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Loneliness in tech

Jacob Baker on March 16, 2020

I'll preface this with a quick bit about me: I've been a remote worker for just over 5 years now, typically I'll try to go to the office once a wee...
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Jacob Colborn

It's interesting for me since I work in an office, but I work doing technical support for servers and networking. I feel very isolated from programming circles. I try to join with communities but struggle with social anxiety which makes it difficult for me to engage with people at all. But, even with social anxiety, I still really want to make those connections. They are good for your mental health and career.

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Jacob Baker

Do you find it easier to socialise online rather than in person? Or does the social anxiety hit regardless?

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Jacob Colborn

For me, it's actually a bit worse online. My particular anxiety centers around are trying to be very aware of what I am saying and how I am saying it. A lot of times online I get to hyper-analyze this while I type and edit. I sit there and read it over and over making sure it sounds perfect. Sometimes I'll decide that the input I have doesn't even matter or fit in and erase the whole thing and just stay isolated. In-person, if I have to get something out I don't have as much leeway with analysis.

I have been trying to get better about this, hence why I posted here haha, but it can be a long road and it is important to try not giving up.

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Jacob Baker

Oh that’s interesting! Is it because it is difficult to convey tone of voice through text as well?

Keep it up πŸ˜πŸ™Œ

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Jacob Colborn

That's definitely part of it. I think the bigger thing is, in the back of my mind, I keep thinking this could be someone to connect with and that just puts the pressure on for me.

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Anzelika • Edited

Heya! A wild Anzelika appeared. I just dropped in to say that it's impossible to offend me, so you can perhaps loosen up those rewriting gears :) I know a thing or two about social anxiety so if you want to network or banter with a front end newbie, I'm here!

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𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚π₯𝐒𝐞 𝐝𝐞 π–πžπžπ«π

Quite poignant at the moment, given how so many people will now be working from home for the first time! It's certainly the first time I'll be working from home for a prolonged period of time.

Husband and I have decided that we'll start walking the dog every lunch time - this will get us out of the house, give us some exercise, and give us some interaction with the outside world.

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Jacob Baker

Yes! My dog certainly has loved having me home, she gets an extra mid-morning walk. Having your partner work from home as well I'm sure will help, mine is a veterinary nurse at a referral hospital so won't be joining me unless things are really bad.

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Lisa Armstrong • Edited

Good point about getting outside.
I've worked from home for over 15 years, and make it a point to do my 'sanity' walk every day.
Social isolation doesn't mean you have to stay on the house. A walk in nature is allowed as long as you're not close to people.

I find a fitness app helps motivate me.
Making social interaction a priority is a good idea too.

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Jacob Baker

I used to like that running app game that was based around a zombie apocalypse. Think it was "Zombies, run!" or something like that. Perhaps not appropriate at the moment though...

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πŸ¦„N BπŸ›‘ • Edited

Perhaps not appropriate at the moment though...

Or perhaps all the more entertaining.

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Vinicius LagΓͺdo

Me and my squad agreed to have a telepresence room. The concept is to be there actively independent of meetings, sometimes subjects about TV shows or movies appear. And that is helping a lot with loneliness. Today even a part of the team lunches together virtually.

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Jacob Baker

That’s a really neat idea! Just passively having a video chat on the go could emulate that group work environment. I like the idea of lunches together. I said to my family we might have to have Skype Sunday lunch as the lockdowns go on!

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Dana Ottaviani

I agree with the online community one. I'm constantly invited to join discord or slack groups in tech or other interests of mine but I'm concerned of feeling the need to keep up with all the conversations happening (maybe this is just me?).

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Jacob Baker

It's a tough one! Personally I dip in and out every so often, that goes for Twitter and here on dev.to as well.

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Muhammad

Teach others what you have learned, really helps the lonliness

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Jacob Baker

Teaching is also a great way to solidify your own learning!

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Muhammad

Exactly you benefit more... and yet you contribute as well

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Dominic Lapitan

I only started working remotely last December 2019. And I must say it's really hard adjusting my lifestyle and increasing my discipline to work remotely, hahaha especially I came from an office environment for about 1.5 years πŸ˜… thank you for this post! Appreciate it! πŸ‘

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Jacob Baker

Discipline is tough. I’ve also found it really easy to burnout because you don’t get those interruptions through the day so I find I end up working a lot more!

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πŸ¦„N BπŸ›‘

Favour video rather than audio only

This seems tough for many of the people I work with.

I try to set an example with turning on my video even when I'm not the most photogenic, or have forgotten in which direction to orient the coffee mug.

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Ben Sinclair

waves in twitter

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Jacob Baker

hello

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Jacob Baker

So I totally forgot hashtag in markdown makes it a title...

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Abdullah Atta

Couldn't agree more. Humans are social beings and should interact and mingle. That's how we survive. Thank you for opening this up.

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Jacob Baker

Totally! Online can't always replace socialising in person but it certainly can help.

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James Becker • Edited

As a remote worker of 2+ years, I agree with most of your points.

Discord has been especially helpful for me to feel more connected and to engage in fascinating conversations I otherwise would never have.

On a very informal level, video chats are ok, but I hate video meetings. I think phone calls and audio teleconferencing are far more productive. I don't understand why anyone would need to be staring at my face during a meeting. I certainly don't care to have to make fake eye contact with a computer screen. I (and I hope, other attendees) am usually more interested in the subject of conversation, be it data reports, codebases, or mockups.

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Jacob Baker

I’m useless at exercising in the morning, always makes me feel super nauseous!

Drop me a DM anytime if you want to chat πŸ™‚

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yokotobe

Giving you a hug

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Jacob Baker

πŸ™Œ

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AgileTech Vietnam

Thank you so much. When first seeing your title, it's boom in my mind. There are many ways to treat yourself better as well as growing career!

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Jacob Baker

Take care of yourself πŸ™Œ

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Jordan Engstrom

This is great advice! I especially love the bit about the garden. My bonsai trees definitely help me.

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Mohammad Fazel

Great article but expected to see more details and some useful instructions.

Thank you!

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Jacob Baker

It's a discussion post, so I'm after just that! Do you have any advice or tips to offer? Is it something you're struggling with?