There are 6 strategies to help you deal with loneliness when working alone
If you're working on your own and are feeling lonely, get these cost-effective, simple strategies to deal in a lonely work environment.
The act of working on your own has plenty of advantages.
It's easier to get things done all in all. There's no need to engage in the game of office politics. You can have your breaks when you like when you want, and you're in control of your daily routine.
However, there's a really major negative that I'd like to know someone would've warned me about:
If you're not the most tough introvert, being on your own on your own - completely and unnoticedcan be lonely.
Like, paint a volleyball and name it "Wilson" different levels of solitude. It's true that loneliness, no matter if it creeps in or hits the whole time is a huge distraction from your flow when running your business.
We've all been there We've been there. Today, we'll tell you what we do to overcome this issue by sharing our top six coping strategies to combat solitude when traveling on your own.
Let's begin.
Being a successful business owner is less lonely when you have a team who are rooting for you. J oin for free to access the creator community as well as friendly assistance and the necessary tools to grow.
How to deal with loneliness while working remote.
#1. Do not miss the opportunity to exercise.
Although it might sound like something unrelated but the first step to fight loneliness when working on your own is to include exercise into your daily routine.
Why? There's nothing that is more effective for mental wellbeing than exercise.
A study that was published within the journal Front Psychiatry medical journal has revealed that exercising reduces anxiety. It also release endorphins. The consequence of which can help you create positive emotions and decrease the perception of discomfort.
In addition to productivity, loneliness can lead straight to a decline in mental wellbeing. Its negative effects worsen depression, anxiety as well as mood disorders and cognitive decline.
Exercising is a great way to actively take care of yourself and reduce the effects of depression in your health.
However, it is a shame that just 23% of Americans are getting enough fitness.
As per the Department of Health and Human Services, adults should be able to complete at least 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 1.25 or 2.5 hours of intense-intensity exercise each week.
The fact that many people aren't getting enough exercise isn't surprising. In fact, if you take a look at the length of time we spend in front of a screen, it's an overwhelming 12 hours a day for adults, and six hours and forty minutes each day for teens.
That's right, you could spend all day at the screen, perhaps even more than that, in the event that you're taking the time to make the time to exercise.
Look, will exercising help with loneliness? It's unlikely. However, it could help you combat certain of the negative adverse effects. As far as preventatives go this is a low-cost option.
Get up and move. Dance if that's your speed and do some yoga that is high-intensity even if you're not.
Do not get caught in the trap of spending your entire day on a computer. This is not healthy and it only adds to loneliness's effects.
As does skipping breaks in general.
#2. Take regular breaks (free from gadgets and screens)
If you decide to take a break for a workout or take a stroll along the street or sit up to stretch out, taking breaks from your work is a must, especially when you work alone.
When you work alone, remote, or from home, you can be captivated by the computer screen without the traditional conversation at the water cooler or desk interruptions from officemates and colleagues.
And, as you know screentime can be a risky rabbit hole to get trapped within.
According to a University of Illinois study, taking a break every an hour helps you perform better by giving your brain a short break to give it the amount of time needed to recharge energy and concentrate.
Unfortunately, like exercising, it's now a common habit to not take breaks, like your lunch break.
According to research by Tork, 62 percentage of millennials would go for more time for lunch if they could, which is compared with only 46 percent of Boomers.
What's more, 16% of the millennial generation claim they're willing to accepting a 10% salary cut in lieu of an hour-long lunch break.
The fact that this is almost twice the number of Gen-Xers as well as more than triple the proportion of boomers reveals that, culturally, we're headed toward a chronic habit of ditching lunch breaks.
It's important to note that you don't fall victim to the cultural pressure of working through your breaks. While it may feel as if you're achieving however, it actually causes further health problems and adds negative effects from working at your desk.
Instead, take one break every hour, which helps you stay focused, increase your energy and overall efficiency.
Better yet, take it even further and schedule some appropriate breaks- those with your friends- after the workday.
#3. Plan social activities after work
While it may not be specifically connected to fighting loneliness during working hours, our third tip to fight loneliness is brief and sweet: make time for yourself to socialize beyond work.
Socializing on social media doesn't count. Face-to-face calls are required, whether that's on a Zoom call or otherwise.
One UCSD investigation found that face-to-face social interactions enhance your well-being, while using Facebook could affect your mental and physical health.
If you don't want to plan social time at work, you can combine a couple of our tips to plan lunch time with someone or make a lunch break to go on a hike with a companion.
If you're not in a location to venture out and about on the town, you can have a virtual Happy Hour, knit time or cat .GIF time works equally good.
Either way, schedule a face-to-face social activity in your calendar, and make sure you do it regularly.
Significantly 20% of those working remotely struggle with loneliness which makes it among the biggest challenges for those who work on their own (tied to collaboration and communication).
With an astounding 98% of remote workers plan to maintain their way of life for the duration of their careers, this isolation issue will be here to stay and only becoming more important to tackle.
That said, we know the importance of allowing time to socialize isn't always an option. There are families to look after to, pets that indulge in affection, and a dozen others that could make it difficult to stay on top of your schedule.
If you're looking for a solution, here's an possibility -online communities.
#4. Be part of an online mastermind group
The fourth method we recommend to combat solitude while working is to interact with co-workers as well as your peers via an online mastermind group or group.
Affiliating to a relevant group on the internet is a powerful way to engage and build camaraderie with like-minded people.
Furthermore, it provides you with an opportunity to work with your colleagues, and this is a bonus in boosting your enthusiasm. In fact, you're likely to be able to complete your project for 64% more time when you collaborate with others compared to working on it alone.
Brit Kolo, who is the co-founder of Marketing Personalities, told me that joining a mastermind is one of the most profitable investments she's made for her business so far -- not just because of expansion of the business, but also due to the friendships and constant support group of people it offers.
"I've become a better person, leader and CEO. The other business owners in my mastermind group have become long-lasting friends and I do not say it lightly."
The 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 believe their leadership abilities haven't been developed.
The most important thing is finding your tribe, and build a relationship with them. The relationships you build can nurture through Live video chat.
In a way, it's the next thing we'll do to stave out loneliness in an isolated setting.
#5. Leverage video conferencing
Another effective way to fight away loneliness when working remotely is by using live video applications to stay in touch with your colleagues and friends.
Why video conferencing? It's effective, according to a landslide majority of users.
98% of people believe video conferencing helps to build connections within as well as outside of their workplaces.
Furthermore, 96% of individuals agree or strongly agree that videoconferencing can be a great way to enhance the communication between remote team members.
Even if you're flying solo You can still rely on video conferencing to connect with other people at a higher level no matter if they're team members or otherwise.
Video chat can be more enjoyable than, say telephone calls or email, because it provides an extra dimension of nonverbal communication normally absent in other forms of non-face-to face communication.
70% of our communication is nonverbal, which implies that when you're dependent on text or audio, you're only getting just 30% of the information at most.
It's not likely to improve on anyone's isolation -- at least at least not in the way it could be improved on in any case.
Video will also help with the collaborative and creative efforts of your employees. In fact, in a study conducted by LifeSize, 50% of companies who use videoconferencing are more innovative, and 55% of them have a greater degree of collaboration.
If you're looking for free videoconferencing solutions, think about Skype , Webex , or Zoom .
The key here is to benefit from the latest technology by using live video conference to connect face-to-face with people during your workday.
Our final tip takes it a step further and involves interacting with people in real-time at coworking spaces.
#6. Mix it up with an office space for coworkers or on the outside of your home
Assuming it's safe to travel an alternative way to cope with loneliness while working is to physically leave your office in the home, and instead use a coworking area or a shared office, or even a cafe.
The idea is to modify your life to incorporate others and to operate from somewhere other than your home. It increases the likelihood of getting out of your lonely spot and interacting with others engaging in conversation, even if it's just a short one with a barista.
The search for a coworking facility near you shouldn't be an issue these days since they seem to be appearing everywhere.
The number of coworking spaces has skyrocketed to over 26,300 across the globe . In the US in particular, the figure is anticipated to grow to more than 6,200 before 2022.
In terms of people according to it was the Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC) estimated that there will be 5.1 million coworking members globally in 2022, that's a staggering 24.2 percent growth. Thus far, all signs suggest that this is a true projection.
So that's plenty of potential friends to make, even if, in current circumstances, you might have to do it at a distance. Make yourself visible (as as you're able) and consider adding a few others to your contact list. It will help you combat the blues of being a soloist, and who knows, it might become a potential career opportunity.
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Combat loneliness and find the groove you've always had
Being a solo person doesn't mean that you have to be lonely.
It's essential to take the initiative and stop loneliness from taking its toll while you develop your work and personal life from the comfort of your home.
To summarize:
Make sure you take good care of your mental health through exercising regularly. The numerous benefits of exercise will improve the overall health of your business and improve its performance.
Take regular breaks, too. Contrary to what you imagine, they will make you more focused and productive.
Set aside time for social gatherings and get togethers during your off time. Face-to-face interaction is wanted and should not fall by the back of the pack, even when you must do it over conferencing software.
Join relevant online groups like masterminds or Facebook groups to meet other like-minded people and establish lasting connections. Reddit or Slack communities can also serve this purpose.
Improve your communications with others by making use of live videoconferencing software whenever you are able to. Much of our conversations are not verbal, and we can't depend on audio and text only.
If it's safe to incorporate the coworking space as well as other places away from your office into your daily schedule. Little environmental changes could have a huge impact on your mental fortitude.
We're a group, we've all worked from home for a long time The reality of it is that you'll always be in a state of loneliness which comes from working on your own.
But you will adjust, with just a few these strategies You'll quickly realize that being on your own doesn't need become an isolated island. There's still a way to be part of your tribe, even if you must travel further than the web, conference call platforms or coworking spaces to find it.