When I read articles like this one from HBR, I long for the good old days where all work and play were face-to-face activities.
“…loneliness is not a result of social isolation, as you might think, but rather is due to the emotional exhaustion of workplace burnout.” – HBR, Burnout at Work Isn’t Just About Exhaustion. It’s Also About Loneliness
My gut tells me that loneliness and burnout are mutually reinforcing.
I remember when my dad was commuting to NYC, he got together with his neighbors (each of whom worked in NYC but at different companies) and formed a carpool. They actually purchased a van together, and it would be parked at the person’s house who was supposed to drive the next day.
The ride to and from work sounded like fun, since every night he had a story of what happened on the ride home (or to work). Like the time they met Bob Hope in the city, and he actually got in the van and had conversation with them!
It was a time when your parents would basically say, “go out and play and be home for dinner”. These were high touch decades.
Now I don’t know if we’ve really depleted our reserves of social capital or not — there are good arguments that this is simply not the case — but I do know I feel a hell of a lot less isolated after a face-to-face meeting than a Zoom call.
One thing is clear, loneliness seems to be a serious issue:
“…while obesity reduces longevity by 20%, drinking by 30%, and smoking by 50%, loneliness reduces it by a whopping 70%”… On the other hand, feelings of social connection can strengthen our immune system, lengthen our life, and lower rates of anxiety and depression.”
So, if you’re burnt out at work, consider carpooling.