### The Quiet Nobody Talks About When I first started working online, I loved the freedom. No commute, no office politics, no one microwaving fish at 9 a.m.
But after a few months, the silence set in. Days would pass without a real conversation. I missed the buzz of a team, the spontaneous chats, even the annoying co-worker with loud phone calls.
No one warned me that working from home could feel… lonely.
### Signs You Might Be Feeling It Too – You feel low-energy even if you’re getting enough sleep. – You dread Mondays—not because of the work, but the solitude. – You find yourself talking to your dog a lot (guilty). – You start scrolling social media just to feel connected, then end up feeling worse.
Virtual work offers freedom, but it can also strip away the built-in social structure of a traditional job. And for VAs like us—who often work solo with clients—it can be especially isolating.
### What Actually Helped Me 1. **Joining VA communities**: I found a few online groups that weren’t just spammy promo threads. We shared wins, vents, tools, tips. Just knowing others were out there made a huge difference.
2. **Co-working calls**: I started hosting or joining “silent Zoom” co-working sessions. We log in, say hi, and then work quietly with cameras on. It replicates the vibe of an office without distractions.
3. **Voice notes over text**: With close VA friends, we swapped WhatsApp messages for voice notes. It feels more human and less transactional.
4. **Scheduled social time**: I now protect Fridays for coffee dates, calls with friends, or just walking outside. It’s “connection time” that refuels me for the next week.
5. **Therapy & coaching**: Sometimes loneliness isn’t just about being physically alone— it’s about feeling disconnected from yourself, too. Having a space to talk helped me process and reset.
### Tools That Made It Easier – **Slack groups**: For async community that isn’t Facebook- **Focusmate**: Book live co-working with accountability partners – **Marco Polo**: Like video walkie-talkies with friends – **Meetup.com**: Great for finding local freelancers
### Reframing the Narrative Working online doesn’t mean you have to work *alone*. The key is intentional connection.
Now, I treat social interaction like a work task: scheduled, prioritized, and essential. I’m still introverted—but I’ve learned that meaningful connection fuels better work and a better mood.
### Final Thoughts Loneliness isn’t a flaw in your personality—it’s a signal from your nervous system that you need more connection.
You’re not the only one talking to your plants. You’re not weird for missing office life sometimes. This is all part of the remote journey. And the good news? You can build your own version of community—one that fits *you*.