communication/social skills....

gingin_2

jfdi wrote: »

Why not consider Toastmasters?

A lot of my friends belong & it has given them MASSIVE confidence in speaking out, both at work & in social situations.

You don't have to want to be a 'Speaker' to join!

http://reports.toastmasters.org/findaclub/searchresults.cfm?Country=United%20Kingdom&State=&City=

Really think about Toastmasters. My husband has been on and off over the years. His is in the upstairs room of a pub and so it's social as well as being useful. You get all walks of life that go there and there's no pressure to perform. He used it because his job involves fronting up to many people all day and it's now one of his strongest assets.

BlondeHeadOn

honeypop wrote: »

Or you could see if there are any co-working or 'Jelly' type events taking place locally. Just a bunch of local people who normally work on their own, either meeting up to work in the same place to give a more officey social feel now and then, and got people on hand to bounce ideas off and chat to.

I've worked from home for 12 years, and had never heard of the 'Jelly' groups. I have just looked online, and there is one that meets about 2 miles away from where I live, so this is fantastic information - thank you honeypop!

I agree with the OP as well, I sometimes get worried that I am losing my social skills as there are weeks when I see very few people. I try to go out one day a week though to somewhere with some social contact, even if it's just the shops or the local library. This winter has been particularly bleak and lonely though....

I thought it was just me who worries about losing these skills, so thank you OP - I now know I am not alone. And I am definitely going to investigate these 'Jelly' groups.

Thanks all!

:T:T:T:T:T

tyllwyd

I've been working from home for about 12 years. I do worry about the social side of things - up until now, I've had children at primary school which gets you out of the house, but when my youngest goes to secondary school there will be less opportunity to stand around and chat.

I volunteer at the school once a week, which does at least make me get dressed a bit more smartly and get myself out of the house. I think maybe I'll look for a fitness class, or at least join a gym when they are both at school.

Mr_Toad

I've worked from home since the mid 90s. I work in IT and volunteered to help set up and trial the home worker concept for my company.

I took to it like a duck to water and have never had any doubts as to it being anything other than wonderful. No commute, that was two hours of my life back every day.

However, I do know several people that it didn't work for. They quickly began to feel isolated and lonely. Once back in the office they were their old selves again.

Others worked from home part time and went in a couple of days a week and this worked well for them, flexibility is the key and all you need to do is find the right balance that works for you.

There have been some good suggestions made by the others and I'm sure you'll find something that works.

Bazey

Have you thought about trying cocaine? You'll be able to talk non-stop, mostly rubbish but non-stop all the same.

HTH.