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Ask HN: How do you deal with social isolation while working from home?

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Ask HN: How do you deal with social isolation while working from home?

#1

Post by msigwart »

Hey HN,

I've been working from home the last couple of months due to the Covid-19 lockdown. In the beginning, it was great. Being able to wake up and pretty much start working 5 minutes later, having my own kitchen/toilet close by, etc. However, I quickly started to miss the small everyday interactions with my co-workers.

That made me wonder, what solutions do you have in place to compensate for the social aspect of working in an office?

For example, while not perfect, I have found that just starting a call with a colleague without anything specific to talk about feels better than just hacking away on my own.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with social isolation while working from home?

#2

Post by 0xBE5A »

We use Jitsi at work and have rooms that sort of emulate our shared office rooms. Sometimes there will be pair programming via screenshare, other times people just hang out in there and occasionally ask a question or talk about interesting and funny things they stumble across while working. Maybe you could suggest something like this to your coworkers?

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with social isolation while working from home?

#6

Post by Jaruzel »

jejeyyy77 wrote: post #3

Hot take from someone who has worked remotely for the past few years: It’s not healthy.

Counter balance: I have also been WFH for the past several years. I enjoy it and prefer it to working in an office.

The thing is, WFH is not for everyone. Some people will thrive in it, and some will not, and that's OK. Don't try and force yourself into a pattern that doesn't suit. Once the pandemic is over, revert to the work environment you enjoy most.

In the meantime, if you feel lonely, try always-on voice comms with your teammates while you all work as usual, mostly the audio will be quiet, but it does allow for people to spontaneously ask questions, or bounce ideas, is if you all were still in the office.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with social isolation while working from home?

#7

Post by frompdx »

My partner works from home too. Our dog hangs out in our office with us while we work. I alternate working and exercising. My current job is big on autonomy and letting people work. Days go by without meetings. It's been great. I don't feel all that isolated to be honest.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with social isolation while working from home?

#8

Post by uvw »

I used to enjoy taking/debating/joking around with my co-workers while I worked in the office. We used to spend hours talking about football or politics or stock market.

Now that I am home, I found other things to do. Like staring out of the window, reading reddit/HN, taking a quick nap or cook something to eat.

It's not so bad. I don't miss people, I don't miss co-workers.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with social isolation while working from home?

#10

Post by chrismatheson »

jejeyyy77 wrote: post #3

Hot take from someone who has worked remotely for the past few years: It’s not healthy.

Working remote does not need to be working from home also. Coworking spaces are a thing and I’m my experience can bring the best of both worlds, a groups of people who have their heads down 90% of the time but really make the other 10% fun when everyone joins in the conversation about the new sandwich shop on the corner
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