Like many people, I work remotely. This is great in many ways: I can wear joggers if I want to, have a hot water bottle when I have cramps, and pick up my kids from school if they need me.
But the problem with remote working is loneliness. After all the fun of the festive season, the hard winter months of January and February, when the nights draw in so early and the days are drizzly and cold, it’s hard to stay positive and connected with others, especially if you have a lot of work to do each day. Before long, the cold weather and the loneliness can cause a real dip in mental health.
So, how do we stay connected with others? Here are a few things that can help:
Arrange events to look forward to
Budget allowing, of course, it’s really useful to have ‘big’ events to look forward to. These don’t have to be hugely expensive events though. It could be taking the bus to a city you don’t normally go to with a friend or having a browse around the shops with a family member.
Use other methods of communication
Chat with your colleagues on Slack, call your parents on a coffee break, or even join a Discord to find other people who enjoy your hobbies. Connecting with others doesn’t necessarily mean stepping out into the cold!
Make time for friends
What keeps me going in the winter months is to arrange meeting up with a friend for coffee at least once a week. Even if just for an hour, this keeps those relationships alive, reminds me that I am something else other than ‘worker’ and ‘mother’, and keeps me connected with some of the most important people in my life.
The main thing to remember is that it’s okay to reach out for help if you need it: being honest with your friends and family about your mental health is really important, and sometimes, just talking about it can really provide some relief.
Featured image: mikoto.raw, Pexels
