Although the growing popularity of remote working has been a boon for everyone, shifting to an online job does have its disadvantages. And one of these disadvantages is the difficulty in maintaining a remote work social life. Social isolation in remote working leads to anxiety and burnout, which can hamper your mental health and productivity.
Another challenge for those battling remote work loneliness is finding the time and energy to meet with their social groups. Aside from work fatigue, the general stress caused by living during a pandemic can sap away one’s motivation to do anything. So you may want to socialize and bond with your loved ones, but you just lack the strength and drive to do so.
To help you deal with these problems, here are some tips on balancing your remote work social life. These include how to stay social by using modern technology to communicate with your loved ones. And also how to take care of yourself so you will have the strength and motivation to see your loved ones in the first place.
Connect with your Loved Ones Online.
Let us start this article with the most apparent means of maintaining your remote work social life. And that is by utilizing the many social media and online communication apps available to you to socialize with your loved ones. These apps allow you to make up for lost time with your loved ones and help combat remote work loneliness.
Apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Skype allow you to conduct video calls to see your loved ones face to face again. Or, if you don’t want them to see how much weight you’ve gained over the past year, you can just chat with them using these apps. Just remember to balance your time between social media and work so you can still accomplish your tasks.
Give Time for Yourself.
I know, I know. This article is all about balancing your remote work social life. Why would I then include self-care in it, right? Well, how can you interact with other people when you’re constantly tired and lack the will to do anything? To avoid social isolation in remote working, you must look and act presentable to other people first.
To do this, take time for yourself first. Nobody’s gonna love you more than yourself, right? So don’t be afraid to take some rest or do your hobbies. Doing these will allow you to de-stress and relax from work and life’s worries. So when you meet your loved ones once again, you’re refreshed and re-energized.
Learn to Commit.
The next tip in combating remote work loneliness that I will discuss will be about commitment. As all of you may know, time has become a precious commodity these days. From work deadlines to doing family chores, it seems that everyone is always in a hurry to do something. So when you and your loved ones arrange an online meeting, be sure to take time to attend it.
Showing your commitment to attending your planned video calls or online get-togethers shows to your loved ones just how much you value them. It shows that you are willing to take some time off your busy schedule to bond with them again. But if you can’t attend during you and your loved ones’ get-together, or if something important came up, notify them immediately.
Be Open to Meeting New People Online.
And finally, always remember to be open to the possibility of meeting new people online. Remember, nobody grows by staying in their current situation. Go out with your co-workers via online get-togethers, or perhaps, meet the friends of your friends. You don’t have to do this immediately, of course, as I also know how hard it is to come out of one’s shell.
Yes, being open to meeting new people online also brings the possibility of meeting unpleasant people. But isn’t that also the case when interacting with people in person? Personally, I’m also hesitant about meeting new people. One of the reasons why I chose an online job in the first place is that it keeps the need to meet new people at a minimum.
But you can’t keep running from situations like this forever. Sooner or later, you will need to socialize with others. So why not take advantage of every opportunity to socialize? Online meetings also have the added benefit of having a screen separating you from the other person.
Conclusion.
And we’re done! Here are just a few ways that you can maintain and balance your remote work social life. I know that maintaining one’s social life is the least of our worries during this time. But having friends to talk to and share life’s troubles helps keep us sane and improves our confidence. I hope that this article helps you remain in touch with your loved ones.
