Is freelancing a lonely business?

When Kirsty Wilson first switched from an office job to freelancing from home she revelled in the freedom and flexibility. "I loved being able to have a lie-in, do household chores in between work and eat whenever I wanted," says the 30-year-old computer programmer. "But after a few weeks, being on my own all day started to feel quite isolating and I began to feel a bit withdrawn and lonely."

Anna Thompson, a 35-year-old freelance graphic designer, feels the same. "I miss the office banter I used to have with my colleagues," she says. "I have to put the radio on as the silence can be unnerving. I struggle a bit to get motivated as it's just me on my own. You have to be very disciplined to get things done. It's all too easy to get distracted by the ironing."

A 2010 YouGov poll found that 21% of office workers regularly work from home at least one day a week. However, the vast majority of homeworkers (65%) are self-employed. It appears that these types of workers suffer the most with loneliness and isolation as they don't have the support or camaraderie of colleagues.

"I think there is a lot of evidence that the downside of flexible working, particularly for those who work exclusively from home, is the lack of social interaction," says Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University Management School. "I think the vast majority of people would prefer to work partly from home and partly from a central office because they want their social needs to be met."

Advances in technology have allowed more people to be able to work from home. However, says Rick Norris, a chartered psychologist and author of Think Yourself Happy: The Simple 6-Step Programme to Change Your Life From Within, there are pros and cons. "If people are working exclusively from home without regular interaction with other people, they may begin to lose some of their social skills. Little things like the lack of small talk may begin to affect them and make them feel more isolated."

This is something that Wilson can identify with. "After a few weeks of working from home I realised I hadn't been going out as much as I used to," she says. "When I met up with some friends I even felt a bit socially awkward, which is very strange for me as I'm normally an outgoing person."

Another downside to working predominantly from home can be the feeling that you have no one to share your work problems with. "If you work for yourself from home it can be very easy to feel that you are the only one experiencing problems," says Norris. "You might feel demotivated, stressed or anxious but you don't have the opportunity to share these frustrations with others. One of the things we know with people who have anxiety and depression is that group therapy or online support groups really help to make them feel better and a lot less alone. It's a concept known as universality – it's a universal problem, not one that just affects me."

Certain personality types are more suited to home-based working, which is why the isolation may affect some people more than others. "Strong extroverts would find this much more of a problem because they relate well to the external world of people and things," says Norris. "Strong introverts, on the other hand, relate much better to the internal world of thoughts and ideas. You could argue that, for them, being on their own and having no distractions or interruptions is quite desirable."

So what can be done to prevent loneliness and isolation taking hold? "Ensure you develop a network of people around you who are in the same position," says Cooper. "Arrange to meet up with other home-based workers for a coffee or lunch to get some social interaction. This way you can talk over problems or offer one another advice."

Local business networking groups are a great way of linking up with other people who work from home. Some require a joining fee, but others are free to attend and can be a useful way of meeting people who are in a similar work position. Meet Up is another good resource. There are numerous groups aimed at home-based workers who want to escape the four walls of the home office for a while.

"Instead of emailing, pick up the phone and talk to someone," Cooper says. "Or, even better, use Skype where you can see them eyeball to eyeball. This is the closest thing you can get to proper human interaction and will help you to feel a lot more connected."

Norris suggests working somewhere other than your home office at least once a week. Another option is to join a co-working event such as UK Jelly, where freelancers can bring their laptops and work together in a different environment while swapping ideas and advice.

Wilson and Thompson have devised their own ways of battling isolation. "I have got into the habit of going swimming three times a week at lunchtime," says Thompson. "I think it's important to make time for things like that, otherwise you can get bogged down with work issues and before you know it, you haven't left the house all day."

"I occasionally arrange to meet up with clients at their offices instead of liaising with them over the phone," says Wilson. "And I now make a point of going out to the gym before I start work, and for a walk at lunchtime. I also chat to friends over Facebook or Twitter during the day, which helps to make me feel more connected. I now feel back to my old self and I can embrace all the benefits of home working again."