I always wanted to work for myself. I got my first job and started to do small freelance jobs from time to time. I did the rounds in corporate America, learning skills I wasn’t taught in college, and then, when I felt I was ready, I made the leap into self-employment. I struggled to find one-on-one clients, so I spent my days working for companies like Luckie & Forney Advertising and Alabama Power. This gave me the opportunity to cultivate new clients while not starving. In the mid-1990s, I had built up enough of a client list that I started a graphic design firm with a partner. I still consider myself self-employed even though we had employees and office space. When we decided to close the business, I went back to being a self-employed graphic designer.
I had been working in the business for about 25 years by then, and a lot had changed.
Computers and email became ubiquitous in the workplace. The expectation that you needed an office and a fax machine to be considered a legitimate business disappeared. Zoom calls became normal. Corporations started sending more employees home to work as they saved on office space or needed flexibility while growing. Never meeting a client face-to-face became the norm.
I’ve worked for many corporations where I never met the marketing person I was working with before they moved on to their next job. We worked by short phone calls and emails.
My son got his first job in Atlanta this past year, and he works from the office one day a week and from his apartment the rest of the time. As an introvert, this works for him, but it can be pretty isolating. What do you do if you need to be around other people? If you feed off the energy in an office? I’m looking at you, Extrovert. Here are some things that have kept me productive and sane.
I wrote a blog post called “The work from home coronavirus survival plan” on March 9, 2020, during the height of the pandemic. My suggestions were based on a short-term stay at home (we hoped it would be short-term) and being surrounded by family. I recommend you read it because it’s still all relevant today.
A few of the suggestions I made include:
Get Up - You have regular office hours, and they don’t change now that you’re at home. You can sleep an extra thirty minutes because your commute is now 30 seconds, but be working when the rest of the office is.
Take a shower - We had been doing this every day, no need to stop now.
Put on clothes - I had a no-sweatpants rule in my own life until I realized that joggers are now an accepted form of pants. Game changer!
Put on comfortable shoes - I feel like it’s work time with shoes on.
Have a dedicated workspace
I can’t emphasize this enough. Having a dedicated workspace is one of the keys to my success, and it may be yours as well. There are plenty of people who can work anywhere—at the kitchen table, the patio, the coffee shop, or on park benches. I am not one of those people, and you may not be either.
When I was single and living in an apartment, I had a second bedroom that served as my office. I could close the door and walk away from work whenever I wanted. I always had the tools available—dual monitors, a printer or two, and a fax machine when we actually used it. When I lived in a house, I would use a second bedroom exclusively as my office, not a guest bedroom with a small desk shoved into the corner.
You may be reading this and thinking, “A two-bedroom apartment? What a luxury!” Your situation may be different, so let’s consider some options.
I like to think of my bedroom as a place to escape the stresses of everyday life. I don’t take my computer or phone to bed to doom-scroll news or respond to emails. I like to read a book at night and sleep.
Do you have a corner of the living room where you can add a small desk? Is there natural light coming in? Do you have a dining room that you never use? Even a corner of the main room meant for a dining table could become your desk. Let’s try to get your “office” out of your bedroom and keep that area as a place where you can let the stress of the day go.
Find a community
This is the big one for extroverts. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you have to work alone all the time.
One thing that’s worked well for me is reaching out to people who have also been sent home to work. They’re experiencing the same isolation and often jump at the chance to connect. A quick text—“Hey, want to grab lunch this week?”—can lead to regular meetups with people who genuinely understand what you’re going through.
Joining local business groups, chambers of commerce, or industry-specific meetups can provide that connection with people who understand your challenges. In your area, there are likely other small business owners or freelancers facing the same issues you are—difficult clients, isolation, and blurred lines between work and home life.
Coworking spaces are another option worth exploring. Even if you don’t need one full-time, many offer day passes or part-time memberships. You get the energy of being around other working people without the commitment of a lease. Plus, you’d be surprised how many casual conversations at the coffee station turn into actual business opportunities or collaborations.
Don’t underestimate the value of just being around people, even if you’re not directly working with them. Working from a coffee shop or restaurant patio can provide that ambient energy of other people that keeps you going.
Stay connected through video
Zoom and video calls have become the norm, but use them intentionally. Take a moment to consider where you’re holding your meetings—is the background somewhat professional? You don’t need a perfect setup, but a clean corner with decent lighting makes a difference.
Video calls can actually help with that need for human connection. Keep your camera on when you can. Schedule regular check-ins with clients, not just when there’s a problem to solve. A 15-minute virtual coffee with a colleague can break up your day and remind you that you’re part of a larger professional community.
Being the person who suggests video over just a phone call makes the interaction more personal. People appreciate seeing a face, and it helps build stronger relationships with clients and collaborators you may never meet in person.
Get out for lunch
Make it a point to get out of the house as often as possible. This is a tough one because it’s so easy to just grab a sandwich at home. I have to force myself to do this, but it makes a real difference.
Try to meet someone for lunch once a week or at least once a month. It doesn’t have to be a client; grab lunch with a friend, another freelancer, or someone in your network. If meeting someone isn’t possible, at least get out of your house. Eat on the patio, take your lunch to a park bench, or just walk around the block after lunch. The change of scenery and fresh air does wonders.
Make it a habit to get out at least once during the workday, even if it’s just for coffee or a quick errand. It breaks up the isolation and gives you something to look forward to. Plus, you’d be surprised how many problems you solve when you’re away from your desk.
The bottom line
Working from home as someone who thrives on being around people is absolutely possible. The key is being intentional about creating those opportunities for human connection, whether that’s through a dedicated workspace that you can leave, regular meetups with people who understand what you’re going through, or just getting out of the house every day.
You don’t have to choose between working for yourself and having the social interaction you need. With a little planning and effort, you can have both. And honestly? Once you figure out the balance, you may find you have deeper connections than you ever did in a traditional office.
Now get out there and find your people. They’re working from home too, wondering the same thing you are.