Dear Anna,
I’m working from home due to COVID-19 and I’m finding it much lonelier than I expected. Do you have any tips for getting through the day?
Working from home takes practice. Everyone’s home working environment is different. You might live in a quiet suburb, or beside neighbours who are renovating. Your apartment might be near the lifts, or you hear every happy scream from children in the playground. You may be one of the many sole practitioners who regularly works alone. Some will enjoy the solitude while others will be lonely. Recent research by Ozcelik and Barsade in their 2018 Academy of Management article “No Employee an Island” suggests that loneliness is both an individual and social phenomenon and it does impact job performance. Here are a few different things to try. When it comes to loneliness, a combination of strategies works best to build friendships and expand social networks.