Working remotely doesn’t need to have a negative impact on your social life. Though it may seem like a lonely prospect at first, there are many different ways to connect with others and stay connected to the outside world. With a little effort, you can easily avoid feeling isolated while working away from the office.
Here are some tips on how to maximise your social life and stay connected with others while working from home:
Connect with remote colleagues
Working from home can be a great way to avoid the distractions of an office environment, but it can also be difficult to stay connected with remote colleagues. But there are simple ways to make sure you stay in touch with your team and don't miss out on important updates:
1. Start - or join - a workplace group chat. This can be your replacement for the gossip around the office kettle!
2. To make the most out of formal meetings with colleagues, make sure you have a good internet connection and plenty of bandwidth. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to work online and having the connection drop out every five minutes.
3. Use a video conferencing tool like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. These tools make it easy to see and talk to your colleagues, and they're perfect for team meetings or brainstorming sessions.
4. Schedule a weekly catch-up with your work buddy. Try not to let the whole conversation be dominated by work talk.
Utilise social media
Use social media to stay in touch with friends, relatives and colleagues. Avoid just scrolling idly through your favourite social media feeds - be active! Comment, like, share and post to build meaningful connections online.
As well as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, try the less obvious social media options such as LinkedIn which has a thriving professional-minded community.
Joining social media groups
Social media groups are a great way to connect with others who have similar interests. There are a number of different social media platforms that offer groups, including Facebook and LinkedIn. Here are a few tips on how to find and join social media groups:
1. Use keywords to search for groups. For example, if you're interested in joining a group for entrepreneurs, search for "entrepreneur group" or "business group".
2. Check out the groups that your friends are in. This is a great way to find groups that you might be interested in.
3. Check apps like Nextdoor to find groups in your local area which meet both online and in person.
4. Join a few different groups and see which one is the best fit for you.
5. Once you've joined a group, be active! This will help you connect with others and make the most of the group.
Schedule a good old fashioned phone call
Make an effort to pick up the phone regularly. Not only are verbal conversations often more fulfilling than digital ones, they usually last much longer too!
Meeting up with friends in person
Meeting up with friends regularly is a great way to stay connected and have some fun. Make the most of your time with friends by considering the following:
1. Choose a convenient location that will suit everyone and set up the date and time in advance to avoid last-minute cancellations. Mixing up the location each time can also help you to make the most of your time away from your screen.
2. Choose an activity that everyone can enjoy. This will make it easier for everyone to participate and have fun. Change up the activities regularly - cocktail-making one week, an exercise class the next!
3. Message your friends afterwards to thank them for coming - this is a great way to stay connected and maintain relationships.
Take online classes and courses
Online classes or courses are a great way to meet new people and learn new things. Here are a few of the best online classes and courses to check out:
edX - edX offers a range of different online courses, from beginner to advanced levels. You can choose from a variety of different subjects, including business, computer science, health and nutrition.
Coursera - Coursera offers a wide range of online courses, from business and computer science to arts and humanities. You can choose from a variety of different formats, including video lectures, readings and quizzes.
Udemy - Udemy has an enormous variety of top-rated courses, from business and marketing to design and programming.
Skillshare - Skillshare covers many different topics, from creative arts and design to business and entrepreneurship.
General Assembly - General Assembly also offers a broad range of courses, from web development and programming to data science and analytics.
Hosting a meetup or event
Another great way to connect with others is by hosting a meetup or event yourself. Here are a few essential tips on how to host a successful meetup or event:
1. Set the date, time and location well in advance.
2. Promote your meetup or event. Use social media, flyers or word of mouth to let people know about your meetup or event. Be clear about what your meetup/event/group is all about.
3. After the meetup or event, be sure to follow up with your attendees. Let them know about other upcoming events they might enjoy. This will help you to boost these budding relationships.
Staying connected while working from home can be a challenge, but it's definitely possible! By joining social media groups, taking online courses or meeting up with friends in person, you can stay connected and avoid feeling too isolated. With a little effort, you can easily make the most of the flexibility of working from home!
