7 Ways to Combat Loneliness While Working Remotely
We’ve shared our 10 Tips to Help You Stay Productive While Working from Home (if you haven’t read that article yet, take a minute to check it out!) so that you can work effectively from your new remote position. Now let’s talk about the underlying issue that most of us are struggling with. Being productive while working from home is one thing, but combatting the feelings of social isolation is totally different.
We have seen a few posts circulating that talk about taking this time to self-care, but there are a lot of us out there that might not know what that looks like. We compiled a list of seven ways to combat loneliness while working remotely during COVID-19.
Seven Ways to Combat Loneliness While Working Remotely:
- Take Time for Yourself: When was the last time you treated yourself to a healthy home-cooked meal or an at-home skin treatment? Being left alone with just your thoughts (or a roommate) can be hard. Or never having a moment’s peace because your entire family is also staying at home with you. Be deliberate about carving out time to look inside yourself and learn what self-care looks like for you. Process things that you may not have had time to process earlier. Journal out everything that you’re feeling. Read the books you’ve always wanted to read but never had the time. Being in this new environment, whether alone or surrounded by family, will most certainly bring you face-to-face with some emotions you can’t escape. Focus on healing anything you feel needs to be healed.
- Stay in Touch: Sometimes our work can get chaotic and by the time work is out, we are already onto the next activity. Make an active effort to video chat your friends to catch up. Text them throughout the day. Go on a walk and give them a call. Perhaps both of you can walk and talk to each other on the phone!
- Shower and Change Your Clothes: Yes, this seems obvious but if you don’t leave the house, these things can fall by the wayside. Shower regularly and change your clothes every day. Get dressed for bed and wake up every day with a new outfit.
- Co-Watch TV Shows: Even if you aren’t watching shows with your friends, you can sync up and watch them at the same time. Start a text thread, do a countdown, and then text each other commentary during the show. Even though you won’t be physically together, you can still do this as a group activity.
- Check Off a Goal: Have you wanted to write a book? Learn a new language? Take this time to focus on yourself and accomplish one of those goals you’ve been talking about for years. Schedule time every day to work towards accomplishing it.
- Enjoy The Outdoors: In most areas of the country, spring has sprung. Take a break on social media and COVID-19 updates to go outside and enjoy the scenery. Flowers are blooming, grass and trees are coming back to life. Spend some time practicing social media detox. Try your best to live in the moment.
- Go Easy on Yourself. Not every moment will be positive. Take it moment by moment, day by day. Don’t put added pressure on yourself to be the parent who is an overnight master at home-schooling or keeping your children entertained 100% of the time. Or the rock for all your other friends who are having a hard time without receiving support in return. If you’re having a tough time, know that you can always choose better-feeling thoughts. Do something to interrupt the spiral. Get moving, have a dance party, cry, talk a salt bath, call a friend, laugh. Most importantly, know that you’re doing the best that you can.
Remember, this situation is only temporary. At one point, we will be able to look back on this time and celebrate our ability to adapt and overcome. Take advantage however you can to make the most out of the situation at hand and make it your own!
Deep breath in… deep breath out… you’re going to be ok. Now get off social media, take a walk and knock out that to-do list. We’ll be here when you get back.
