While the pandemic may be easing in the USA, more people have shifted to a Work From Home (WFH) lifestyle than ever before, which keeps them home for days or weeks at a time. And while many will argue that this new normal has brought an opportunity to escape the cubicle and the hectic office life [and/or the associated commute that they once loathed], many others are suffering from a side effect that they didn’t count on: battling isolation.
Hal (the app is available on the Apple App store) is a great resource to provide insight into how you can help stay connected in the new work reality that so many find themselves in today. As a “Hal” who’s worked with dozens of exasperated work-from-home individuals, here is a collection of tools, tips, and techniques that I’ve collected which will help you avoid the trap of professional isolation in your home office. And yes, I baked in links to ensure that you have NO excuses not to try at one of these solutions out for yourself:
First of all, help yourself by trying to adorn your work surroundings. This doesn’t have to mean hiring some high-brow interior designer and spending money you don't have: simply consider a way to surround yourself with things that make a drab corner of your room a little brighter. Start small and stay within your own budget — but start! Consider buying an artistic paneled room divider with a little flair. Try looking into one with a bright design or something ornate so those Zoom meetings have a pop of color — instead of showing that hole in the wall behind you that haven’t had a chance to patch when you (unsuccessfully) tried to put up a shelf a couple of months ago. Even a couple of motivational posters or a few small plants can make an otherwise dull room a little bit more vibrant. And while that won’t eliminate the isolation by itself, it puts your mind in a space that is more inviting. Build the space over time if need be, but make it a place you want to work in with each new design element you add.
So how do we reduce the isolation now that we’re no longer in our former small or large office settings? How do we replace the water cooler chats and lunch in the break room with co-workers? There are actually quite a few ways to remedy that:
- There’s a terrific site called “workfrom” that features freelancers, remote workers, and all types of people who are in a similar boat to you. By linking up with the site (or their 24/7 Slack channel) you can “have coffee” or “hang out” with others in the workfrom community. Not only can you get a virtual coffee clatch going, but you get to chat/interact with people from a host of different backgrounds, geographies, and skillsets! Ever want to find out what it might be like to be in graphic design or consulting? More often than not, the workfrom community has a few people like that you can interact with. Even introverts who are not all in on connection can find some solace in breaking up their day with some intelligent conversation, a new face, or a new angle on their work. It gives you a few options to interact in the way and manner that is the best fit for you.
- Be intentional about keeping (and forming) ties with people in your wider industry. Attend virtual or in-person conferences or webinars that are aligned with the work you do. Look for industry-specific events or companies that offer these virtual events for free. Even if you have to “force yourself” to attend initially, getting out of that ‘alone zone’ also helps push out the isolation that has started making a nest in your home office (and in your head!) Look for opportunities to connect virtually at first, where the work benefits are high and the risk is low. In fact, now the Automobile Association of America (AAA) members in the US can use the AAA website to locate career-enhancing information with an effort they are calling the Career Assistance Webinar Series. Make sure you log in to your AAA site and have your membership card ready if you have not ever logged into the site previously. Once logged in, you can locate the page on the site that will have a host of resources ready for you — at no cost!
- Consider meetups if you are inclined to move from a virtual world to the one outside your door. Online meetups can be either professional or personal, but they also place you in and around circles of new people that can remove that isolation. Maybe you want to move into a new career — or find a bunch of “foodies” that love to check out new area restaurants together as a group? Maybe you want to learn a new language and try it out with people from that region of the country who want to help you speak more fluently. Maybe you want to look into starting a new hobby and “craft” with those who are pursuing a similar hobby. Or perhaps just joining a reading or writing group to get you out of your own head for a while is a better option. There are literally dozens of options to consider that will put you in touch with new like-minded people. Oh yeah…in virtually every case (unless it’s a social club that opts to collect dues), it’s free!
- Not sure if diving into a meetup is for you, but still want some modicum of interaction in the work setting? How about checking out co-working spaces near your area? Co-working apps like Croissant, WeWork or KettleSpace, and tons of others have cropped up all over the country. If you’re in a more rural area, then finding one may mean a bit of a drive for you…but it’s worth it for that shot of dopamine to get around other busy people who love the vibe or energy of a cool office setting — even if it’s just for the day. Many of these spaces offer a tour prior to booking a ”hot desk” option — or more time if you are so inclined to spend a week there instead. Rather than staying at home, take your paperwork and your laptop with you and get it done in a new, bustling environment. Or ask your employer if they would split the cost of being there longer to up your productivity! Maybe they will subsidize a portion of the day or weekly rate with you! (You won’t know till you ask). You can check out the options that each one offers and see which makes sense to check out. Heck…even if it ends up less than optimal, you got in your car, drove somewhere new, met a couple of new people, and kicked isolation in the shins for a few hours, right?
- Schedule time away from work during the workday in some form or fashion. (I know this sounds easy, but if it was, why aren’t more people doing it?) That could mean quick stuff like taking a walk outside to talk to a neighbor, using your Apple Watch for a short workout sesh, watching some really funny TikTok videos with the kids (or your roomie or partner) to get your smile back, listening to 5 minutes of your favorite podcast for motivation, making a great snack the night before so you can microwave it & then face pack that culinary delight on your break, make a video call to a friend or family member so you can see and hear them — or any number of “scheduled events” that break up the monotony. The point is being intentional about time AWAY from that same space that you spend hours in to curb (and ultimately eliminate) the isolation that sneaks up on all of us in the work from home (WFH) world we find ourselves in.
- Talk to a Hal! (You had to know that was coming, right?) And yes, Hals are not just problem solvers and assistants, they are also great conversationalists who can respond via text to your need for a break in the day and can provide a little levity right in the Hal App. So if all else fails, Hal has your back to help you bust out of that isolation you're feeling.
