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And some people intentionally keep their networks on social platforms small—or separate from their professional life. This is precisely why work friendships can help mitigate the tedium or stress of a job. We spend a lot of time at work—about a third of our lives, according to some estimates—and it’s common for us to find some of our closest friendships in the office.
Because, you know, working from home, it does have its benefits, like a flexible schedule and time freedom and, hey, you get to choose whether or not you want to wear pants. While there are countless upsides to working from home, there’s one consistent challenge — and it’s a serious one. You have gifts to share with the world and my job is to help you get them out there.
Online Forums and Discussion Groups Based on Your Interests
One of its programs centers around something that often brings people together — food. The organization buys lunch for people who invite a new person to share a meal with them. For many employees during the pandemic, workplace friendships offered social and emotional support at a critical time, Gallup found from their recent study. This is especially true of parents, educators and frontline workers.
- As an employee, you may be able to do this yourself, too.
- You can ask about the social environment during an interview, though you may not need to as many companies promote this aspect of their intake programs.
- Well, easy for me to write, not necessarily easy to put into practice.
- Arrange virtual coffees or happy hours to connect with people.
- Local schools often have open public workspaces, and even your library probably has a spot where people can collaborate and meet without the 12 inch whisper.
This can be a great way to meet people in a similar situation as you and connect with them online and in person. There are usually plenty to choose from if you live in a populated city. Please look at Facebook Groups Near Me and see what’s available in your area. Remember that the following tips encourage you to get away from your home office and expand your social circle, not to make you feel like you need to change who you are. Meetup.com has many activities, meetups, and events listed in thousands of cities so you are sure to find something that sparks your interest, or a new hobby you have always wanted to try. Yes, Facebook might be stale but you can still get value from the platform.
Plan something social
Working remotely can feel lonely and sometimes awkward but chances are if you are working remotely and seeking friends, your colleagues probably feel the same. Reach out to your co-workers, and turn your remote work relationship into real-life friendships. Work colleagues typically comprise a large amount of friendship and acquaintance social circles. If you work remotely from home full time, new people and forging new friendships can get a little tricky. Read on to discover some unexpected and useful tips on how to make friends as an adult when you work remotely.
Reddit is a great place to start if you’re looking for online forums. Many subreddit communities (Reddit’s term for groups) cater to https://remotemode.net/ remote workers. You can find subreddits for almost any interest, including freelancing, digital nomads, entrepreneurship, and more.
The 4 Secrets to Making Friends While Working from Home
There are lots of things you can do to get to know them whether they’re a county, a country, or an ocean away. Check out our menu of Career Services provided by our team of certified professionals, including resume and career coaching services for remote jobseekers. No, you’re probably not actually insane, but this definition applies to an assumably large amount of lonely remote workers. If what you’re doing hasn’t yielded a new friend, acquaintance, cohort, partner in crime, or crony, you need to try something new. So learn to cook, play an instrument, or try the downward-facing dog at yoga in the park.
They also create a supportive, encouraging work environment that fosters collaboration. They grow and evolve over time as you get to know each other. Even if you want a work bestie how to make friends when you work from home right now, focus more on being authentic and letting the relationships develop naturally. Trying to force a friendship can push the other person away or come off as disingenuous.
Work from Home Limits Work Friendships
They can be a good way to build friendships, and engage and participate in group activities similar to a typical work environment. Besides WeWork which is in most cities, search for independent coworking spaces to get variety. The Croissant app is a great tool that can help you find other options. While not meeting in person can make it harder to get close, it isn’t impossible. Most of the time you can find at least one person you really like at your company.
How can I be social while working from home?
- — Attend Industry and Company Events.
- — Be Intentional With Your Networking Schedule.
- — Maximize Your Social Media Efforts.
- — Incorporate Regular Vocal Interactions.
- — Create Social Breaks.
- — Develop an Out-of-House Routine.
- — Work Outside of Your House Occasionally.
As an employee, you may be able to do this yourself, too. When working on a group project, consider getting together in person, even though it means getting dressed, getting out of the house and getting in your car or on public transportation. That extra effort to be in the same physical space may pay off by helping generate real relationships. It’s not embarrassing, desperate or clingy to ask someone if they want to get a drink or coffee, even if it’s over a video call. Choose a milestone, like a big project or deadline, or perhaps the start of a new venture as your launching point for a prospective hangout. If you’re close enough to meet in real life, you can also plan something like picking up your favorite ice cream flavors and watching a reality show while texting about it.