I think back to the first few weeks after learning I was going to work remotely the same way I think back to my high school graduation. Full of hope, optimism and the feeling that I was about to embark on a great adventure. I wrote dozens, okay maybe hundreds, of plans I had for myself with all that newfound freedom. Before that, my work life was governed by my boss's time sheets and records. All those hours I spent working within the confines of someone else's schedule were now rightfully mine. It felt like I finally had control of my life and the only person who could stop me was me. And guess what? I totally did. Without the structure I was used to, I found myself working more hours than I had ever worked in an office. With my computer and who knows how many unread emails a few feet away constantly, I never really clocked in. And I hardly spoke to anyone.
My independence came with a catch: I was alone. giphy how to avoid loneliness while working from homeI soon discovered that these problems were not just mine. A 2018 study by Buffer found that loneliness was the employee email database biggest struggle among remote workers, with 21% saying they had experienced it. If left unaddressed or ignored, this type of isolation and loneliness can lead to depression, another problem for many entrepreneurs, who often work alone or in small, remote teams. One study found that 30% of entrepreneurs struggled with depression. Luckily, as I continued my research, I discovered tons of ways to learn how to avoid loneliness when working remotely.
Here I've compiled all the solutions, tips, and strategies I've come up with since I started working on my own, to help others stay connected, build community, and find both happiness and productivity in as a remote worker. Contents Know that you are not alone Enjoy your location freedom Create your own type of community Bring back some traditional work habits Make positive contributions to the world In conclusion, go find friends Know that you are not alone The roller coaster of emotions that entrepreneurs can face, especially when starting out in their careers, is exhausting. And many of us use it with no support system or community of people to support us. That's precisely what Brit McGinnis, CEO of Black Bow Communications, discovered after she started hosting a Facebook group for remote workers and entrepreneurs called The Copywriter Club . The group has more than 8,000 members who interact and help each other on a daily basis.