We're in this together

Feeling lonely working from home? Here's how to fight it

by JoAnna Wendel
Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Many of us are working from home these days.

Shutterstock

Remote work can be a boon to some — those who need more flexible schedules or have a long commute.

Shutterstock

But in the current environment, with the Covid-19 pandemic shutting down many opportunities for social gatherings, WFH can lead to feelings of loneliness.

Shutterstock

And loneliness and work don’t always get along.

Shutterstock

In a 2018 study, researchers who tracked work productivity and feelings of loneliness of more than 700 employees at 2 companies found that loneliness was linked to poor job performance.

Shutterstock

But that study was about loneliness at work. Now, people might be dealing with loneliness at work and at home.

Shutterstock

Working remotely can mean lonely people can “fall off the grid,” Sigal Barsade, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, tells Inverse.

Here are three ways to help stave off feelings of loneliness.

Shutterstock

Laugh. Watch a funny show, movie, stand-up special, or even a YouTube video.

Shutterstock

Exercise. Exercising can help you get out of your head, plus it comes with physical and mental benefits.

Shutterstock

Get Outside. Being outside, especially around nature, is a well-established mood-booster.

Read more mental health stories here.