Loneliness
If you feel alone at work or when working from home.
About loneliness
We all feel lonely from time to time. This can just be part of normal life, but it can become a problem if you feel lonely too often.
Loneliness can be described as the negative feeling we get when our need for social contact or relationships is not being met. It can be sparked by various life events, including relationship break-ups, bereavement, change of jobs, problems at work, working from home and relocating to a new area.
A recent survey led by the BBC found that young people (16-24) had the highest self-reported rate of loneliness.
It is also possible that you might have a busy social life, yet still feel lonely — if you don’t feel understood or appreciated by those around you.
Here are six positive actions you can take to combat loneliness:
Talk to a friend, family member, colleague or health professional about your feelings.
Make an effort to reach out to family and friends, even if it's just for a quick catch up.
Visit places where you can spend time near other people, such as a park or café.
Consider taking part in activities, games, tours or lessons to build new hobbies.
Help somebody else by volunteering your time with a charity or community group.
Consider peer support groups or services, which might be face-to-face or online.
Loneliness at work
Loneliness might be a problem in a work setting, if you are feeling isolated, excluded or generally not part of the team.
Working from home can make it harder to form bonds with colleagues, so it’s worth trying to get to know them as individuals and to engage in the kind of chit-chat which would take place if sharing an office.
If you are feeling lonely while working from home, you might try working somewhere else occasionally – a coffee shop or workspace provided by your employer.
You could also make use of flexible working (if applicable) to fit social events into your day, whether it’s an exercise class or just getting lunch with a friend.
Get help to cope with loneliness
If you are struggling to manage feelings of loneliness, we can help.
The Access to Work Mental Health Support Service, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, provides nine months of advice and guidance to anyone who is struggling with their mental health at work.