Michelle Lim is the CEO of Ending Loneliness Together, she has shared with our community about her work and her fight to make Australia less lonely.

Ten tips for managing loneliness in the workplace:

1. Acknowledge your own loneliness – even if it’s just to yourself. It’s the first step to making things change.
2. Open the door to discussions and help to reduce the stigma of loneliness.
3. Give your colleagues the gift of your full attention: put your phone away at meetings and create a culture of active listening that enhances social connection.
4. Arrange to meet co-workers for lunch – increasing opportunities to get to know your colleagues better creates a deeper level of social connection.
5. Find or develop a peer support group to share your common interests, experiences and workplace challenges.
6. Celebrate team successes to help co-workers feel they have a common purpose and direction. A ‘thankyou’ goes a long way to help others feel valued and respected.
7. Form and maintain your professional networks to foster a sense of community and your professional identity.
8. Join a professional organisation to increase opportunities for meeting new people.
9. Remember your other self-care activities (for example, taking rest breaks, reducing stress) may also help in managing loneliness and developing meaningful connections at work.
10. Create your own self-care plan for boosting social connection and handling loneliness and encourage your students to develop their own.