Five tips to avoid feeling lonely at work

Updated July 28, 2025, 3:22 p.m. | By Jacaranda FM

Make your work day a little brighter with these five tips.

We’re not all fortunate enough to be employed. Being unemployed can be lonely, distressing, and frightening.

It's a privilege to be employed, but it can also come with its own challenges.

South Africans are some of the hardest-working people in the world, often working well above the average working hours. As a result, we spend the largest portion of our lives in the office, so having a strong support system at work is really important.

As a result, loneliness can become a daunting, emotionally-taxing reality if you’re unable to form healthy connections at the office.

If this is the case, here are some tips on how to foster stronger connections with your fellow colleagues.

Say hello to colleagues when you arrive and leave the office. Often, people are afraid to take the first step, so if you’re more of an extrovert, create an environment that promotes a simple “hello” and “goodbye”.
Start casual conversations if you’re getting some fresh air, grabbing water at the watercooler, or whilst making a cup of coffee/tea in the kitchen
Compliment someone or say something nice to them in a courteous and appropriate way to avoid making them feel uncomfortable.

Invite a coworker to join you for lunch at the office. A lot of people tend to eat lunch at their desk, so this is an opportunity to start a trend of eating lunch together as colleagues.
If you like to get your daily step count in, ask your colleagues if anyone would like to join you for a quick walk. The power of a quick walk can do wonders for stress and your mental health, too.
Join (or start) interest-based groups like a running club after work. South Africans spend a lot of time in traffic - especially in Gauteng - so why not go for a post-work run, even if it’s just for 15 minutes?

Seek out colleagues who seem kind, inclusive, or open. You don’t need a large group—one or two real connections make a big difference.
Finding an ally can start by talking about your favourite music, TV shows, books, or hobbies. You never know who might overhear you and want to talk about them, too.

Finding fulfilment in your work is not always a given, so loneliness feels worse when work feels empty. Find aspects of your job that bring purpose, growth, or satisfaction, even if it’s something as simple as teaching a fellow colleague something new.

If you feel lonely at work, believe us that you’re not alone. Many people experience workplace loneliness, especially in remote or hybrid environments.

Watch this video on more ways to better connect with your colleagues:

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