Regardless of whether you consider yourself an introvert, extrovert or anything in between, humans are social creatures. When we start to feel lonely, that can affect our mental health and in some scenarios, affect our ability to do our jobs. People who have received a cancer diagnosis may feel even stronger feelings of loneliness or isolation due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, the need to take time off or the need to physically distance due to a lowered immune system. But there are steps one can take to feel less alone. A recent article in Fast Company walks through some of the ways to connect to your colleagues and feel less lonely at work.

1. Make Space and Time for Relationships
Many of our work environments are fast paced. We may feel like it's a waste of time to spend a meeting talking about things other than the task at hand. But working in 5-10 minutes at the start of a meeting for catch-up/personal chit chat can be really great for team building. Getting to know your co-workers on a personal level not only is good for moral, it also makes it easier to communicate and collaborate when you know the person better. These quick check-ins don't need to be anything substantive but a simple "How was everyone's weekend?" can go a really long way. Remember, there is a difference between getting to know your colleagues and disclosing information you don't want to share at work. Remember, you are never required to share more about your health or health history than you feel comfortable sharing.

2. Take Some Initiative
Is there someone you work closely with but have never spent much time getting to know? Maybe you can invite them to have lunch with you one day? Or take a break to get a cup of coffee. Again, it doesn't need to be anything long or involved, but 30-45 minutes to get outside of the workplace itself and have a casual get-to-know-you conversation can start to build that connection.

3. Build a Group
Some of us have trouble socializing one-on-one. Is there a way you can create a non-work related gathering with a small group? Maybe once a month you have a book club at lunch. Or you can find some people who like to go for a run after work. Or maybe there is a movie coming out that you can organize a group outing to see. The activity itself is not important, but having a group makes it easier for some people to socialize and connect.

If you are experiencing continued loneliness either in the workplace or in your personal life, it can be a great help to talk to a therapist or social worker. Speaking with a trained professional can help relieve these feelings and you can brainstorm other ways to form relationships/connections.