To hate work popularity contests

[AtSea1979]

I work hard at my job. I arrive early and stay late. I try to be helpful but I struggle with making friends. This month work ran a poll on who was the most helpful and the person with most votes got a voucher. I got none. I know I should dismiss it but I felt crap all day because I work bloody hard!
Then I was invited to works drinks with a “some people are going out if you fancy it, I don’t think I’ll bother, I don’t think anyone in our department is going” then Facebook picture pops up and i’m only one from my department not there. No doubt that’ll make it harder to fit in. I wish I could just resign as its making me quite unwell with anxiety but jobs that fit in with childcare hours are not that easy to come by.
Has anyone got any tips on how to make things better? Either to disconnect or to be better at coming across to others?

Well without specifics it is hard to give you advice.
What I can say is just because you are there first and last to leave doesn't necessarily mean others view you as helpful. Sometimes people who do there actual hours are more helpful and do more for others.
Sorry that's probably not very helpful.

It’s unlikely to win, surely, as only one person did. Let that go, its just a divisive management practice that most will hate anyway.

How do you think you could improve things? Focus on joining in socially?, or on working professionally (cordially) and making yourself an asset? Don’t work so much you resent it.

In my office people who regularly do more than their hours as seen as least productive as people think they don't work hard which is why things take longer. It appears to others that they are just trying to build up flexi hours

Sounds like someone is playing a better political game than you

I have found the key to being part of the inner sanctum at work is not to give a shit! Honestly! I couldn't care less about being invited to work events or being voted as most popular colleague but I think because it comes across that I don't give a shit people include me. Try it!

Exactly what lazypuppy says. Just because you're there early and stay late doesn't mean you're working harder. People may view it as you being less efficient and not being able to do it into your normal working hours - building TOIL, trying to look good, office politics etc. I wonder if you're coming across as a martyr if you're the only one staying late? Anyone who stays late in my office looks at the clock (when I'm leaving on time) and it really pisses me off.

I have made a conscious decision to disconnect at work. I don't socialize with anyone from there, they're not on my social media. I have a life away from work and don't wish to endlessly discuss work with colleagues when not at work. I think it's an easy thing to do, but I'm a home body, don't care what my colleagues do or think about me and don't rely on them for self validation.

It's hard if you want to make friends/an impression, I know, OP, but if you do, then you need to get out there and make your presence felt.