Lonely at work

[AllAtSea53]

I've recently started a new job but am feeling quite isolated and lonely.

I've moved to a small city, and my office is in a different city a short commute away. My new team are based all over the country, but none where I am, so I'm not having any face to face interaction in my own location. I have to attend my office twice a week, and it's absolutely enormous, but most days I don't talk to anyone at all.

Because it's so large, there's loads of tiny open break spaces rather than one or two big communal areas for people to congregate and mix, so people tend to only go to their closest small break space. The area I have to sit in is often very empty.

I've always established good friend groups through work, but I just don't see that happening naturally in this role. I'll have to think more creatively, but short of taking up vaping (there's a big central courtyard full of smokers), I'm not sure where to start. Has anyone ever experienced this?

Yes!

I’ve just started a new job. There’s only two people in my department (including me) and as we each have two days off there’s only three days when we’re both in.

I feel like such a Billy-No-Mates when she’s not there.

I can mingle with other department but I’m mostly alone.

Part of me came into this new job deciding not to make friends as my last job took over my life and I’m trying to keep some professional distance.

But it’s hard.

I totally get how you feel.

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon I'm so glad I'm not alone!

My previous jobs have been fairly social and I've met most of my closest friends that way.

I've tried taking up hobbies outside of work but not had much luck with this, and it's also hard to find time for as I'm studying as well as FT work.

It would just be lovely to have a few friendly faces, or the odd work lunch! It feels very pointless a lonely going in without any interaction.

I'd be inclined to look outside work for friends. Is there a meet-up app you can join for activities to make friends with people who are outside work?

Work mates might happen organically in time but some places don't have that culture, and some people don't want to socialise with colleagues. I'd go with what you can change rather than what you can't.