Are you lonely in your role as a VA?

Are you a VA who is finding it lonely working alone at home every day?  This is a common occurrence for new VAs as they make the transition from the corporate world to a work-at-home scenario.

Loneliness is one of the key factors for VAs not continuing their businesses and returning to the workforce.  I encourage each of you to seek out local networks close to where you live so you can go to meetings. Business networks, council networking groups, if you have children, perhaps mother’s clubs (or whatever they’re called these days), sporting groups, etc so that you have direct face-to-face contact with people. And then the VA forums are a good way to connect with others too.

I learnt many years ago that I needed to find company to replace what used to be in a corporate world. For the most part I really enjoy my own company and am happy to work alone.  But there are times I know I need to be with others, and apart from ‘company’ it also means I learn things from other business owners, particularly relating to my own region. And it’s amazing who knows who when connecting with others via social groups and clubs.  It doesn’t all have to be about business.

I also have the radio on all day long in the background. It’s good just to hear voices chattering and music playing.

I have never wanted to go back to the corporate world and my daughters, now fully grown, are grateful for a mum who was always available to them when they had need of me.  However, like many of you, I did have to work through the loneliness factor and find ways to counteract that so I could function and operate properly in my business and enjoy it on a daily basis.  If you have other tips for handling loneliness, why not share them here?