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Last Updated on June 22, 2018 by Work In My Pajamas
Working from home brings lots of benefits. You can work the hours you choose, work in the environment you choose and even work in your pyjamas. But one of the downsides to working from home is missing out on all of that office camaraderie.
Sure, you don’t have to listen to your co-workers moaning about their workload or their home life. But you also don’t get to enjoy friendly conversations at the water cooler or make the most of two heads (or three or four) when you come up against a work problem. And you don’t have the opportunity to develop relationships that turn colleagues into lifelong friends.
But, don’t fear. Freelancers and home workers aren’t destined to a life of loneliness! Here are a few ways to make friends when you’re working from home:
Find Friends Online
Through social media platforms, you can find thousands of likeminded people with whom to share your daily experiences, joys and frustrations. With a work-based platform, such as LinkedIn, you can find hundreds of people in exactly the same home-working boat as you. Join groups, participate in chats and become a regular face within these industry enclaves. You’ll find people who really sympathise with the loneliness you experience working from home, as well as people who can offer their advice or support in dealing with a work project problem.
Attend a MeetUp
MeetUp is a website that allows you to connect with likeminded people. It facilitates real life, face to face get-togethers rather than the social media variety. You can search the site for freelance meet ups in your area if you’re looking for work buddies or look for people who share the interests you enjoy in your spare time. From book clubs to hiking excursions, film nights to beer tasting, there are meet ups for every interest.
Find a Co-Working Space
Working alone or freelance doesn’t have to mean working alone. The sharing economy has prompted the establishment of many co-working spaces, particularly in big cities. You can hire a desk and work alongside other freelancers all looking for a little human contact during the working day. People often also find that co-working spaces encourage them to be more focused on their work. Travelling to your place of work can be a real motivation to get started and finished on your work to-do list.
Volunteer
Whilst you may not be making lots of new friends in your work environment, you can make the most of social opportunities in your free time. After you finish work for the day or at weekends, be sure to do something social. Volunteering within your local community is a great way to make a difference and meet some new people too. Longer lasting volunteer projects give you chance to build up real relationships with the people you’re volunteering with.
Attend a Night Class
Whether you’ve got a passion for languages, cookery, mechanics, or the best ukulele for beginners, there’ll be a night class out there for you. Not only will you meet new people, you’ll also know that you have at least one passion in common. As with volunteering, a course that takes place over a number of weeks will allow you to develop stronger friendships with your classmates, making it more likely that you’ll stay in touch once the course has ended.
Working from home doesn’t have to mean a life with fewer friends. With the right approach to your spare time and good networking within your work time, you can soon build a community of contacts and friends.
