Do you get lonely working from home?

[Cattyisbatty]

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!

Until very recently I wfh permanently (I have now retired). I love it, but I don't like people very much. I am very socially awkward, I'm bad at 'chat'. I feel old, fat and ugly in front of other people and if I'm at home I don't feel that.

If I was somebody who thrives in the company of other people it wouldn't suit me as well, but I'm not, so it does. I don't have to worry too much about what I wear. I don't have to travel to and from work. I don't have to take my lunch to work. I don't have to get up early and as soon as my working day is done my home time starts. And - of course - there are the added benefits of being able to pop a wash on or whatever it I have time. Bliss.

I did. I couldn’t cope.

I go to the office most days but I Ve been working from home. The last couple of days just because I had appointments and things.I needed to do in my local area.

I'm so lonely.I've been alone all day. Please chat to me 😀

I used to have a fully remote role and by the end of the third year I was borderline depressed by the isolation. It was convenient but didn’t do me any good. I changed roles to a hybrid role in March and I’m a million times happier getting some interaction and a reason to get dressed nicely! It’s also good to have some days out home around the kids etc. I think hybrid is better

Thanks for all your responses.

I wouldn't say I was an introvert, I do like being around people so I would definitely need another outlet for that - I could volunteer and maybe try some groups that run in the day (there's local-ish walking group that sounds good).

I've got some health issues that make me less confident about going to work and also being in social situations (recently diagnosed w epilpesy and have some digestive issues as well) so it's hard to balance that and also my need for interaction. It's quite complicated!

I have sort of given myself 3 months now to start the family business's work (alongside my p/t job) and also simultanously look for another p/t job with better hours ie, 17 hours over 3 days rather than 4 - my company would never agree to that (I have asked recently and they said no). My old manager found a really good job (for her) when she left last year. She was on 3 months' notice, left with no job to go to and found it within a month. That was exceptional though - and I'm only on one month, so... (part of my wanting to leave is the new manager, but that is a different story).