's safe an alternative way to deal with loneliness while working is to get out of your office in the home, and instead use or a coworking facility, shared office space, or even a café.
The idea is to change your environment to include other humans and work from a place other from your place of residence. It increases the likelihood of getting out of your lonely spot, engaging with other people, and striking up discussions, even if only a brief one in a cafe.
Finding a local coworking space close to you should not be a problem nowadays, since these spaces seem to be popping up all over the place.
The number of coworking spaces is now over 26,300 worldwide . In the US only, this number is expected to increase to over 6,200 in 2022.
In terms of people in terms of people, the Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC) predicted that there would have 5.1 million coworking users around the world by 2022 this is an impressive 24.2 percent annual increase. All indications suggest that this is an accurate forecast.
So that's plenty of potential acquaintances to connect with regardless of the fact that, under current circumstances, you might have to do it at the distance. Go out (as you are able) and include a couple more colleagues to your address list. It will help you combat the blues of being a soloist, and perhaps be a great career opportunity.
SIGN UP NOW
Sign up for a free account
Join over 150,000 creators that use their talents to design sites, market digital products and create online communities. Free to start -
Combat loneliness and find the groove you've always had
If you're working on your own, it doesn't mean you have to be lonely.
It's crucial to be proactive and stop solitude from affecting your life while you develop your remote career and business.
To summarize:
Make sure you take charge of your mental health by doing your exercise regularly. Its many benefits will boost your well-being and business overall.
Take regular breaks, too. Contrary to what you may believe, they can actually help you more focused and productive.
Set aside time for social gatherings and meetups outside your workday. The face-to-face time is much wanted and should not fall by the back of the pack, even it's necessary to conduct via a conference software.
Join relevant online groups like masterminds or Facebook groups to meet other like-minded people and establish lasting connections. Reddit as well as Slack communities also work for this goal.
Increase your interaction with other people by using live video conferencing tools whenever you are able to. A lot of conversations are not verbal, and we can't rely on text and audio alone.
Finally, if it's safe to work from a coworking space, consider working from coworking spaces or other locations outside of your home workplace into your routine. Even the smallest environmental change can have big impacts on your mental fortitude.
We're a group as a group, we've had remote work for many years but the reality of it is that you'll not be able to completely escape the isolation when you work on your own.
You'll adapt, with just a few these strategies You'll quickly realize that working alone doesn't have to mean becoming an island. You can still have your community, even if you need to travel to the far reaches of the internet, conference call platforms or coworking spaces for the group.