Poll: Does working alone ever feel "lonely" to you?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
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Feb 26, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Does working alone ever feel "lonely" to you?".

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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 15:27
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No, after a short period of adaptation Feb 26, 2018

I worked for 20 years as in-house translator and we had not only an excellent working environment but we just made up a fun, friendly and enjoyable team. It was a pleasure working with them and of course sometimes I miss the camaraderie. Now they are a phone call away, but it’s not the same thing!

Since I retired in 2006, I have been working alone and I do like the fact that I have no interruptions and that I can organize my work as I please.

P.S. I’m a widow and I'
... See more
I worked for 20 years as in-house translator and we had not only an excellent working environment but we just made up a fun, friendly and enjoyable team. It was a pleasure working with them and of course sometimes I miss the camaraderie. Now they are a phone call away, but it’s not the same thing!

Since I retired in 2006, I have been working alone and I do like the fact that I have no interruptions and that I can organize my work as I please.

P.S. I’m a widow and I've been living alone since my last daughter left “the nest” some 20 years ago. I've become very used to my own company…

Well, what about me, then?
fotografia

[Edited at 2018-02-26 12:58 GMT]
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Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 16:27
French to English
yes Feb 26, 2018

For me it's the worst of freelancing. For a while I was sharing an office with another translator and a couple of software developers. We helped them with their language problems and they helped up with our computer problems, we all worked quietly then chatted like mad through lunch. It was bliss.

Now I'm back at home. I haven't bothered to carve out a proper office for myself even though we have empty bedrooms, because I feel shut away. I prefer to have my laptop in the kitchen wh
... See more
For me it's the worst of freelancing. For a while I was sharing an office with another translator and a couple of software developers. We helped them with their language problems and they helped up with our computer problems, we all worked quietly then chatted like mad through lunch. It was bliss.

Now I'm back at home. I haven't bothered to carve out a proper office for myself even though we have empty bedrooms, because I feel shut away. I prefer to have my laptop in the kitchen where I can see everyone coming and going, with a desktop hooked up to the printer in the basement where I can retreat if I really need peace and quiet to work. We rent out a couple of rooms to young students, and now we have adopted a kitten to replace our poor dog, so I do have a bit of company. However it's not the same as being with professional adults. Sometimes it's nice to let off steam when a client is winding me up, and see that my colleague agrees with me so I know I'm not being unreasonable.
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Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 00:27
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
No Feb 26, 2018

Me: No way.
Him: Give over, mate. You're always talking to yerself.
Me: Who said that?
Him: You blind or something? It's me.
Me: Christ. It's that bloody awful ringing in me ears again, innit!
Him: Always in denial.
Me: Back to work, I suppose.


 
Mariana Passos
Mariana Passos  Identity Verified
Ireland
Local time: 15:27
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Not anymore. Feb 26, 2018

In the beginning of my career, I was still in university, so I had plenty of human interaction.
When I moved countries, it hit me a little bit, especially because my pals were in another timezone. Mornings were very lonely, and then I wanted to compensate staying up late to catch up with my friends. I was kind of living in Ireland, but following Brazilian timezone.
Then I made local friends, and I now have kids, so I'm never lonely, neither alone.
😉
I actually enjoy t
... See more
In the beginning of my career, I was still in university, so I had plenty of human interaction.
When I moved countries, it hit me a little bit, especially because my pals were in another timezone. Mornings were very lonely, and then I wanted to compensate staying up late to catch up with my friends. I was kind of living in Ireland, but following Brazilian timezone.
Then I made local friends, and I now have kids, so I'm never lonely, neither alone.
😉
I actually enjoy the quietness and silence to work.
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Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:27
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
No, the lonelier the better! Feb 26, 2018

Since my husband retired, he thinks I need to eat lunch... which is probably a good idea, and we set the world to rights. The rest of the time he wanders about talking to himself... or occasionally me. I am quite good at ignoring him, and he understands, but I love the gardening season when he goes out and talks to the neighbours instead!

 
Nina Khmielnitzky
Nina Khmielnitzky  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 11:27
Member (2004)
English to French
I love solitude Feb 26, 2018

I have my cat and movies playing when I need to hear voices (besides those in my head)

 
Yetta Jensen Bogarde
Yetta Jensen Bogarde  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 16:27
Member (2012)
English to Danish
+ ...
No Feb 26, 2018

How can I feel alone with all that communication online?

 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 12:27
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
No Feb 26, 2018

The advantages of working alone and at home are just too many to be affected by that.

 
Gianluca Marras
Gianluca Marras  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 16:27
English to Italian
No Feb 27, 2018

I did at the beginning, but not because of being at home at work.
I worked in a nice, busy office for almost 3 years, with nice colleagues. This meant also commuting (i.e. chatting to people on the train). From one day to another I just started staying at home, unfortunately it was not my hometown, so I did not have many friends there.

Now the situation is different, I have my family, I have my friends here (new town), If I decide to have a break I can go and have a chat with
... See more
I did at the beginning, but not because of being at home at work.
I worked in a nice, busy office for almost 3 years, with nice colleagues. This meant also commuting (i.e. chatting to people on the train). From one day to another I just started staying at home, unfortunately it was not my hometown, so I did not have many friends there.

Now the situation is different, I have my family, I have my friends here (new town), If I decide to have a break I can go and have a chat with some friends... I mean I have a full life around me and being in my little office at home just by myself is actually something that relaxes me.
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Poll: Does working alone ever feel "lonely" to you?






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