Social isolation can lead to poor outcomes not only at work but for your mental and physical health as well. People who work from home need to make an extra effort to connect with others, as it isn’t as easy as simply going to the office. Consider these five suggestions for staying social when working remotely.

1. Touch base with colleagues via voice or video calls

While email and text has its place, connecting with your colleagues through voice or video conferencing has a more human element. It gives you a chance to touch base regarding projects and socialize a little as well, sort of like a virtual water cooler. There are also many instances where a call might facilitate better communication than text, such as when you need to share ideas or discuss complicated issues.

2. Work from somewhere other than home

If your setup allows it, it can be a good idea to pick up and work somewhere other than home from time to time. For example, while you will have to follow COVID-19 requirements like wearing a face mask, you can still work in your favourite coffee shop for a while. Even if you don’t talk to anyone, simply seeing other people can help you feel less isolated.

3. Take the time to see friends and family

Spending time with your loved ones is always important, and when you work from home it comes with the added benefit of combating loneliness. Reach out to friends and family on a regular basis and plan to catch up over lunch or dinner, or simply by going for a walk together. Having people to see when you are not working will make it much easier to be alone when you are working.

4. Take advantage of your flexibility

Working remotely often comes with a more flexible schedule that you can take advantage of to allow for more socializing. For example, if you have a friend who can meet for lunch, then you can start working an hour earlier or work an hour later that day. Or, maybe, you can adjust your schedule to walk your dog with a neighbour rather than alone. There are many small ways to stay on top of work and stay connected.

5. Create firm work boundaries

While the physical office provides physical work boundaries, remote work brings the office into your living space. This makes it easy for work to seep into your leisure time, impacting your work/life balance and hindering your ability to socialize. Protect your personal time by creating firm limits around work, such as setting a strict start and end time for your workday.

Working remotely doesn’t have to be an isolating experience. By putting the effort into connecting with friends, family, and colleagues, you can enjoy all of the benefits it offers without feeling lonely.