Most people who leave regular positions in the corporate world to work as telecommuting consultants in the gig economy will say that the biggest adjustment they have to make is getting used to being alone. The shift can be quite jarring, particularly to someone who is energized by people, loves leading teams, and enjoys dissecting the latest episode of Black Mirror with coworkers at the water cooler. In general, being physically alone isn’t actually a problem; after all, different people prefer (and need) different amounts of social interaction. But when people feel socially and emotionally disconnected from others, true loneliness can result.
