Do you feel lonely in your job? You’re not alone - over 60% of Brits feel isolated at work, according to a survey by mental health charity Mind and jobs board Totaljobs. However, this statistic is likely to rise, with more people than ever jumping out of the workplace and into freelance roles, as well as starting up their own businesses.
Whatever your job, feeling lonely at work isn’t a pleasant situation to be in, so we hope this guide will help you to make more meaningful connections with clients and colleagues, as well as nourish the relationships you have outside of work, and feel more contented in your job.
Why is workplace loneliness a problem?
Feeling lonely at work can have distinct effects on your performance, as well as your mental health. In the aforementioned survey, 68% of employees who admitted to feeling lonely said this directly impacted their stress levels, with 66% experiencing low self-esteem, and 56% losing sleep over it.
Loneliness at work is nothing new - at the turn of the 20th century, Taylorism began to change how businesses trained and employed staff, making more people work on smaller, simpler, routine tasks, and pass them on to others in the production line. This division of labour has had a definite effect on how closely people work together, and while it’s not the only way businesses are structured, it certainly shows how certain organisations can encourage loneliness across its workforce.
If you’re feeling lonely in your job, you may experience the following symptoms:
Increased stress levels
Insomnia, or reduced quality of sleep
Lack of motivation
No passion for your work
Sense of dread at work
Feeling lonely can also create even more loneliness, with a third of survey participants admitting they have even called in sick because of feeling isolated. As a defense mechanism, you may also find yourself actively isolating yourself from other people, which in turn can create even more of a communication barrier.
Finally, loneliness can also lead to you leaving your workplace or job. Over 26% of people leave their jobs due to isolation, so it’s important that businesses address the issue with their staff, so they can continue to benefit from your talent and reduce their staff turnover rate.
How to stop feeling lonely at work
When it comes to reducing how lonely you feel at work, it’s important to recognise that this isn’t wholly your responsibility. Your manager or employer has a responsibility to make sure you are well integrated with your team, and that you are motivated in the role you hold.
These five tips will improve your social connections, as well as the workplace culture, and can be acted upon straight away:
1. Improve the workplace culture
While you may be experiencing the effects of loneliness at work personally, it’s very likely that it is not your fault. Often, it is the workplace culture that promotes isolation, and that may be due to a lack of communication channels, too much work, or poor people management.
If you’re feeling isolated in your team, it may be worth speaking with a member of the management team about improving the workplace culture. Calmer can support with this through our workplace training and Wellbeing Champions programme.
And if you work for yourself, consider finding a supportive coworking space to work from. While this may seem more expensive than working from home, the social and business benefits can really pay off.
2. Work on something you’re passionate about
Sometimes, loneliness can come from feeling demotivated by your work, or not feeling like you’re the right fit for the job. One coping mechanism for a poorly fitting job is to reduce how much contact you have with your team, so as not to be “found out” or “called upon”.
When you work in a field that truly makes you passionate, you will naturally open up more, and connect with others. Perhaps you’re stuck behind a computer, when you’d rather be working with people? Consider assessing which jobs fit your personality and passions, and go from there!
3. Connect with others outside of work
If you’re experiencing loneliness at work, you may wish to branch out and meet other people in your field or in a similar position. The Calmer Community is our membership platform, connecting entrepreneurs, solo-workers, and business teams through events, webinars, and mental health tools. We would be delighted to have you join us (and you can try it all with a free trial too)!
4. Nurture your existing relationships
One of the easiest ways to reduce how lonely you feel is to connect with people you already care about. Consider reaching out to friends and family, and making time to meet-up in person when you have the time. If you feel supported by this person/people, you may also wish to share how you’re feeling at work - discover how to talk about mental health here.
5. Appreciate who you are
Finally, consider looking inwards and appreciating yourself more. Loneliness is something we feel internally, so you may find self-care exercises such as breathwork or meditation can support you in feeling more confident, less stressed, and more open.
And why not take our free stress-reduction course, The Reignite Project, or our Digital Wellbeing Training course, to boost this even further?