Working Alone? Sure. Are we talking short term or long term?

If you are an introvert, you will automatically be at an advantage for working alone. If you are an extrovert, this will be a challenge if you are alone working from home or something.

Introverts, I will say, because you are in your comfort zone, you will find that your world may shrink very quickly, as you will see your family or roommate constantly, but no one else. You will have your friends from when you began working alone, and any people you see while grocery shopping or doing weekly errands, and that will be it. Plus clients, I suppose. It will be a hard thing for you to expand or “make friends” as they say.

Extroverts, you will probably find yourself doing more activities on top of your regular work, because you want to see people. Joining up at tennis clubs or going to golf or other sports games with your friends, sometimes not even having a friend who does it already, but you want to have more connections. You may find yourself walking in on kids or spouses or family a lot more than usual, because you’re trying to get the normal hits you would get when you are in a company building, passing people by in the hall, overhearing groups workspace conversations and problems… at home? Very quiet. So, just consider that!

Once you get your rhythms and your flows, you may find working from home immensely enjoyable. Not feeling well for a day? For 3 weeks? That’s okay. You can work a little extra or just put off big things until you feel better.

Taking 3 weeks of sick time at a normal company is unheard of. There goes your entire year’s worth of sick time! So yes, working alone and at home will help out.

Now, if we are talking about you working alone in your office in a huge company or something, this is different!

How many people are knocking on your door? How many managers are asking for your help or avoiding you unless you step out of your office? Are people mobbing you once you come out at your door? Take note of the patterns, and adjust accordingly.

How important is it for you to really work alone? My friends who complain a lot! Don’t complain too loudly, or someone may take real pity on you and sequester you in a corner office meant for the boss, which the boss freely gave up because he likes seeing people. Just… just be careful that you don’t end up “acting” like boss because you are in a boss’s chair. Make sure you remember if you really do like being alone.

If you have a reputation for wanting to be left alone, and you have grown lonely, because people took it too seriously or are very respectful or just plain timid, work your way into people’s pathways — in the halls, in staff lounges, in communal areas.

Get yourself a coffee or tea or water, sit down and do not put a book in front of you. Nothing in front of you, okay? Just your drink. Sit at a table that is not on the periphery of the area, and just relax. Sip your drink, put your phone face down on the table in front of you, and just look around, enjoy your surroundings. And? Wait.

Sooner or later, someone is going to ask you, “Is anyone sitting here?” or “Anyone sitting with you?” and “Can I join?” That is the moment you nod your head or smile or say, “No, go ahead. How are you? Tell me how things are going.” Take note of the time, so you don’t get carried away in the pleasure of just talking business with someone after a long time of no engagement.

Motivation is not so much the problem, as if you aren’t motivated to work at work, working at home or alone will not work at all.

Your energy levels and your satisfaction is key here. Do you feel a steady flow of energy or do you feel a steady drain? If it’s a steady drain, find a way back into a workplace or find what will fill you as you work alone. Short-term work periods where you are alone is what works for you.

If you find that your energy levels are consistently high and you are very satisfied, then you have found something good for you. Keep it there as long as you can and enjoy it! You are fine with long-term work periods when you are alone.