Creating Community When You Work From Home

“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to the others” (Romans 12:5).

For many of us, working remotely is “the dream.” Increasingly, employers are offering telecommuting programs, and many employees are either opting to work from home or develop freelancing careers to attain this goal. Working from home provides many benefits, including increased time with family and the coveted ability to do laundry during the workday.

The downside is that the vast majority of remote workers spend most of their day connecting to their employer and co-workers on a computer. This reality presents remote workers with the unique challenge of having to create a sense of community on their own rather than relying on the structured setting of an office.

If you work from home, here are some tips for creating community in a remote setting.

Create a Routine

Creating your own routine is critical to being productive in a remote setting. One aspect of routine that remote workers may neglect is a social routine. Maybe it’s designating one day per week that you work from a coffee shop, going to a regular workout class or setting up a periodic lunch date with a friend. Whatever it is, adding a social aspect to your work week will help you create opportunities for community building.

Get Out of the House

People often joke that one of the benefits of working from home is not having to put on real clothes. However, leaving your home is crucial for building in-person communities. Take a walk around your neighborhood, or visit the local library. Engage with people in your local community on a weekly basis. You can ask your local librarian about books they recommend or attend daily Mass and say hello to your fellow parishioners. As you start to recognize some of the same faces around your neighborhood, you will feel less isolated from the world.

Reach out to Co-workers

In a traditional office setting, informal networking often happens in the break room or at the water cooler. In a remote setting, you may rely on messaging platforms like Slack or Skype. It is important in these instances to reach out to your co-workers whenever possible. Talk to your peers to learn more about them and more about your company. Ask them about where they live or what their hobbies are. If you both like to cook, you can swap recipes or if you both read a lot, share book recommendations with each other. If you want to go a step further, making an actual phone call can increase engagement. People will appreciate any extra effort you put in.

Working remotely creates a unique opportunity to explore your world. Take advantage, and build community wherever possible.

Alessandra Richardson is a second-generation Cuban-American who lives in Atlanta with her husband, Christopher. She has a Ph.D. in cancer biology and works as a medical writer creating clinical trials communication pieces for physicians. She is also director of digital communications at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Atlanta (@sacredheartatl).