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Original poster

Do you get lonely working from home?

55 replies

Cattyisbatty · 31/07/2025 18:54

If you work from home, solely. do you find it lonely and how much do you socialise in general?
I am thinking of giving up my p/t job and working from home for a family member's business - I wouldn't really interact with anyone during the working day. They say they have enough work for me but I am nervous about working from home and not having the social contact from the office. I only work p/t 3 days a week in the office, and it's not mega sociable as we are a small operation, but I do get on quite well with a couple of people and we have people popping in etc to chat to.
I have a few reasons why I want to leave - some are work related and some are personal - but the reason I am hesitating is because of the social aspect. I have wfh solely before but the kids were young so I did the school run or had them back after school, chatted to them etc - now it's just me, DH and the cat at home.
I do see friends - maybe go out 1-2 x a week on average either in the day or evening with others (not counting DH) but that's not enough interaction if I'm not in an office. Dh goes out to play sport on two evenings in the week. I'm not sporty, but I could join the gym.
I've waffled on here but you get what I mean I hope!

OP posts:

WaterWolf · 31/07/2025 18:59

I like wfh and only go into my office once every year or so and only if I want to.

CalliopeFosterBeauchamp · 31/07/2025 19:02

I wfh and live alone. I go out 1-2 evenings a week.

I’m massively introverted and I like
living like this, but I’m not sure that it’s good
for my mental health. Unfortunately I moved to the middle of nowhere during covid and can’t afford to move again, so I’m stuck wfh for the foreseeable future.

if you’re feeling like you need a change, make it!

twistyizzy · 31/07/2025 19:03

Basically: no I don't.
I am ADHD so really struggle with too much peopling/office politics.
Spend most of my day in meetings anyway so no, not lonely wfh.

thaegumathteth · 31/07/2025 19:03

No but I’m an introvert and also I have meetings etc plus the kids and my husband are in and out

SweetFancyMoses · 31/07/2025 19:04

During the pandemic, I worked exclusively from home. After a while, I found it really dull and quite depressing despite being and in daily teams video calls with my team, both 1-2-1 and as a group. I definitely could not wfh full time.

I also couldn’t work from an office full time either. I go in 1 or 2 days per week and that’s a perfect balance.

LemonBeagle · 31/07/2025 19:04

Wfh and live alone. Ideal is 2 out of 5 days in the office. No more than 2 days on my own in a row.

ExistentialThreat · 31/07/2025 19:06

I love it and don’t get lonely, but I do interact with colleagues online all day. I am also an introvert. My husband is an extrovert and hates WFH

TheLurpackYears · 31/07/2025 19:06

No more than when I was in a workplace up to full time, possibly less because I'm not under so much stress. I see a few customers each week and it's pretty blissful.

space99 · 31/07/2025 19:06

I WFH full time and don’t feel lonely at all. I am an introvert though and also worked in retail for decades so have had my fill of the general public and colleagues.

WFHmutha25 · 31/07/2025 19:09

If you are new its really hard to make connections. Im struggling. I wish it wasn't so flippin handy though. Im worried that long term i won't be able to adapt.

saywhatdidhesay · 31/07/2025 19:13

I do wfh most of the week and go in one day a week if I need to. It’s good and I don’t get lonely. Having said that I do find my mood is low if I have weeks where I don’t go into the office, so it does me good to get out and see people but I think I could satisfy this with seeing friends or joining a regular hobby (which I have less time to do working full time).

could you take this job and use a co working space somehow?

AntisocialMedium · 31/07/2025 19:18

WFH full time. I get lonely.
Go for a walk at lunchtime, pop to the corner shop, go to a gym in the evening...

Puravida23 · 31/07/2025 19:18

I think WFH suits certain personalities and demographics . I unfortunately am not it.
5 years of complete WFH with little interaction has definitely affected my mental health I am much less confident and anxious( although the menopause hasn’t helped either)
I am 2 years away from retirement so will stick it out but if I was younger I would be looking for a more hybrid role specifically for my mental health
On a side note though I have never been fitter as I can’t wait to leave the house on an evening so my gym usage and running is at an all time high
With only 3 days working I think as long as you make an effort to get out and do things on an evening and on your days off you should be fine but it is definitely a factor which needs considering

MyIvyGrows · 31/07/2025 19:20

I did when wfh first started as I had a young baby so didn’t get a chance to go out much in the evenings. Life is less lonely now and I love my days at home for some solitude and a chance to work in peace!

sophistitroll · 31/07/2025 19:24

I can’t do a full week from home. I go into the office 2, sometimes 3 days a week and need it. I also find it vital for informal connection, learning and collaboration.

Rozendantz · 31/07/2025 19:26

No, I bloody love it. I haven't left home for any work related reason for 6 years. I spend my days on endless conference calls so I talk to colleagues and customers all the time, but still get to have flexibility which is perfect.

mambojambodothetango · 31/07/2025 19:27

Yes I do feel lonely but I don't realise until I need to go to an event or a meeting and realise how little I see people. I go to an activity once per week for 3 hours and an exercise class. I try to factor in a walk or coffee with a friend once per week. DH is at home 2 days so we usually eat lunch together on those days and I see him and the DC in the evening. I do miss the buzz of a team but ar the same time I've become rather antisocial and quite like my own company.

BG2015 · 31/07/2025 19:32

I’ll be working from home for 3 days in September. I’m a recently retired teacher and have a self employed online trainer job for 18 hours a week.

My plan is to visit my elderly parents more, meet up with retired friends and I’ve also got a voluntary role teaching adults to read.

I also swim 2-3 days a week. I think I’ll be ok.

BG2015 · 31/07/2025 19:32

I’ll be working from home for 3 days in September. I’m a recently retired teacher and have a self employed online trainer job for 18 hours a week.

My plan is to visit my elderly parents more, meet up with retired friends and I’ve also got a voluntary role teaching adults to read.

I also swim 2-3 days a week. I think I’ll be ok.

BG2015 · 31/07/2025 19:32

I’ll be working from home for 3 days in September. I’m a recently retired teacher and have a self employed online trainer job for 18 hours a week.

My plan is to visit my elderly parents more, meet up with retired friends and I’ve also got a voluntary role teaching adults to read.

I also swim 2-3 days a week. I think I’ll be ok.

BG2015 · 31/07/2025 19:32

I’ll be working from home for 3 days in September. I’m a recently retired teacher and have a self employed online trainer job for 18 hours a week.

My plan is to visit my elderly parents more, meet up with retired friends and I’ve also got a voluntary role teaching adults to read.

I also swim 2-3 days a week. I think I’ll be ok.

IAmTheLogLady · 31/07/2025 19:32

I wfh once a week and couldn't do more than that.
I really enjoy being around other people. I love being in the office.
We also gain so much as a team by chatting about our work in person in real time. Pretty much every on our team feels the same way. I agree with pp it depends on the personality type.

EdithStourton · 31/07/2025 19:43

I bloody love it, though DH WFH too. We're a pair of introverts who work in operate rooms, so there are lots of silent lulls.

I'm out of the house quite often though - most weeks I have a couple of social meet-ups, plus I'm on a couple of committees and have an active hobby. Also I live fairly rurally, so I'm forever seeing people I know and we usually have a quick chat - the other day it was a quick convo car-to-car on a lane.

In the past week I've probably had at least half a dozen planned events where I will see people and chat, from a walk with a friend to a committee meeting, plus randomly seeing friends when shopping, driving or walking the dogs.

DH was away for a week recently and I wondered how I'd feel after a day of no human contact. Of course it didn't happen.

Blanketenvy · 31/07/2025 19:44

No and I live alone but am mostly very introverted and have a lot of health problems so need a lot of downtime. I probably would benefit being able to connect with colleagues more but don't cope in an office type environment.

BCBird · 31/07/2025 19:48

I worked from.home during pandemic. Live alone. Nearly lost my mind. I could cope with a couple of days a week, that's all.

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