How to Make Friends When You Work From Home

From early hunter-gatherer tribes to modern-day society, humans have relied on each other for survival. Even as we have evolved and now live in a world where we can survive independently, we still crave companionship and connection with others. Whether it’s simply talking to strangers at the local coffee shop or forming deep friendships, humans https://remotemode.net/ need interaction with other humans. Another great way to make friends is to volunteer for projects or events that interest you. This is a great way to meet new people and learn more about your company or community. And finally, don’t forget that social media can be a great tool for meeting new people and keeping in touch with old friends.

While there are countless upsides to working from home, there’s one consistent challenge — and it’s a serious one. You have gifts to share with the world and my job is to help you get them out there. Life At Spaces takes a slightly different approach, and the coworking video session that works in a similar way to Focusmate is just one part of what Life At Spaces does. There are other aids to productivity included here, such as desktop spaces to manage your mood, ambient music to keep you focused, and a to-do list tool as well. “Taking those few extra moments to talk to someone and ask a question or two about something they shared is an opportunity to get to know them better,” says Pizzica. Companies across the United States are delaying their back-to-the-office dates.

Play Dates with Mom Friends

Many online courses offer a forum or group chat, where participants can connect and discuss topics related to the course. This provides an opportunity to connect with other professionals and build relationships based on shared interests. By actively engaging with others in the course, you increase your chances of forming meaningful relationships and expanding your professional network. Additionally, the knowledge gained from taking these courses can be applied in your work, making you a more valuable asset to the company. Whether it’s a meetup for your industry or just a concert in the park, attending real-life events is a great way to meet new people who share your interests. Attend meetups for remote workers or people who recently moved to your city.

Now that you’re an expert friend-maker, and you’ve warmed up to the people you talk to on a frequent basis, you’re ready to spread your wings and fly to your extended network. Microsoft’s 2020 Work Trend Index showed that as the pandemic progressed, people discarded their broader networks and relied more on the people in their immediate social circles. To branch back out and meet some friendly faces, you can easily venture outside the office using https://remotemode.net/blog/tips-on-how-to-make-friends-when-you-work-from-home/ the office friends you’ve already made. People like those colleagues who make an effort to build better communication with their peers. Not only will you be able to meet new people who share a common interest, but these types of activities also provide an opportunity to get out of the house, exercise, and learn something new. Plus, it can be fulfilling to make progress in a hobby or activity alongside others who are also invested in it.

Friend-making 101

One way is to be intentional about making friends, both in person and online. If you are working remotely, try to find ways to connect with others who are also working remotely. While introductions are a great way to get some background on someone you’re working with, they can often be awkward — especially over Zoom! The best way to build social capital at your company is to be specific with these introductions. Prepare questions you’d like to ask them about their role and work, and take notes. This will keep the conversation flowing and give you valuable information about what role they play in the company, and how it relates to yours.

The more you engage with a person, the stronger a professional relationship—and personal friendship—you can build. Arrange virtual coffees or happy hours to connect with people. Tell your new work buddies that you’re looking to meet some new people, and plan a small hangout where you each bring one or two friends from outside of work if possible. If you’ve recently moved to the area, or don’t have too many friends to bring, don’t hesitate to tell your understanding new work friend, as they’ll bring the party for you. Again, this tends to be much easier when you’re in person, but it’s not an impossible feat to accomplish remotely.

The 4 Secrets to Making Friends While Working from Home

Introducing yourself to your colleagues virtually and greeting them can be a great way to interact with your virtual colleagues. The people around us have a stronger influence on our decisions and actions than we realize. Here’s what research reveals about our networks’ gravitational force.

• So, befriending your virtual teammates will now become a simple task for you.
• If you think that you cannot find enough time with your remote colleagues during work hours, you can think of connecting with them on social media.
• According to the mere exposure effect, we unconsciously like those we are more exposed to.
• With a little effort, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make friends when you work from home.
• Even if those users are somewhat biased, that’s still a high figure—it’s at least worth trying out for free to see whether it helps with your particular way of working.
• At Atlassian, we also encourage team members to create their own Learning Circles.

The work best friend is the most helpful for employees and employers. But, given how rare, difficult, and downright exhausting they are to maintain, counting on this level is unrealistic. By specifying friendship types and understanding the benefits of each, we can make informed decisions about investing in specific workplace relationships. I was a waiter at a 50s-style diner in Toronto, and I loved it.