Despite its many benefits, remote working is far from easy. In fact, studies on Associations Now find that remote workers are highly prone to burnout, loneliness, and feelings of isolation—significantly more than their 9-to-5 counterparts. This is because most remote workers tend to operate alone and in the confines of their homes. True enough, in our previous discussion on ‘The Reality of Digital Nomadism’, we mentioned how one of the downsides to remote working is the difficulty of connecting with other people—simply because it’s tough finding opportunities to do so.
If the nature of your work entails operating alone, then you’ll just have to create opportunities of your own. From working in shared spaces to making time for fitness classes, here are five things you can do to build social connections as a remote worker.
Use communication apps
Just because you don’t see your coworkers, doesn’t mean you don’t have to talk to them. Remote work relies a lot on collaboration, for which apps like Hive, Slack, and Twist are used for. Of course, these tools aren't just for coordinating deadlines and deliverables; they can also be used to make casual conversations with your coworkers—whether it's sending them a funny video to counter a stressful workday, or asking them to hang out.
Try coworking spaces
Although remote workers are prone to loneliness, the ironic thing is that there are thousands of remote professionals around the world, and establishments are popping up to cater to them specifically. These hubs—more commonly known as coworking spaces—can be found everywhere. Last year, Small Biz Trends estimated that around 3,800 new coworking spaces were established worldwide, and nearly half of them can be found in the US. Some cities leading this growth include Denver, New York, and Los Angeles—places where startup culture is really thriving. Chicago, for instance, is also on the list thanks to its many creative businesses and huge freelancer population. It's no surprise to see them turning to the flexibility of coworking spaces. For instance, the coworking spaces in Chicago established by Industrious boast an inviting and welcoming vibe that encourages collaboration—from the communal areas, to the community events. It makes it easy for anyone to meet like-minded people who are just as eager as you to make friends. So wherever you are in the world, this is one community that could help you curb your isolation and boost productivity.
Enroll in a fitness class
With a flexible schedule, you can use your time to squeeze in an hour or so to exercise. But instead of working out at home, why not take this opportunity to meet other people too? For example, the Pilates-inspired classes by Strengthen Lengthen Tone can be found in 24 different locations, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan, and New York. It’s mainly for those who are looking for a cardio workout and to build their strength. On the other hand, there are plenty of studios for workouts like Barre, yoga, and HITT. You and your future classmates already have that common denominator of a love for fitness, so there's no need to worry about coming up with icebreakers.
Clear your weekends
If you’ve spent the entire weekday holed up in your house, then the least that you can do is spend your weekends outside of it. See a movie, eat in a new restaurant, go shopping, or even hang out with friends. The latter is an especially good motivator to socialize—although you and the gang do have to find the perfect time to meet up. Weekends are a time for rest, after all. So resist the urge to gravitate towards your laptop, and get outside.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to meet and connect with new people. After all, not only do you make connections with the people you help, but you also form friendships with the other volunteers too. Some places that accept volunteers include animal shelters, orphanages, homes for the elderly, national parks, libraries, and museums, among others. You'll find that every city or state will have tons of organizations that will be thankful for the extra help.
Remote working doesn’t have to stop you from meeting new people. In fact, the flexible nature of your livelihood puts you in the best position to make time for such chances. There is value to be found in keeping your social ties, no matter what your nature of work is.