Remote work is making us lonely but here's how you can fix that (without an office mandate)!

When you think of remote work, most people probably picture working from exotic locations or at your favourite cafe. Visiting the beach after work, a picturesque hike at lunch, or making friends with your friendly neighbourhood barista. But what about the other possible realities of remote work—isolation, loneliness and burnout? Don’t get me wrong—I’m a remote work advocate. I love the freedom and balance that a remote work lifestyle can bring. But also, let’s be real. It’s not always beaches and cool, friendly baristas that remember your order. In this episode of The Super Fun Marketing Podcast, I talk about some of the realities of working remotely—the good and the bad. And talk about one of the harsh truths—it can be harder to make new friends. But! It's still possible to make new friends! And I'm going to talk about it in this episode! Links mentioned in this episode: - Remote work is killing your friendships | My Substack article that inspired this podcast: https://victoriasweeney.substack.com/p/remote-work-is-killing-your-friendships -Who Still Works From Home? | NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/08/business/economy/remote-work-home.html - No, office mandates don’t help companies make more money, study finds | Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/24/return-to-office-mandates-company-performance/ - Dell workers can stay remote — but they're not going to get promoted | Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/dell-remote-workers-promotion-return-office-push-flexible-work-2024-3?international=true&r=US&IR=T - 10 Undeniable Benefits Of Working From Home, According To Science | Huffpost: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/benefits-of-working-from-home-according-to-science_l_660c30a0e4b0328a72be17cd - “Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends” by Dr. Marisa G. Franco: https://drmarisagfranco.com/platonic-the-book/ 00:00 Introduction 01:50 Background to remote work 04:42 What's happening in 2024 in remote work? 13:22 How is remote work affecting us? 17:04 Proximity and friendships 21:46 How to make friends when you're working remotely? 25:29 Tips for making friends 30:51 Things I'm Thinking About This Week 33:22 Wrap up