How to cope with social isolation as a work-at-home freelancer?

Hi guys! How do you cope with social isolation as a work-at-home freelancer? It's fun and relaxing to stay at home and have full control over your schedule but then the loneliness hits you after a few months. Living alone, I've noticed I can spend days not talking to anyone and it can get pretty depressing. Pets help even though they're usually one-sided conversations. Friends live far and have different schedules (graveyard shifts) so it's hard to catch up with them. Life has literally become a routine of eat, work and sleep.

It's a pretty hard slump to overcome once you get used to doing everything at home. Even basic tasks that require you to go outside already seem so exhausting. Thinking of finding a new hobby or enrolling in a class to stimulate and force myself out of the house.

I also thought about finding a co-working space (Congressional/Trinoma QC area) to work and connect with new people, even though that kinda negates my reason of working at home (avoiding the hassle of bustling through Manila traffic).

Do you guys have regular meetups here?

Jenin #1 • Jan 22 '20

Get a hobby.

Misam #2 • Jan 22 '20

Schedule time with your close friends once or twice a month (they don't have to be seen all at once. Scatter the dates on your calendar);
Get a pet (as long as your place allows it). I have a pet beagle who keeps me company. You don't need to get a dog or cat. Fish in a bowl can also be refreshing;
Have a house plant in your room. Not only do you have fresh air always, it's good for the eyes;
Home based doesn't mean home bound. You can plan a travel to another area in your place. Do a staycation and work from a hotel. Or travel to the next town or province once a quarter to rejuvenate yourself. I'm live in QC. For New Year, I spent it in Laguna. This end month, I'm flying to the province for 6 weeks. All you need is your laptop and strong internet and you can expand your borders. Yes, we should work hard but we can also work smart. 😁✨

JedTorre #3 • Jan 22 '20

I do a monthly meet up with trusted inner circle of friends (kahit iba-ibang set of friends).

Plan an out of town once a month or every quarter (usually hiking or just weekend tour) alone or with someone.

I call or visit my parents sa bahay nila.

If you can sing, mag-join ka sa amin..naghahanap kami ng new choirmates (location: Makati). 🙂

Dacabon #4 • Jan 22 '20

Chat with friends online. Thats what I do. Or.. get a pet. 😁

Lenzdo #5 • Jan 22 '20

I chat with my friends and cousins all Teh time. Most of them are abroad and vacations once a year so I get to see them and travel with them. Nice pa when they go home in different dates, I get to travel 4x a year or more.

Richard #6 • Jan 22 '20

omg. i thought i was the only one. 😶😟

ValerieGajo #7 • Jan 22 '20

Get a hobby. Mine was surfing and yoga— (before what I do was surf every weekend, then I stayed in Baler for almost 2 mos., and now I am in Bali for 4-6 mos. Sa yoga naman I attend classes). There’s many to choose from, like hiking, cycling, gym, language classes, even if you come alone you’re always bound to end up w new friends one way or another
Schedule time with your friends— this is v impt! I try to make it a point to sched lunch or dinner w my close friends, individually.
Attend social events— networking events, parties, etc. There are many events about just about anything here on FB. Find one that interests you and go to it. In this way also you get to hone your skills (e.g. digital marketing seminars, dev meetups, etc.) apart fr FB, you can also check Eventbrite, Meetup.com, etc.

I get it’s hard to get out of your house once you’ve gotten used to staying in. But you have to push yourself to be proactive in scheduling your social and personal life, then in showing up. Easy to say this but it was a struggle, even for me. I’m an introvert and could last for weeks w/o going out of the house. But then I miss being surrounded by people, so I realize that I have to snap out of my comfort zone and deliberately put myself in these diff social situations.

Simon #8 • Jan 22 '20

Talk to yourself from time to time. ;p Not kidding! Not that you're crazy, but it allows you to acknowledge your feelings more. :D Kidding aside, you might want to join clubs, or form your own. Interest groups as such help you attain your goal of enhancing your social life. You may also consider getting part-time jobs somewhere (in my case, I got one in school but ended up having a full-time job now while still freelancing and teaching -- lol). It also helps to join online and in-person learning sessions as well as networking events. Sky's the limit! :)

Jnny #9 • Jan 22 '20

I go to church every Saturdays for our weekly band rehersal. Then Sunday morning for worship service. After that, hangout with friends sa church, mga ganun po.

MoniqueS #10 • Jan 22 '20

Try going to Diligence Cafe in Katipunan.

freelancer179 #11 • Jan 22 '20

do or find your passion, sa off mo. it may be sports, it could be anything, like sakin, combat sports, marami ka makikila agad kc mutual same kau ng hilig so di n mahirap mag approach.

Eiden #12 • Jan 22 '20

Paano ako nakakapag survive? Dasal una. Playing sa colors or painting.... Makipaglaro sa pets... maglaba... magluto... magbasa.... matulog.... magcrochet.... magcrafting pag trip... means hindi naka stick sa computer lagi... Nakaka depress pag lagi nasa computer

DeLeaon #13 • Jan 22 '20

Trips to the cafe or a library if it's available.. taking fitness classes or any type of martial arts..

Doing somethinf entirley different or new is always beneficial.

Maguns #14 • Jan 22 '20

Try dating apps, it doesn't need to be always romantic, it gives you an avenue to meet people, the good thing about it is that you can filter the location so its not hassle on your part. Just be honest with what you are looking for.
Find something thay you love to do. Like classes you can take to gain or hone your skills.
I think it is way better to work from home than a company where you are overworked, underpaid, unappreciated, and most of all toxic people around you.
Also find time to meditate, pray and get to know God.
Take short trips, or travel without breaking the bank.
Do sports and keep yourself healthy.
Make a schedule and find time for your family, we will never appreciate what we have specially our families until they are gone. But the truth is it doesn't have to be that way.
Know what really matters in life. Because it is indeed short, it is our responsibility to make the most of it.

Ebiang #15 • Jan 22 '20

Go out after your shift?

9pm to 6am - Work (8)
6am to 7am - get kids ready for school (1) 7am to 3pm - Sleep (8) 3pm to 9pm (7) - this is my flexible time, it depends on what is needed to be done. Everynow and then lumalabas ako with friends.

All you need to have a social life, is to reach out, YOU ISOLATE YOURSELF. A social life doesn't need to be an everyday event.

Baq #16 • Jan 22 '20

it's all in the mind, matagal nako abroad been here at australia almost 9 yrs na, been in and out on freelancing world, work at bahay lang ako, I don't even go out for parties, even friend and family gatherings and exploring other countries, may mga suggestion na go out and meet someone for dating, etc; for some personal reason di ako thrilled sa ganung setup lol =)

hindi mawawala yung malungkot at feeling empty but its all in the mind. Saken iniisip ko na lang na I'm doing it para sa future ng mga taong mahalaga saken.

Elaine #17 • Jan 22 '20

This is the reason why i make sure i go out with friends during my rest day.. And i get to choose my off.. Friday saturday.. Para at least nakakasabay pa din ako sa gimik ng friends ko who work in the corp world..

Katherine #18 • Jan 22 '20

Take a break and go out with your friends from time to time. Eat out, drink a little bit, talk about other things, get a hobby. Wag masyado magpa-bugbog sa long hours of work. Kelangan din natin aliwin and alagaan ang sarili natin :)