3 Ways to Avoid Work at Home Isolation

When working at home is your goal, it’s hard not to focus on all of the pros of the situation:

• You get to work from the comfort and security of your own home.
• You can set your own hours.
• You are available for your family.
• You can set aside time to home school or volunteer with your childrens school.
• Childcare is less of an issue.

The decision to start my own home-based business five years ago is one of the best I’ve ever made. But I always try to relate all of the realities of working at home to others when they ask me about it – including the cons. Loneliness and isolation are issues that typically affect work at home business owners, especially during the early days of getting everything set up and running.
Having worked in the corporate world for eight years before working for myself, I was used to having daily social interaction with coworkers.  Ted to be a bit of a loner by nature, so I was completely unprepared for just how isolated I started feeling after a couple of months. I was working long hours and my husband and kids were the only people I’d see most days, and it was starting to take a toll.
In order to prevent work at home isolation, you have to be proactive. Thankfully there are opportunities to interact with others online through blogs, forums, and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. You also need to connect with others offline and spend time cultivating and building real life friendships. Here are a few tips to help you overcome work at home isolation:

Join a Local Business or Networking Group

This may be easier to do if you live in a large city. Check groups on Meetup.com to learn about such groups in your area. You should also check with your local masjid to find out if there n groups or activities for Muslimahs – or start one yourself.

Participate in Non-Business Activities and Hobbies

Join a halaqa, an exercise class, or take up a new hobby that allows you to meet with and interact with others on a regular basis.

Make Weekly “Dates” with Friends

Friendships are so special. They need to be nurtured and cultivated. Schedule time to meet with a friend for breakfast, lunch or coffee once a week (or at least once every other week). If you have a group of close girlfriends, you can take turns hosting one another in your homes. The objective is to maintain your special connection.

As entrepreneurs we love what we do, but it’s important to recognize that work cannot be your whole life. It’s important to schedule time for family, friends, and downtime for yourself consistently to maintain proper balance in your life.