Connecting with Others While Working at Home
Working from home? There's a lot of perks! But there's also some downsides. Being alone all day can leave you feeling isolated from, well, everyone. We're not here to give you work productivity tips (trust us: that's not our thing). But what we can do is give you a few ideas on how to stay connected in general. With your friends, with your family, with your coworkers: it's all the same. Here are some ideas to beat the isolation and finish off that to-do list.
Rethink Your Commute: If you're working from home, you're not spending time in a car or on public transport twice a day. That's a good thing! Use that time to your advantage. Use it as a time to video call friends and family who are in a similar boat. Answer some texts. Maybe catch up on social media a bit if that feels good for you. And grab a glass of water! Keeping your hydration on a regular schedule will help you feel at your best, which is only going to help in staying connected.
Start a Book Club: Another good use for that lost commute time? Reading. Ask around and see if any of your coworkers are into the idea of a book club. Schedule a time to come together on a weekly or monthly basis over Zoom or Slack. You'll be better read, get to know your coworkers a little more, and have an excuse to get together regularly.
Play a Game: Are office games kind of cheesy? Yes. Are we going to suggest you do it anyway? HECK yeah. They may be cheesy, but they're also fun. Virtual games give you a chance to get to know your coworkers in a different context. Try a trivia game (Water Cooler Trivia is a solid one to check out). Ask everyone to give a virtual tour of their homes, or to share a non-work related picture. It may feel a little unnatural at first, but remote games can be a great way to break the ice (and shake off feelings of isolation) once you give them a try.
Try a Virtual Coffee Break: There's no good way to simulate an office water cooler, but a virtual coffee break comes close. If your company culture allows it, make plans to take a break at the same time as a coworker. Grab some coffee, pop onto your favorite video meetup app, and decompress. Try it with different coworkers, or make it something special you share with your closest work friends.
Get Outside: You'd think sitting in front of a machine that connects you to everyone in the world would make you feel more, well, connected. Strangely, it never really works out that way. Make a point to get away from it every day. Walk outside. Wave to your neighbors. Look at the sun. Pet a dog. Reconnect with the "real world," and you'll find it easier to connect with others, both on and off screen.