Tweet

Combating Loneliness While Working From Home

Written by: Chris Simpson

Article Overview: Combating loneliness while working from home can be a difficult task. Coming from a professional executive position to a work at home position was a very exciting move for me. I had always wanted to be my own boss, set my own hours, and work on my own terms. Little did I know...

Combating Loneliness While Working From Home

Combating loneliness while working from home can be a difficult task. Coming from a professional executive position to a work at home position was a very exciting move for me. I had always wanted to be my own boss, set my own hours, and work on my own terms. Little did I know that eventually, I would face the complication of pure loneliness. Here I will share with you some productive means of combating loneliness while working from home.

The truth is, it is not so much a loneliness for interpersonal relationships, it is a loneliness that revolves around the lack of professional transactions. I found myself missing the hustle and bustle of the average work day, the emails, the projects that I once managed, the employees that I once coached and dealt with on a daily basis, the management team that I worked so closely with; the basic level of responsibility and accountability of the workplace. I missed being the professional that I once was as well as the sense of achievement that I once enjoyed on a daily basis.

It actually took some time before it really hit me that I was lonely for all of the interactions and responsibilities that I was so used to. I am not sure if it was because I had less to do, more time to think, or what - but there was no doubt at all that I was definitely lonely. If you are reading this and you work from home you know exactly what I am talking about. I am going to share with you some of the ways that I have learned to completely combat this loneliness. These methods may or may not work for you, but they have helped me.

Instant Messaging Programs

Instant messaging programs can allow you a form of interaction with others when you work at home. Personally, I am not big on using these programs to communicate with people that I do not know or deal with on a regular basis. Most of my contacts consist of family members; people who I have went to school with, those that I once worked with, personal friends, neighbors, and even those that I work with in the virtual world. Believe me when I say, that just with these contacts I stay relatively busy. This is a safe, effective means of keeping in touch with others and makes time go by more quickly when I am busy working throughout the day.

Work Related Projects

If you work at home and are in a position where you can assist in work related projects, you should do so. I really miss the work that I did in the workplace. When I find myself tempted to give in to the job offers and invitations from past employers, I consider what I would have to give up and what my family would have to sacrifice. It is then that I try to start projects that relate to who I am as a professional. I focused a lot on employee motivation and customer service in the workplace. When I establish projects that relate to these two elements in the "virtual" workplace that I am currently a part of, it seems to help me in combating the loneliness while working from home. While it does not allow for a lot of interaction with others while I am doing it, it does provide me with a sense of familiarity and comfort that I grew accustom to in the workplace. It provides me with a sense of accomplishment and allows me to feel as if I still carry the value that I once carried when I worked outside the home.

Schedule Some Time for Yourself

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to working at home is scheduling some time for yourself. If you allow yourself, you will find that you work nonstop - with few to no breaks. This can be quite challenging. Even in the workplace, you get breaks. If you were a workaholic at work, if you work from home, you will take up those same characteristics. If you work in a "virtual" work environment the people who identify this trait in you will likely appreciate this to the point where they allow you to continue on doing this. Hey, they need breaks too - why not just load all the work on top of someone who they know will always be there? If you find that you are in this position you will also find that you are quite lonely.

Hearing about your virtual coworkers going out, spending time with their friends and families, or just spending some time resting and relaxing can be very detrimental to your self esteem if you do not allow yourself to enjoy some of these things too. Take the time - find out who you are and what you like to do - then DO IT! This is necessary if you want to combat loneliness while working from home.

Conclusion

Loneliness while working from home is a very real issue. If you support your family financially in this manner, you are quite likely to experience the difficult issue of being lonely too. There are many reasons why this may occur. If you experience this issue it is important to reach out and find ways to combat this issue. Depression, anxiety, and even suicide contemplation and attempts are very serious issues that you may find yourself experiencing if you are not equipped with the tactics to combating loneliness while working from home.

Related Articles
  Are You and Your Partner Hurting Each Other?
  Avoiding Loneliness While Working At Home
  Do You Isolate?
  Healing Love and Approval Addiction
  Addiction to Spending

Article Tags: boss, bustle, daily basis, executive position, family members, home position, interaction with others, interpersonal relationships, loneliness, management team, messaging programs, neighbors, no doubt, personal friends, responsibility and accountability, truth, virt, working from home



Related Forum Posts
Re: What is Your Favorite Thing About Owning A Business? - [quote="freddyb45":1t3lpfi8]For me it's the fact that all the time and effort you put in is worth a lot more, due to it making you "business" more profitable. Working for yourself is also a positive, although employing people you can trust is quite different.[/quote:1t3lpfi8] I like this idea. Working for yourself means you are investing in your own future, not someone else's, although there is value in working for someone else first to gain experience and confidence. Working for yourself does not automatically mean success, fame and fortune. For most entrepreneurs, it takes much work and dedication to get to the point of financial success and comfort - sometimes years. But the benefit is, again, you know you are investing in yourself and building equity for your own future. GT :-]
Re: Trade Shows - Are They Worth It? - HI, I have used trade shows (not participated) to collect potential clients. For example, the Home & Garden Industry is extremely behind the time in regards to their websites. I attended an Home & Garden Expo in Denver and collected all the companies contact information. I plan on cold calling & mailing information to each business. It also gave me time to research the industry more, talk directly to the owners in many cases, and learn more about what they need. Jeff
Re: help wanted in u.k. - Working on it all, a new world to me cheers brendan
Re: What is Your Favorite Thing About Owning A Business? - For me it's the fact that all the time and effort you put in is worth a lot more, due to it making you "business" more profitable. Working for yourself is also a positive, although employing people you can trust is quite different.
Re: When do entrepreneurs retire, if ever? - Entrepreneur don't retire, they die on the job. It is his passion and what he enjoys doing. Rubert Murdock is 77 years old and he is still working. He said he would die fast if he stop working. Working had become his life,joy and passion


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Ten Twitter Tips For Work-at-Home Moms

Four Secrets to Earning Income as an Author

Selling What Sizzles vs. Delivering Real Value

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.