COPING WITH ISOLATION DUE TO HOME WORKING CONFINEMENT

The current crisis has accentuated our need to remain compassionate with what our peers might be going through while in isolation.

First and foremost, we need to remember that oftentimes working, whether in an office or at home, is a solitary occupation in itself. Many jobs require you to work alone even when surrounded by your coworkers.

Isolation is also ubiquitous across innovators and creatives. Innovators (like Steve Jobs) and creatives (like actors, artists, musicians and poets) have all wanted to be isolated, while also hating being alone. People respond to solitude with a wide range of reactions and consequences. Some, like Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory and his preferred living room chair, may retreat to solitude for quiet contemplation as a respite from the stresses in their environment (personal, professional, or environmentally related), while others may suffer in pain and in loneliness withdrawing from their personal and professional environments. 

Throughout our social history, while growing up, we have come to associate solitude as some form of punishment (e.g., time-outs).  

Coping with the physical and psychological demands of self-isolation can be difficult, specially since most of us are creatures of habit. The predictability and regularity of our work routines are hard-coded into our lives. Therefore, having to work remotely, it is important that we continue to build quality relationships, and establish and maintain mutual trust amongst one another in order to create cohesion and strengthen our company's structure.

One-on-one, team and group meetings via video conferencing tools are essential not only to communicate the practical details of work projects and company strategies, but also to maintain social bonds. These interactions with our colleagues and clients, if maintained regularly, can help stave off the feelings of disconnection that can make working from home an isolating experience.