It’s not easy to make friends when you work from home. Even if you’re a social person, there’s a massive time difference between you and the people you meet, and you don’t always have many people to interact with.
But more and more remote workers are choosing to work from home – be it to save money, or because they want to spend more time with their family. However, in order to make new friends, you need to be out and about.
So how do you make new friends and meet people when you work from home?
1. Start a social hobby
The best way to meet people when you work from home is by picking a hobby that you can do alongside other people. The downside is this can mean sacrificing a lot of free time, but the upside is that it’ll also get you out in the community.
You can pick something as simple as a book club and meet with your fellow readers each week. You could also try learning a new skill – or even join a sport. The important thing is that you’re out there meeting new people and interacting with them.
There are plenty of activity-specific clubs out there, whether it’s something like running or pool. And it can be great fun meeting other like-minded people, especially if they're in the same stage of life as you (for example, they have children).
2. Start your own activity group
While you could join an existing group, it may be better to start one yourself. You can do this on Meetup.com and by hosting the group yourself, you’ll also get to decide who joins.
The important thing with these groups is that they’re social, and that everyone feels welcome – after all, if you don’t feel comfortable around a person, there’s no need to force a friendship with them!
3. Use social media
This is probably one of the best ways to make new friends when working from home, as it means connecting with people all over the world. Just make sure that you’re careful with what you post, and don’t put too much personal information out there. You’ll also want to use genuine images of yourself, rather than ones that show you in a professional capacity.
You can also use social media to find out what’s happening in your area, so that you can get out and about more often.
4. Volunteer with a charity
If you want a conscientious way of meeting people when working from home, then volunteering for a charity is the way to go. There are all kinds of charities out there who are more than willing to accept help from people who live nearby, and it can be fun meeting new people while doing something positive for the community.
While volunteer work takes up a lot of time, it also means you get to do something different - and you’ll feel a lot better about yourself when you’re helping others.
5. Get involved with local networking events
Networking events are brilliant if you want to meet new people when working from home. Think about how much time we spend working, and that’s time we could spend meeting new people and making new friends.
Joining a networking group specifically for people who work from home is perfect for getting new people into your life. The downside of this is that some of these are specifically for people who do exactly what you do, so you may feel a little pressure to join just so that you can make friends with other remote workers.
However, if being around other people and chatting about work is important to you, then it may be worth it.
6. Join a fitness club
Not only will this keep you fit and healthy, but it’ll also get you out in the community. You can meet people through the classes that you take, or even by talking to them while on the machines.
And you’ll also be able to chat with other gym-goers while working out – so don’t feel like it’s a waste of time!
7. Get a pet
This is a great way to make friends when working from home, as you’ll get to interact with them in a different way. Whether you choose an animal that’s already living with a friend or family member, or you adopt one from a shelter, your new friend will be an important part of your life, and you can use this as the starting point for getting out in the community. But remember: adding a new furry companion to your family is an enormous responsibility!
In conclusion, you can have the best of both worlds when working from home. You can enjoy the flexibility that remote work offers and make money while doing what you love, while also making new friends and enjoying a healthy social life. The key to this is finding the right hobbies, meeting the right people, and doing the right things.
Only then will you make friends when working from home!
