As discovered in our Workplace Connection Report, loneliness is affecting the professional lives of many across the UK. And, when we look at changes in the working landscape, it’s easy to see how people can feel more disconnected from their colleagues than ever before.
Moving to remote settings, removed from physical contact and only touching base with the office occasionally, means that while we’re still working as a team, you can still feel isolated from colleagues, most days.
However, when we talk about true social ‘isolation’, that doesn’t necessarily mean physical proximity.
Psychologists define loneliness as the feeling we experience when our desired quantity or quality of social connections is unfulfilled. So, you can feel lonely in a room of 100 people.
You’re not physically isolated, but those genuine connections aren’t there – be it in quality interactions or the general ease you feel with the people around you.
The benefits of connection —
Researchers agree that social connections can help people live longer and healthier lives. And around the world, social disconnection has become so pervasive that countries like the U.K. and Japan have appointed special ministers to combat it.
Perhaps, not surprisingly, considering the latest research links social disconnection with a higher risk of illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, anxiety, and depression.
Loneliness and social isolation have also been shown to increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29%, respectively.
Happy, engaged employees are also important for your employer too. According to our Happiness Dividend Report content workers are capable of increasing firm value by 20% and potentially injecting up to £334bn into the UK economy annually.
However, Loneliness is the gap between the social connections we have and the ones we want, and that gap can be closed by changing how we make sense of it and how we seek to address it.
With Loneliness Awareness Week approaching, we’ve listed six questions to help you determine whether you truly feel disconnected from your colleagues and what you should do about it.
#1. When did I start feeling this way?
Psychotherapists suggest identifying the moment when your symptoms started appearing and what changed at that point as key to understanding emotional distress and regaining a sense of control.
Think about the circumstances surrounding the time you began to feel lost or disconnected from your colleagues.
Did an event trigger these feelings? If so, what was it?
Figuring out what has caused your current state of mind is usually the first step to getting yourself back on track.
#2. Am I contributing to the distance without realising it?
Creating meaningful connections at work is a balancing act. The flip side to doing too much is not doing enough, and that can also be the culprit behind feeling alone.
Are you skipping optional catch-ups? Keeping your camera off during video calls? Eating lunch at your desk, or replying only in writing when a quick call would do?
These small actions can add up to big consequences over time.
If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of increased interaction, try picking one small habit each week that puts you in front of people. These could include joining the optional coffee, turning your camera on for one meeting, eating lunch in a communal area, or picking up the phone instead of typing.
Small, repeated moments build connection far more reliably than occasional big efforts.
#3. Have I changed, or has the company changed?
Sometimes disconnection is caused by changes that occur at work itself. Perhaps new people have joined or familiar, friendly faces have left.
Maybe you work with a different manager, or your company has faced a restructure or is now owned by another business.
The change could be in yourself, too. Are your energy levels or mood depleted? Perhaps you feel stuck in your role and lack motivation. Other factors, like your current health, family life, sleep quality, and stress levels, can quietly reshape how you communicate with your colleagues without you noticing.
Take a moment to jot down what’s changed at work over the past 6–12 months, and what’s changed for you personally in the same window.
Seeing it on paper makes it much easier to spot whether you need to adapt to a new environment, rebuild a routine that’s quietly disappeared, or look after something in yourself first.
#4 Am I fulfilled by my actual job?
If you’re not enjoying your actual role in the first place, of course, it is going to be harder to relate to people and build connections if the main thing you have in common (i.e. your job) is not something you are passionate about.
Consider whether it’s time for a job reset. Ask yourself: if the team were perfect, would I still want to be doing this job? If yes, focus on building relationships.
If no, it may be the role, the sector, or the company’s direction that needs a rethink, not your work social life.
#5 What would connected enough really look like for me?
Some people need close friendships at work; others just need to feel respected and at ease. Being clear about what you’re missing makes it much easier to address and saves you from chasing a kind of closeness you might not actually need.
It can help to think about who you’d genuinely like to build a stronger connection with. Real friendships tend to grow from focused effort with a few people, rather than spreading yourself thinly across the whole company.
#6 Who can I talk to now?
It’s important that you know you don’t have to handle these feelings alone. If you’re feeling lost, you very well might need a helping hand to find your path again. Try talking about your feelings with a friend, family member, or a therapist.
Check to see what mental health support is offered through your workplace, too. Businesses can offer an array of options, including direct clinical services like Employee Assistance Programmes, insurer-backed therapy pathways, specialist training, and peer networks like Mental Health First Aid.
Chris Britton is People Experience Director at Reward Gateway | Edenred.
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