Isolation | Combatting loneliness when working from home

After PM Boris Johnson instructed employees across the UK to work from home where possible after the coronavirus pandemic hit, it’s likely many were jumping for joy at the thought of being able to work from the comfort of their home.

However, for those who live alone, the thought of working by themselves was a daunting prospect, who for some, the daily interaction the office brought was the only communication they would have on a workday.

Research from CIGNA has also gone on to prove that living and working from home can increase the risk of feeling lonely. In fact, CIGNA’s 2020 Loneliness in the Workplace report discovered that remote workers report feeling lonelier, especially if they prefer to be in the office.

Former US surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy has outlined the general issue of loneliness in his new book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World, where he outlined some key ways in which people can combat the feelings of loneliness, whether they live alone or not. These include: