Move the URL to IRL: fostering connection as Remote Workers

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One of the biggest myths about Remote Workers is that we work in isolation, that we experience loneliness regularly and that we are often disconnected - not just from our colleagues - but also to our peers, network and community. Read on to discover ways to foster human connections in remote work. Thanks Tyler for the permission to use "URL to IRL tagline.

JOIN ME in person over the coming weeks:

• ???? Portugal at Running Remote, grab a last minute ticket, grab it here
• ???? Turkey at Vivel Network?in May 20% discount with ROWENA20

Firstly, my personal perspective: Regardless of whether I am alone or with others, as a Remote Worker I appreciate the importance of support, connection and sharing with other people. I appreciate and need human connection. In a word, connection and community. I may work remotely, but I live in the real world. My professional relationships may start online - or even in the real world! - but in the main, I build these relationships, where possible, in the real world.

As Tanja Polegubic , founder of Saltwater Nomads and Digital Nomad Association Croatia said to me when we meet and bonded in Croatia in 2022:

?? "make those connections online, but actively look to cement and foster them in the real world"

This mantra has stayed with me since then, as one of my core values. In fact, day to day, I don't tend to work from home that often, because I like getting to my shared coworking space in Zaragoza, adding in the chance to meet and connect with others on the way there (not all commutes are bad!) or at the space as people come and go during the day. Those small exchanges and chats (in both English and Spanish), remind me that there is a whole world out there - outside of the screens - which we work on as Remote Workers.

One of the main ways I seek out proactively connection and community, is via events, scroll to the end to meet me in Portugal or Turkey in coming weeks!

Why we need human connection:

1. ?? Human Connection needs: As reported by the?World Happiness Report, psychological wellbeing has a few factors in it, one of the most important: social connections. Furthermore, seeking connection - even a couple of times a week - can help negate any possible negative elements of working remotely in isolation and being potentially disconnected.
2. ?? Career Development and Networking as Remote Workers: in short, especially if you are in a fully remote role, know that this is important and matters. So we also need that type of human connection, from a networking and career perspective. So look to embrace those in person connection opportunities, with some regularity. Ask yourself, "How can you network, connect and cement relationships with your peers?" From a remote-first company perspective, Chase Warrington - a trailblazer, on retreats and meet-ups for fully remote company, Doist, has this advice to share on building a playback for company retreats and offsites.
3. ?? Core values and connection: Perhaps, you are already part of a community of practice online, either as part of your career choice, education or whatever, examples could be: engineers, creative, writers, new to remote work, LGTBQ plus, female, coders or hackers, entrepreneurs, foodies etc. Many people are part of online communities like this, so consider, could you also connect with these communities locally, via in person events?

Practical ways to find community:

• ???? Start small: via your existing network of contacts and connections, initiating coffee chats in pairs or small groups is a super way to start!
• ??? Consider which/what communities you align with, make a list and keep them in mind going forward - taking time to note these down helps us to find those connections in practice
• ?? Check out any local meet up or remote worker events in your area or region, reminder, actively look to take the URL connection, into a IRL one!
• ?? What other categories could you fit into? Be creative, could you join a book club, learn a new language or skill? Extending our categories of interest and connection to various groups can help extend our thinking and therefore opportunities
• ?? You could be the connection catalyst! Can't find any events? Why not organise one yourself, sharing your knowledge and also creating a small community of connection

An individual's remote workers needs for connection and community can be as personal or unique as each one of us. Depending on our disposition, interest or groups we already may consider ourselves well connected, but I believe it is something we need to monitor, maintain and cherish.

How do you meet your connection needs as a Remote Worker? please share in the comments!

Reminder: JOIN ME in person over the coming weeks:

• ???? Portugal at Running Remote, grab a last minute ticket, grab it here
• ???? Turkey at Vivel Network?in May 20% discount with ROWENA20

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