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3 Ways to Avoid Loneliness While Working From Home as a Virtual Assistant

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virtual assistant working from home

Working remotely shouldn’t mean isolation from the world and the people around you (although given the last year, it definitely feels that way).ย 

But it’s not uncommon to feel lonely when you’re working from home. You miss having coworkers nearby, you’re too busy getting lost in your laptop, and life is passing you by.ย I get it!

The good news is parts of the world are slowly opening back up, but there are still fewer opportunities than before for real interaction. Many in-person events continue to be canceled or postponed.

On top of that, there still aren’t as many options to leave the house. Most cafe working spots are only serving lattes via drive-thru, and coworking spaces are closed for the foreseeable future.ย 

Working in the confinement of your home has become played out and (let’s face it)ย boring.ย 

There are many negative effects of loneliness beyond the obvious. Feeling lonely can cause you to have a hard time focusing on tasks or reaching goals. You may have difficulty figuring out what to do next in your online career journey or even feel like quitting. 

Virtual Assistants need creative ways to connect with others.ย So, here are 3 ways you can avoid loneliness while working from home.ย 

virtual assistant searching for online communities

1. Join Work From Home Online Communities

Despite companies sending their employees to work from home and remote work growing in popularity in general, people still think working from home is a scam. 

You might even have friends or family that hardly know anything about working online, let alone being a virtual assistant. Or, maybe they know but aren’t very supportive. 

Online communities forge a sense of togetherness amongst commonalities. There are communities for almost everything from millennials who love baking, pet parents, and (yes, you guessed it) online workers! 

Groups offer a comforting place to speak about things you face daily as a remote worker. There, you will find others just like you.

That’s why I created myย freeย Facebook group to help online workers connect and find daily remote job postings and resources.ย 

Another great place to find online communities is Instagram. Engage in the DMs, comments, stories and you’ll be surprised at the types of friendships that can form via social media.

I also created the VAI Members Club for my students in the 90 DAY VA program. It’s the place where students can bounce ideas off each other, get answers to client questions, and even findย exclusive job postingsย onlyย posted within the private Facebook group.

Even better, the VAI Members Club offers monthly Q&A calls. 

During these calls, members connect with my team and me to talk about recent updates in the virtual assistant world, hash out any roadblocks they may have, and share recent wins. 

virtual assistant looking to network with other virtual assistants

2. Find Virtual Assistants & Remote Workers in Your Area

“But we’re in the middle of a pandemic!” 

Yes, I know. It is crucial to adhere to local guidelines put forth by your government. So, this is only a suggestion and will depend on the situation in your location.

Make sure to check-in with your local laws and regulations before attending any socially distanced gatherings. 

However, many local communities for online workers have shifted their meetings to virtual get-togethers instead of in-person events. So, you can safely seek out connections and network from the comfort of your own home. 

A lot of people are struggling with loneliness right now – it’s not just you! That means you’ll have more options than ever for remote networking. 

There are so many ways to connect with others creatively. Local groups (and non-local) are offering virtual:

  • Happy hours
  • Book clubs
  • Meditation classes
  • Watch parties
  • Yoga sessions

You name it.

The bright side of finding local groups is that you will have made many friends that live in the same area as you. 

Imagine how awesome it will be to have other remote workers to work with in your local cafe or even grab a quick lunch break once this is all over! I’m down!

The possibilities are endless. 

You could even start an online club or community in your area if you see the need!ย 

If you’re working from home as a virtual assistant, then imagine how many other women are thinking of doing the same or already are! 

You’ll make connections with others working online, facing the same challenges and triumphs that you do, and are happy to share in your experiences. 

Those connections are worth the effort!

virtual assistant attending an online event

3. Attend Online Events and Retreats for Virtual Assistants

Retreats and events have been famous for gathering communities together in one place to experience magical moments. 

Before COVID-19, there were TONS of opportunities to sign up for in-person retreats. Remote workers know a thing or two about needing a community of like-minded people, so retreats and events were popping up everywhere. 

Retreats also provide the opportunity to learn new skills, grow your network, and connect with others like you.

Fun fact – I’ve wanted to host my next team for what feels like FOREVER now, but thanks to COVID, it’s on hold. It’s safe to say that my team and I are definitely counting down the days, though, just sayin’!

Retreats tend to be more of an in-person experience. They are best suited for fully immersing yourself in an environment with others who may be strangers or friends from a group you’ve joined. The purpose is experiential learning and transformation. 

A key attribute of retreats is that it is communal, which can mean:

  • Mealtime and activities are done together.
  • Sleeping arrangements are in shared spaces (rented lodge, camping grounds, Airbnbs, etc.)
  • Scheduled workshops for attendees

But not all retreats are created equal. Some may have tweaked how they hold their gatherings. 

The idea of a retreat is to hold a space for everyone to feel comfortable and really transform their business and themselves. 

Due to COVID, many events have opted to go virtual. But you can still sign up for in-person events planned for next year. *fingers crossed*

How empowering is it to be surrounded by other entrepreneurial women!?

While in-person retreats may not be available until the end of the year or even in 2022, now is a good time to look at what retreats may interest you. 

You could even start saving a little money each month to pay for a future event!

Bonding in a communal setting and networking are good ways to avoid loneliness, as the connections you make will stay with you for a lifetime. If you can’t attend in-person events, then make the most of the online options available right now.

laptop on bed

Don’t Worry! You Don’t Have to Hit the Ground Running

Making connections with others who are working from home as a virtual assistant can come in smaller steps. 

I’m not telling you that you need to start a local community in your town right now. In fact, if it’s not your cup of tea – that works too! 

The key is to be patient and trust the process. Finding your tribe doesn’t happen overnight, but you DO have to put yourself out there (even if that means virtually).

My team and I know how important it is to have a community that can support you, your online career (or side hustle), and overall mental health, which is why we provide extra support, motivation, and accountability in the Members Club.ย 

If you’re still unsure that virtual assisting is right for you, check out my FREE masterclass. I cover everything you need to know to help you decide if you want to jumpstart your VA journey.

I hope to see you inside!

Check out my FREE masterclass here!
virtual assistant working from home

In 90 Day VA, Esther teaches her students how to research and repurpose current content into blogs for the VAI website. Khadija is the student weโ€™ve chosen this week to feature what she’s learned in the course. Get to know her:

Khadija Collins

Khadija Collins offers virtual solutions to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits. When sheโ€™s not helping people produce results for their company, she loves to travel and hang out with her pup!

She assists with everything from social media management, marketing, lite website design and management, and more.

To see all the services she offers and how she can help you, check out her website here.

1 thought on “3 Ways to Avoid Loneliness While Working From Home as a Virtual Assistant”

  1. Brandy Collins
    March 12, 2021 at 3:59 am

    Oof! I feel this. Never would have thought about an online retreat or looking for a local โ€œchapterโ€ of virtual assistants/ online workers. Thanks for this great article!

    Reply

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I post daily online work help + share our adventures and behind the scenes of a legit online business!

๐•‹๐•™๐•–๐•ฃ๐•– ๐•’๐•ฃ๐•– ๐•’ ๐•ƒ๐•†๐•‹ ๐• ๐•— ๐• ๐•Ÿ๐•๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•– ๐•”๐• ๐•ฆ๐•ฃ๐•ค๐•–๐•ค ๐• ๐•ฆ๐•ฅ ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•–๐•ฃ๐•–, ๐•“๐•ฆ๐•ฅ ๐•™๐• ๐•จ ๐••๐•  ๐•ช๐• ๐•ฆ ๐•œ๐•Ÿ๐• ๐•จ ๐•จ๐•™๐•š๐•”๐•™ ๐• ๐•Ÿ๐•– ๐•š๐•ค ๐•ฃ๐•š๐•˜๐•™๐•ฅ ๐•—๐• ๐•ฃ ๐•ช๐• ๐•ฆ?

I get this question ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ all ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ the ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ time.

And I know it can be confusing ๐Ÿ˜ซ to try and figure out which ones are the best for your needs and if theyโ€™ll do what they promise to do for you. ๐Ÿคž๐Ÿผ๐Ÿคž๐Ÿผ

This is why I'm throwing it back to an older podcast episode ๐ŸŽง filled with little nuggets ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ that will help you to decide.

I cover:

โšก How to determine if you will actually land jobs
๐Ÿค” Whether you'll start working in a few weeks or a few years
๐Ÿค‘ If the course is going to hold you accountable 

and more! ๐Ÿคฉ

๐Ÿ‘†๐Ÿผ Click my picture on my profile to go to my stories for the link to this episode!

๐ŸŽง Or you can just search โ€œHelp Me Work Online, Estherโ€ on Spotify or Apple podcasts to tune in to 5 Important Questions to Help You Decide Whether to Invest in an Online Course!
๐‘ฐ๐’‡ ๐’š๐’๐’–'๐’“๐’† ๐’˜๐’๐’“๐’“๐’Š๐’†๐’… ๐’•๐’‰๐’‚๐’• ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’„๐’‚๐’'๐’• ๐’Ž๐’‚๐’Œ๐’† ๐’š๐’๐’–๐’“ ๐’˜๐’๐’“๐’Œ ๐’‡๐’“๐’๐’Ž ๐’‰๐’๐’Ž๐’† ๐’…๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’Ž ๐’‚ ๐’“๐’†๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’•๐’š, ๐Ÿ“ฃ ๐’‰๐’†๐’“๐’†'๐’” ๐’‚ ๐’๐’Š๐’•๐’•๐’๐’† ๐’”๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’•๐’‰๐’‚๐’• ๐’Ž๐’‚๐’š ๐’„๐’‰๐’‚๐’๐’ˆ๐’† ๐’š๐’๐’–๐’“ ๐’Ž๐’Š๐’๐’…. ๐Ÿ“ฃ

These are โœจ 13 average salaries โœจ for 13 different jobs you could do TODAY! ๐Ÿ”ฅ

๐Ÿ“Œ Virtual Assistant: $39,617
๐Ÿ“Œ Business Development Manager: $71,968
๐Ÿ“Œ Copywriter: $50,570
๐Ÿ“Œ Curriculum Designer: $61,389
๐Ÿ“Œ Customer Support Specialist: $41,382
๐Ÿ“Œ Front-End Developer: $71,145
๐Ÿ“Œ Marketing Manager: $64,500
๐Ÿ“Œ Online ESL Teacher: $43,878
๐Ÿ“Œ Product Manager: $82,916
๐Ÿ“Œ Recruiter: $49,544
๐Ÿ“Œ Social Media Manager: $49,881
๐Ÿ“Œ Translator: $47,974
๐Ÿ“Œ Web Designer: $49,649

๐Ÿคฉ ...And these are only SOME of the jobs that are out there, guys!

There are so many opportunities for you to live your dream โ˜๏ธ๐ŸŒˆ and work from home. ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป Sometimes it just takes a little investigation, ๐Ÿ•ต๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ but it's out there! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ

You can do this! ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿฅ‡๐Ÿ‘‘๐Ÿคฉ You CAN be successful. 

The skyโ€™s the limit! โ˜๏ธโ˜๏ธโ˜€๏ธโ˜€๏ธ

If you donโ€™t know where to start, my signature course, @_90dayva , has everything you need to get started as a Virtual Assistant. ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿพโ€๐Ÿ’ป

๐Ÿ“ฃ Doors open for enrollment on May 1st. ๐Ÿ“ฃ But if you join the waitlist, you can enroll early. ๐Ÿ˜‰ 

The link is in my bio. ๐Ÿ”—๐Ÿ‘†๐Ÿผ
๐”…๐”ข๐”ฆ๐”ซ๐”ค ๐”ž ๐”ฐ๐”ฒ๐” ๐” ๐”ข๐”ฐ ๐”…๐”ข๐”ฆ๐”ซ๐”ค ๐”ž ๐”ฐ๐”ฒ๐” ๐” ๐”ข๐”ฐ๐”ฐ๐”ฃ๐”ฒ๐”ฉ ๐”ณ๐”ฆ๐”ฏ๐”ฑ๐”ฒ๐”ž๐”ฉ ๐”ž๐”ฐ๐”ฐ๐”ฆ๐”ฐ๐”ฑ๐”ž๐”ซ๐”ฑ ๐”ฆ๐”ซ๐”ณ๐”ฌ๐”ฉ๐”ณ๐”ข๐”ฐ ๐”ช๐”ฌ๐”ฏ๐”ข ๐”ฑ๐”ฅ๐”ž๐”ซ ๐”ง๐”ฒ๐”ฐ๐”ฑ ๐”ฅ๐”ž๐”ณ๐”ฆ๐”ซ๐”ค ๐”ž ๐”ค๐”ฌ๐”ฌ๐”ก ๐”ฅ๐”ฒ๐”ฐ๐”ฑ๐”ฉ๐”ข ๐”ž๐”ซ๐”ก ๐”ฐ๐”ฑ๐”ฏ๐”ฌ๐”ซ๐”ค ๐”ฐ๐”จ๐”ฆ๐”ฉ๐”ฉ ๐”ฐ๐”ข๐”ฑ. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป

๐Ÿ”ฅ You can step up your virtual assistant game by growing your network, โœจ getting organized, and ๐ŸŒˆ pushing your creativity with different free online tools... ๐Ÿ’ป  but the most helpful one is...

๐Ÿ’ฅ FACEBOOK GROUPS ๐Ÿ’ฅ

Facebook groups are a virtual assistantโ€™s lifeline. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ

If you are seeking:

โœ”๏ธ Work
โœ”๏ธ Advice
โœ”๏ธ Fellow virtual assistants
โœ”๏ธ Skill trades

โ€ฆthereโ€™s a group for that. ๐Ÿ˜Œ

This powerful tool allows you to network with fellow virtual assistants and potential clients. ๐Ÿค

Did you know I have my own Facebook group with over 19,000 supportive and hustling virtual assistants? 

I share industry advice and post legit online jobs. You can check it out here ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ

๐Ÿ”— facebook.com/groups/virtualassistantinternship
๐‘ซ๐’ ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’†๐’—๐’†๐’“ ๐’ˆ๐’†๐’• ๐’‚ ๐’ˆ๐’–๐’• ๐’‡๐’†๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’•๐’‰๐’‚๐’• ๐’‚ ๐’‹๐’๐’ƒ ๐’๐’‡๐’‡๐’†๐’“ ๐’Š๐’” ๐’•๐’๐’ ๐’ˆ๐’๐’๐’… ๐’•๐’ ๐’ƒ๐’† ๐’•๐’“๐’–๐’†? ๐Ÿ˜ณ

Internet scams are widespread and can be an easy trap for people looking for online jobs. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell if someone is trying to scam you for your personal information. ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿค”

This is why I'm bringing back a fan-favorite podcast episode ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ๐ŸŽง about how to spot an online scam. ๐Ÿ•ต๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

I cover...

๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿผ How to identify an online job scam
๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿผ Jobs that aren't scams but you should still avoid
๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿผ Real remote job boards that won't scam you

๐Ÿ‘†๐Ÿผ Click my picture on my profile to go to my stories for the link to this episode!

๐ŸŽง Or you can just search โ€œHelp Me Work Online, Estherโ€ on Spotify or Apple podcasts to tune in to Watch Out! Spot an Online Job Scam From a Mile Away!
๐–๐ก๐š๐ญ ๐ข๐Ÿ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐œ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ฎ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐Ÿ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ž ๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ฅ? ๐Ÿก

What if when your husband deployed or your family had to PCS you weren't scrambling? โœˆ๏ธ

What if when your kids got sick you didn't have to stress? ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ง๐Ÿป๐Ÿง’๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿพ

When those tickets to the Bahamas went on sale you could just GO FOR IT? ๐Ÿ–๏ธโ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ•ถ๏ธ

๐Ÿ“ฃ This stuff isn't impossible and it can happen to you. ๐Ÿ“ฃ 

A bunch of us have already been doing it for years. ๐Ÿ’ป  We work online and get paid by the hour or project. ๐Ÿ’ต  We set our own hours and do what we need to do when we want. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ

In 90 Day VA, I teach you everything you need to know about starting your own business as a Virtual Assistant. ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿ’ป

๐ŸŒŸ I believe that you can live your dream life if you want to! ๐ŸŒŸ

If you're worried that this could be scam or you're not sure if you could actually make this happen ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿผ Check out my free workshop and decide from there. 

Link is in my bio ๐Ÿ”—
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Copyright ยฉ2021 Esther M Inman โ€‹

Testimonials shown are real experiences from paying program members of 90 DAY VA. Their results are not typical and your experience will vary based upon your effort, education, business model, and market forces beyond our control. We make no earnings claims or return on investment claims, and you may not make your money back.