Working from home has changed what a normal workday looks like for many people. The office is no longer always a place people physically travel to, and the line between professional and personal space can sometimes become very thin. But beyond meetings, deadlines, and work hours, there is another change that may be harder to notice.A Delhi woman has shared why she feels remote work has affected an important part of her life outside work: her ability to meet people and build friendships naturally. Her experience, shared in an Instagram video, has started a conversation about the social side of working from home.
‘Nobody talks about what you quietly lose’
Tanya Singhal has been working from home for the last one-and-a-half years. Looking back at that period, she said the conversation around WFH often focused on what people gained, while another side received less attention.“I’ve been working from home for the last one and a half years, and I genuinely think it has killed my social life. When work from home became common, everybody talked about its benefits – no commute, working from anywhere, flexible timing, and more time to yourself. And yes, all of that is true. But I think nobody talks about what you quietly lose,” she said.For Singhal, her personal situation made the change more noticeable. She does not live in her hometown, and her college friends are now in different cities. That left her workplace as one of the places where she could have developed a new social circle.“So the only way I was going to have a circle of my own here was through work. And then work came home,” she added.
The office friendships that happen naturally
Singhal then focused on something that can easily be overlooked when people talk about office life: the small interactions that are never actually planned.“Somebody walks past your desk, you grab coffee together, and you’re having lunch with whoever is around. None of this feels like an effort. But when work comes home, you can spend an entire day without a single unplanned interaction.”For her, these everyday moments offered a chance to interact with people without having to organize a meeting or make a specific plan.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.
Why meeting new people takes more effort
Singhal said the difference becomes clearer when she wants to meet someone new now.“Like now, if I want to meet new people, if I want to make new friends, I have to explicitly make plans and make an effort for it – like go to some networking events, join some groups, go on a solo trip. But the spontaneity that a workplace will give me is just gone,” she said.Her point was about the ease of meeting people through a shared workplace. Without that setting, socializing can require a conscious decision to go somewhere, join something, or make plans.
‘You’re not alone’
Singhal also addressed people who may have noticed a similar change in their own social lives.“So yeah, if you’re working from home and you’re feeling that you’ve lost a lot on your social life, trust me, you’re not alone, and it’s not in your head.”The video was shared with the caption, “nobody talks about this quiet side of WFH”.
Internet users relate to her experience
The post received several comments from people agreeing with Singhal. Users wrote “So true,” “This is correct,” and “I agree with you.”One person wrote, “100% true. In today’s world, AI sometimes feels like the closest and most approachable friend.”Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the individual’s personal experience and social media post. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Times of India.Thumb image: Instagram
