I’ve been working remotely since 2020. I work in Tech so most of my team is comfortable meeting and collaborating through video calls, slack huddles etc. Except for a few times a year when I go into the office, I’m fully remote. While I love the flexibility, 0 commute and less stressful nature of remote work, I do wonder if it’s impacted the amount of social interaction in my life??
On most work days, I’m pretty beat at the end of the work day, so I tend to stick to a yoga class/cooking/netflixing/reading a book for my evening plans. Weekends are when I usually hang out with friends.
For other single women with remote jobs, does your day look similar? Are you doing anything different to improve the quality of social life? How did you strike a balance between spending time alone (working/at home) vs hanging out with friends as a remote worker? As an introvert, I go through phases when i get too comfortable being by myself and would love to hear your thoughts on how I can break this habit 🙂
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Not really. I pretty much go out the same amount. And I always did stuff on weekdays so I still do just depends on how the week is going but especially now that it’s warm if it’s nice I’m going out
It definitely impacts my social life. I’ve been wfh since late 2021. I do get involved in volunteering and some social events, but it isn’t the same as being in an office and going to impromptu lunch or happy hours with colleagues. I also look at how many people at work have the same last name (becuase they are married) and realize how many relationships actually start at work. There’s something different about being “on” all day virtually versus when you have to be “on” all day in person. Something about solely interacting virtually wears me out in a different way, so it takes a lot of energy for me to do the few things I do outside of work.
I have a lot more energy to do things after work than I did when I was in office, and it’s a lot easier for me to handle going to bed late etc because I can just have a slower morning in my pajamas at my desk in my house if I’m a bit tired vs dragging myself into an office.
That said, because everyone ignoring covid the places I’d like to go to/things I’d like to do aren’t safe or accessible for me :/ So most of my days look like going for a run by myself or netflix etc, but it’s not because I WFH.
I’ve been wfh since early 2023, and it has definitely impacted it positively. I can do my chores on my designated “breaks” from work. When I go out, I can shut my brain off from all the things I need to do at home because there isn’t anything for me to do. So, I have more energy mentally and physically to go and see people. I started volunteering once a week for an animal shelter, and then I do trivia or board games once a week. All on designated weekdays.
Working from home doesn’t impact my social life because I don’t socialize with colleagues outside of work.Â
When I want to go out, I do.Â
When I want quiet nights in, I stay home.Â
When I feel like going out, I find it easier to do it on days that I’m working remotely because I don’t have the hassle of driving home through traffic.
I would never want to work at home ever again.
I mostly WFH and the energy gained from not having to force exhausting interactions with my coworkers, the hours of sleep and commute time reclaimed, etc – allows me to pour more energy into social activities and interactions I want to participate in, whether it’s friends, family, or public events. So while I interact with people less on a day to day basis, the social interactions I do have are more valuable to me. I’m autistic so masking at work just depletes me totally. The office days I do do remind me how exhausting in person work is. WFH has changed my social life so much for the better.
I do think my social life has been really limited, but I do a lot to combat that. I try to make sure I have 3 nights a week dedicated to socializing (e.g. hanging with friends, run club, sports leagues, etc.). I’ve become accustomed to being alone for long stretches of time but I do think I’m happier overall when I’m around people, so even if I’m tired I try to push myself to get out and 99% of the time it’s the right call.
I totally hear you on the introvert thing. I’m extroverted around people but I loveeee my alone time so balance is key. I actually found out recently that I really like travelling alone (no one to answer to, build my own itinerary, etc.) but it is also nice to share experiences with people so I struck a 50/50 split on my travel. Again balance is key and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying your peace and quiet! Good luck!
I only had mental bandwidth, social battery and time in the day for weeknight socializing when my job was WFH. I went to the gym daily and out to social functions a few times a week.
I come home from my (RTO mandatory) office job ready to drop.
I’m more social now because I don’t waste my social energy on office chit chat and small pleasant interactions that are required when you’re in the office. I always go do something after work
It has but not in a negative way. It’s been a while since I’ve used work as a social outlet or tried to make friends with my colleagues. I actually feel like it’s helped me in some regards because by the end of my work day I usually want to get out of my house and go see my friends or make plans with people. So if I were you I would focus on trying to build up your community outside of work and put things on the calendar to get you out of the house a bit.
It has not impacted my social life except it means no coffee, lunch, or HH with coworkers. It’s much easier to go out and do things after work when WFH, and I also have more energy. I don’t find it’s affected my social life, but I also live downtown.
I totally agree with what other people are saying in that it has generally improved my social life. So long as you can find the right communities outside of work, that’s the key. I have gone through periods where it temporarily made my social life worse, particularly after major life changes like moving cities. It just takes a bit of time to re-establish a local network since you aren’t getting the opportunity to quickly connect with people at work.
I miss working 100% remotely 🥲
I’ve been remote since 2020 also. So is my SO. I have become socially awkward which is 180 deg from how I used to be. I do Pilates 3x weekly to get out of the house and started working a couple times a week at Starbucks. It has done wonders for me- just to be out in the world and not just on weekends. My job was becoming my entire identity.
When I am able to WFH, my social life thrives! I’m an introvert and the office drains me and I avoid social interaction there. So I get nothing. When I WFH, I have the energy to do things after work, such as see my friends, or even just go for a walk and chat with some neighbors. When I’m in the office, I need my weekends to recover, so I’m lying down at home all weekend. When I WFH, I don’t need recovery time, and I can go out and do fun activities with friends or just go do things
I’ve been thinking I’m weird for this but seeing some of the other responses, I don’t feel alone now
I like the flexibility and opportunity to save money with reduced commuting costs but absolutely hate it in every other aspect. I didn’t have a social life before I was WFH and 4 years on I think it’s really impacted my mental wellbeing and personality because as we all know it’s difficult if not impossible to break into/establish new social connections in your 30s. Everyone’s at best an acquaintance to me and I’ve all but given up on finding a partner.
I think I’ve turned a little crazy with being so isolated since WFH to be honest. So in answer to your question, yes and not in a good way.
yes and no.
I miss some of the social aspects of daily work. But I’m also happy to be free of the drama.
I can always put myself in a more social situation by utilizing a coworking space.
I love being remote. Like you Im an introvert, so I end up solo for long stretches – but I do think I need to be better about getting outside and being social more often. My schedule looks a lot like yours socializing on weekends.
I do zoom workouts with some elderly family members, which ups the social meter. Plus I dont feel disconnected because I am on video calls most of the day for work.
I’m a lot more social now than I was when I worked in the office. I never was social with my coworkers and actively went drinking with some people on my team a few months ago. Been WFH since March 2020.
Yes but in a good way. Because I can do all my chores and resting during the work day I have so much more energy and drive to fill up my off hours compared to before. I go to lots of classes and events now and almost always say yes when my friends ask to do something last minute.
I’ve been WFH since 2015 (before it became a thing). For me it was a blessing, dealing with people every day exhausts me (not an introvert, just someone with a low social battery).
I had time to focus on things I love (like gardening and hobbies) and I only go out in society once a month. I keep in touch with people on the phone and during nice weather some of them come over for a barbeque.
My social agenda has remained kind of the same because I was never the type to go out much and I’m especially happy I am no longer forced to socialize with people I have no interest in knowing better.
I work from home, but I’m also self employed. I’m single and also live alone, so I feel like I’m on a max isolation setting sometimes. For me, I have to make an active effort to meet up with friends every 2-3 days and speak to people in person.
For me, working flexibly has helped a ton. I will go to the gym midday or break up my day in other ways.
been wfh since 2020. Negative impact for me. I crave human interaction and behind a screen so long has made me extremely anxious. It is nice don’t get me wrong but the bad out weighs the good in terms of my mental health. I used to be an extrovert and now I stumble on every interaction.
In some ways good, other ways bad.
Obviously being around people all day at work makes it easier to create social connection. I used to work in a city so could go out places with coworkers after to socialize more. Being WFH makes that harder, and I prioritize tasks over socialization more.
Having said that, it’s given me the chance to really think about what kinds of connections I want and be more intentional about it. I get to spend more time with coworkers that I truly enjoy in small coffee chats and catch ups, and then pour more time into local community groups and hobby groups after work.