5 tips to avoid loneliness as a solo entrepreneur

If you're considering working for yourself, make time for your social needs.

By Gemma Williams, HR professional

Being a solo entrepreneur and building your business alone can be lonely at times.

While entrepreneurs or ‘solopreneurs’ often thrive on the independence that comes with working alone, you can come up against problems such as imposter syndrome, trying to wear many hats at once, and working long hours without speaking to anyone else.

So if you’re considering working for yourself, these 5 steps will help you avoid feeling lonely along the way.

1. Identify your social needs

Everyone needs social interactions. But, the frequency and length of what we need will vary from person to person.

Take the first steps to building a social routine that works for you:

• Set a dedicated time each week for intentional social time. This will look different for everyone, from regular coffee catch-ups with a former colleague or mentor to monthly book clubs with friends.

• Knowing the level of interaction you need, and planning it, will help curb feelings of loneliness before they arise.

2. Seek out a mentor

Mentors are a great resource to help you progress and grow, and they also help to prevent entrepreneur loneliness.

They, too, may have experienced feelings of loneliness in their journey. They’ll be able to share some of their strategies. Find and build relationships with mentors by:

1. Understanding the areas where you would like support or guidance.

2. Join female entrepreneur groups, attend networking events or explore mentorship programmes to connect with experienced mentors.

3. LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with mentors.

3. Consider working in shared spaces

Many solo entrepreneurs find themselves working from home the majority of the time. This can be lonely, so it’s a good idea to consider working from a shared office space or co-working hub some of the time.

Whether once a week, or once a month, a change of scenery can bring inspiration, promote creativity and help protect against loneliness. Look into local options like WeWork, Spaces, Work.Life, The Office Group, or independent co-working hubs near to you.

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4. Look after your mental health

Loneliness can be common if you’re working at home: 20% of remote workers cite loneliness as their biggest challenge. We’ll all have ups and downs, but experiencing prolonged periods of sadness or other symptoms like low mood may be a sign of something more serious.

There are key differences between sadness and depression and it’s important to understand whether you may be suffering from more severe mental health issues.

Keep on top of your mental health as a solopreneur by:

• Blocking 15 mins in your calendar before bed, check in with yourself and reflect on your mood by journaling or using mood-tracking apps.

• Ask for support and avoid leaving negative feelings to fester or escalate. Talk to a close friend, peer and support groups, or seek help from a mental health specialist.

5. Attend industry workshops or events

Although it can feel awkward attending networking events alone, try to remember that most of the other attendees are in the same boat!

Chances are, you’ll have some common interests - after all, you’ve all chosen to attend the same event. Attending an industry workshop, event or talk will also help you to upskill or learn something new that can help drive your business forward.

Gemma Williams is dedicated to creating resources that provide meaningful connections, and support female career development, workplace culture, and the future of work.