Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#1

Post by jorymackay » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:30 PM UTC

Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work
blog.rescuetime.com

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#2

Post by maxxxxx » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:01 PM UTC

Maybe I am jaded but reading the article sounds like the usual "blablabla" to me. In the end we should try to make work a smaller part of our lives so we have time to have real social lives of our own.

With the current thinking of companies as profit maximizing machines everything we do at the workplace is just window-dressing to cover up that soullessness.

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#3

Post by SolaceQuantum » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:03 PM UTC

This seems to be mostly an advertisement for a book and the RescueTime product? (The term is used like its a product so I’m assuming it is one). The list of things you should do to reduce workplace loneliness seems to be stop engaging with technology and bring your personal life into work. There’s not much here that links loneliness with technology use in the workplace, just loose correlations.

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#4

Post by whttheuuu » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:06 PM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #3

This seems to be mostly an advertisement for a book and the RescueTime product? (The term is used like its a product so I’m assuming it is one). The list of things you should do to reduce workplace loneliness seems to be stop engaging with technology and bring your personal life into work. There’s not much here that links loneliness with technology use in the workplace, just loose correlations.

Yeah, most of the blog posts for RescueTime are clickbait/ads for their product.

Their product is also mostly useless.

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#5

Post by fredbo22 » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:06 PM UTC

I tried to ask out that cute girl sitting next to me. Whooops!

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#6

Post by udpkts » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:07 PM UTC

Given certain relaxed constraints, one has less opportunity, like family, to choose one's coworkers, who obviously can vary in palatability. Nothing can fix that other than finding a different job.

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#7

Post by kradeelav » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:09 PM UTC

Open offices get (some deserved) flack, but I truly believe there is a happy medium between cubicles and a warehouse space of tables - my current setup is a room with a team of eight people spread out at L shaped desks. The people there are honestly one of the best parts there, and it's nice for them or me to lean around the monitors and shoot the shit a few times a day - socialization doesn't need to be a ton of work; sometimes that's all it takes. Sometimes walking to coffee with someone who has a mutual hobby is also all it takes.

(Hell, I'm an introvert and I consider my dayjob to be my main socialization outlet otherwise I'm utterly drained.)

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#8

Post by toomuchtodo » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:10 PM UTC

maxxxxx wrote: post #2

Maybe I am jaded but reading the article sounds like the usual "blablabla" to me. In the end we should try to make work a smaller part of our lives so we have time to have real social lives of our own. With the current thinking of companies as profit maximizing machines everything we do at the workplace is just window-dressing to cover up that soullessness.

You’re not jaded, just pragmatic and well adjusted. Work is not for friends, it is where we go to earn an income to support ourselves financially.

Maximize your income at work (while minimizing time spent working) to maximize your happiness outside of work (hobbies, family, side project, working towards financial independence, whatever).

I am working on starting my own business to hire family and friends; for me, time spent with those people comes first, and the overall profitability of the business is less important (just need to break even).

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#9

Post by maxxxxx » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:18 PM UTC

kradeelav wrote: post #7

Open offices get (some deserved) flack, but I truly believe there is a happy medium between cubicles and a warehouse space of tables - my current setup is a room with a team of eight people spread out at L shaped desks. The people there are honestly one of the best parts there, and it's nice for them or me to lean around the monitors and shoot the shit a few times a day - socialization doesn't need to be a ton of wor…

I also like team rooms for 2 to 5 people. You can have a nice talk and still get the feeling of privacy.

Re: Fighting the “loneliness epidemic” at work

#10

Post by mercer » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 4:27 PM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #3

This seems to be mostly an advertisement for a book and the RescueTime product? (The term is used like its a product so I’m assuming it is one). The list of things you should do to reduce workplace loneliness seems to be stop engaging with technology and bring your personal life into work. There’s not much here that links loneliness with technology use in the workplace, just loose correlations.

RescueTime is good at what it does, but it's 100% just another product that mostly supports the productivity-porn industry.

As far as I can tell, this article is just another SEO/branding type effort, and written by someone who found a way to make a living selling platitudes to those not doing the thing his audience actually does.

As a 'millennial', I'm generally used to marketing mixing with life advice and whatnot, but I'm increasingly repulsed by this type of stuff.