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Last week, I found myself feeling incredibly isolated.

I had not had a face-to-face conversation with anyone outside of my husband and my 2-year-old son for days. I was trying to brainstorm ideas for a new side project, but the focus and energy just were not there.

Life keeps you busy with daily tasks and responsibilities, and as a mom, it feels like you never have enough time for anything.

That is when I decided to sign up for a meetup in Zurich called ‘Solopreneur Co-Working’.

I did not know what to expect, but I pushed myself to go. By the end of the event, I had made three new connections, learned about their entrepreneurship journeys, and shared my own story. This experience boosted my confidence and motivated me to work on my goals again.

This reminded me just how important it is to step out of our comfort zones and meet new people.

Working from home or being self-employed is both a blessing and a curse. The flexibility to structure your day, skip the commute, and avoid being tied to a desk is amazing. However, there is a significant downside: your social skills may take a hit.

Have you noticed how easy it is to go days without seeing another human being?

When your work interactions are primarily through video calls and chats, and you rarely leave your home office, it is easy to become isolated. If I do not make a conscious effort to meet people, I can go an entire workweek without any face-to-face human interaction. This isolation contrasts sharply with the pre-COVID world, where office interactions were the norm.

Breaking Out of Isolation: Embracing Meetups

What can you do? Join meetups and social events. Go alone and meet people you do not know.

Meetups are networking events or gatherings for people with shared interests who want to connect and socialize. It is essential to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Meeting family or friends does not count—these interactions will not challenge you or improve your social skills the same way meeting strangers will.

Attending meetups combines three of my biggest fears: meeting strangers, being in an unfamiliar setting, and talking about myself. My anxiety peaks in these situations, but I always push myself to go for several reasons:

• Improving Your Social Skills

Starting conversations with strangers is not easy for most people, but it is a skill you can develop. At topic-specific meetups, like one for ‘mumpreneurs’ (mom entrepreneurs), I start conversations based on shared experiences. It is not always easy to have an engaging conversation because it depends on the other person too. With time, you will get better at identifying people you might click with.

• Learning to Talk About Yourself and Your Work

Talking about myself is something I am still learning. Some people find it natural, while others struggle. A balanced conversation involves active listening and sharing your perspective at the right moments. Meetups are also great places to promote your work if you are self-employed, and they offer opportunities to get fresh insights from different people regarding your brand or business.

• Gaining New Inspiration

Working from home (or in coffee shops) for too long can be quite monotonous. It is difficult to get new ideas and creative thoughts when you are just sitting in front of your screen. Meeting others from time to time, and seeing what they are doing, inspires me and gets me excited about my field again. Even talking about everyday tasks can become more interesting when you see how others handle them.

• Connecting with Like-Minded People and Making New Friends

Expanding your social circle is another significant benefit of meetups. Most people stick to a small, trusted group their whole life, but constantly getting the same input can become tiring. Meeting new people is scary at first but gets easier over time. And you never know who you might meet.

Taking Action: Finding and Joining Meetups

Not being tied to an office can be the perfect opportunity to build a new group of connections. Even if you work in an office environment, I encourage you to meet new people from time to time. I hold myself accountable by finding suitable meetups near me and signing up.

Here are some websites you can use to get started:

– Meetup

– Eventbrite

– Internations

– Facebook Events, LinkedIn Events

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In our tech-driven world, it is easy to stay within our digital bubbles. Groceries and food can be ordered online, there are online classes and courses available, and even doctor consultations can be done via video. There is literally no need anymore to have human interaction. And if we do meet people, it is mostly our familiar circle.

Maybe we should expand our circle and start to build new connections. You might meet someone who introduces you to a new hobby, a different way of thinking, or even a new career opportunity.

Challenge yourself: When was the last time you met new people? This week, find a meetup or social event and go. Push yourself to have at least three meaningful conversations. You will be amazed at the difference it can make.