Working from home - lonely.

[CityGirl89]

I've been working from home for two months now. The money is great and I love what I do but I am so LONELY.

Anyone have any advice? I work 9 - 6 and normally have a two hour lunch break.

What would you do in this time? I seem to just make lunch and sit in front of the TV. Then the time is gone and it's back to the desk.

Why do you have such a long lunch?

Give yourself half an hour to eat, then go back to work

Finish at 4.30 and then you can plan things to do in the evenings which involve getting out and being with people.

ps - i used to work from home and the isolation and procrastination is a killer.

I retrained and got a job with people!

Don't just sit in front of the telly.
Get a dog and go for a walk. Borrow a dog if you don't want one. Having a dog is the best way to chat to people.

I would go to the gym, do the weekly shop etc if I had a 2 hour lunch break.

So I have such a long break because of the clients. I could try to change this but I'm not sure if it will help with the loneliness 

@youllhavehadyourtea Haha yes, I did the opposite. I worked with people for years and now that I'm on my own I'm finding it very isolating.

I would love to have a dog but I have three cats. All of which hate dogs 😂

Depending on where you are, most cities and big towns have co-working spaces to rent to give you some company.

Exercise, walk or gym class during lunch x

@YahBasic thank you, that's a good point. I will look into that.

Locally we have "Jelly's". They're monthly events where people working from home can work with others for the day in shared space. Have you got anything like that ? Or rent a desk in a s/e friend's office ? Might help them pay rent and give you company

Thank you gin!

Get everything you need to 'get done', done during this mahoosive lunch break if you have to have this trapped time, and then you will be free evenings and weekends to get out and mingle with whoever you want to and talk to whoever you want to, wherever you want to.

OR

Get out during your lunch break - Borrow a dog (Cinnamen Trust for Example) / Go to the Gym / Do all the jobs that need to be done that involve contact with other people.... hair cut, dentist, supermarket run, go to the post office, etc

Become a midday supervisor at your local school or Nursery

@CityGirl89 I've been self employed for years. Worked at home when my kids were at junior school - the walk to and from school was my commute. Now I'm in a co-working space, which gives me colleagues and structure. Key thing is to impose some kind of structure and sociability. Could be working in a cafe some of the time (if it's laptop work). Also you need to factor in fresh air and exercise. I go to the gym most days, early as well. When you factor in those elements, the autonomy of working in your own way at your own pace is hard to beat.

I love working from home it’s my favourite part of my job - you just have to make the most of your days off