Being an entrepreneur can come with a lot of great perks. However, as solopreneurs (and even busy entrepreneurs with a team) know, the workday can sometimes feel a bit lonely.
This loneliness can take a toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing, potentially creating rough patches in all aspects of your life. It also means you may lose touch with what’s best for your business.
To help you, we asked 12 members of Forbes Coaches Council to detail one thing you can do to combat loneliness and move onward to the great work you know you’re capable of doing.
1. Utilize Self-Care To Fuel Great Work
Most of our life is often spent inside our own heads. Thus, it is important we make sure it is a nice place to be. Self-care activities to fuel the energy tank are vital to being an effective and productive entrepreneur. Morning mindfulness, meditation, periodic one-minute breathing exercises, walking meetings and professional roundtables are a few activities to keep focused and feeling good. - Lori Harris, Harris Whitesell Consulting
2. Maintain Your Professional Relationships
One thing entrepreneurs can do to combat loneliness, get out of their own head and put their focus on doing great work is to devote a few hours per week on maintaining professional relationships with other entrepreneurs. For example, join a weekly professional business owner group where they meet for breakfast and share ideas. Attend conferences for business owners to spark ideas and meet people. - Elizabeth Ruiz, EAR Enterprises
3. Take Imperfect Action Every Day
I'm an entrepreneur and am guilty of this myself. I will over-analyze things and get stuck in my head. This stops me from taking action. When this happens, I remind myself of two things. First, entrepreneurs need to take action. That is the job I signed up for. Second, I'm human and make mistakes. This gives me the confidence to get out of my own way and take imperfect action to move forward. - Andrea Janzen, Andrea Janzen Professional Coaching
4. Make New Connections
Mixing and mingling with other entrepreneurs can often give us the right combination of camaraderie, support and new insights that we need to keep our minds sharp, refreshed and invigorated. You can meet such entrepreneurs via LinkedIn groups, local Chambers of Commerce, small business association events and trade shows. Your new connections could lead to your next big idea or key client. - Debbie Ince, Executive Talent Finders, Inc
5. Take A Hike
Especially when working solo, work can become routine and the hours seem to pile up. Neuroscientists know concretely, that walking—especially in nature—engages or reengages the mind, much like a short nap can. Get outside, even for 10 minutes. Walk to a coffee break. Be around nature or interact with some people who have nothing to do with work. You'll be better off when you return. - John Hittler, Evoking Genius
6. Connect And Collaborate With Like Minds
The best way to combat loneliness is to make networking a priority. Connecting with like minds and collaborating on projects is a great way to defeat loneliness while still being dedicated to your outcomes. Build a mastermind group, a think tank or a team of individuals who share your passion for success and meet with them regularly. Getting outside in the fresh air for a walk also helps! - Dr. Melissa Weathersby, 5-Star Empowerment
7. Change Up Your Routine
It is no secret that daily routines are detrimental to long-term productivity. That being said, combating this particular issue is not complex: allow for change within the routine by adding and subtracting variables. One day make a call to an old mentor; next day, catch up on some fun readings; the next day, have lunch with a friend. The gist is rather simple. Even routines can accommodate loneliness. - Kamyar Shah, World Consulting Group
8. Head To A Change Of Scenery
Being a solopreneur or entrepreneur can be isolating, especially when working remotely. Make a point of getting out of the four walls to either network or just change the scenery so that the creative juices flow. We can often get stuck in our heads when we stay in the same place too long. Reach out to others in the same situation. It will benefit both of you! - Kathy Lockwood, Blue Water Leadership Coaching
9. Find A Co-Working Space
When I have low energy working from home, I head out to a co-working space or coffee shop. The energy alone that comes from saying hello to a barista revives me. I often meet new people at these spaces, which can evolve into fruitful business connections. I also invite friends and other entrepreneurs to join me in these spaces to have a built-in sense of connection if that is what I desire. - Rosie Guagliardo, InnerBrilliance Coaching
10. Find And Engage Some 'Thought Partners'
One of the toughest things about working solo is not having thought partners (I call it "idea isolation"). Meeting regularly with people in similar situations, through group masterminds and individually, can be really helpful. These partners can help you find tools and processes that can help you in your business, as well as help you think through sticky issues that inevitably arise. - Kate Dixon, Dixon Consulting
11. Build Your Own Support Group
We all need others we can confide in, receive support from and who genuinely care about us. You don’t need to pay for one of the many peer support organizations, although those can be great. At least find three people similar to you in non-competing industries and meet regularly to share fears, hopes, dreams and successes, as well as to get support. - Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, MCC, Clear Impact Consulting Group
12. Meditate
When we are lonely, we often reach out to others to soothe the disconnection we feel within. Often this does not help because the loneliness is caused by a disconnection with our self. Busyness can be the biggest culprit to our loneliness, so engaging in another activity, with another person, may be the last thing you need. Try meditating instead to allow your inner voice to tell you what you need. - Susan K. Wehrley, BIZremedies
