Nine ideas to beat isolation in office

Ever more people work at home. And many of them appreciate the fewer distractions, no time-wasting commute, and not having to get into a work get-up every day. But some of my clients who work alone feel isolated. Fortunately, there are mitigators. Frankly, most of these suggestions are just common sense but a number of my clients told me they hadn’t thought of them, so I figure it’s worth a column. Of course, this is an incomplete list but if nothing appeals, maybe it will trigger your own ideas:

Invite a friend for lunch or coffee. I keep a box of Trader Joe’s frozen mini croissants in my freezer and often invite someone over to my home.

Take a class, live or online, that has a real-time discussion group, perhaps using video conferencing. If you don’t have time for a class during the work day, it gives you something to look forward to after work. The class can be something intellectual like philosophy or religion, artistic like painting, or physical like yoga or basketball.

Do some of your work in a cafe, library, etc.

Take a class, live or online, that has a real-time discussion group, perhaps using video conferencing

Rent space in a shared workspace such as WeWork.

During a break, phone, Skype, or FaceTime a friend or relative. Wouldn’t your parents love to hear from you?

Regularly attend events: a book signing at a bookstore, a public lecture, a student performance at a college, etc. Get coaching: fitness, dating, financial, a music lesson. Get out during the day: a walk or hike on a popular trail, visit a museum, do your food shopping and chat with someone in the supermarket line.

Write a letter to a friend or relative. I know that social letter-writing is an obsolete form of communication but that makes it special. Imagine if someone sent you a hand-written letter on nice paper, maybe even with the envelope sealed with sealing wax. Wouldn’t you like that? Even though you can’t see your recipient, writing a personal letter can feel less isolating. The Takeaway Of course, even if you don’t feel isolated at work, you might want to do one or more of these things or something else that those ideas trigger. So, is there an isolation-buster you’d like to try?

Psychology Today