Lonely

Dear Faculty Relations: The pandemic may be “over,” but I find that a lot of my work as a faculty member is either alone or on Zoom. Don’t get me wrong, I like to work in the library. But I don’t always feel like I have a real professional community at CU Boulder. What can I do to connect with my colleagues? —Lonely in the Library

Dear Lonely in the Library: It is amazing how the disruption of the pandemic created different habits in us, and feeling isolated is certainly one of them! Please know, you are not alone in feeling alone. In fact, the Surgeon General has recently called attention to isolation, calling loneliness an epidemic and stating that being “socially disconnected” has the same health consequences as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. What you are feeling and experiencing is real!

Given how busy we all are, it is tempting to ask: why take the time to connect with colleagues? Not only do such friendships and connections lead to happier, healthier, and less lonely lives, but they also help with career success. Whether it involves supportive writing groups, serendipitous conversations that lead to rich and innovative ideas, or just feeling generally cared for and connected, having friends on campus can help with your professional goals. And the good news is that there are many ways to connect with colleagues and to facilitate meaningful conversations and friendships.

While it can take energy to break the isolation that the pandemic—and the everyday stresses of life—put us in, the Office of Faculty Affairs has several outlets for building community on campus, from our Women+ gatherings to lunches for international faculty to communities of practice for teaching and clinical faculty. I lead Faculty SPACE (short for Shared Perspectives and Community Engagement), which meets once a month for no-agenda social time, usually with food and other refreshments. We hold our events across campus so that you can meet with faculty from different areas of university in a casual, no-stress manner. Think it won’t work for your schedule? We do breakfasts, lunches, and an afternoon tea—even two happy hours—and our events are spread across the week.

Above all, know that we are here to support you!

Written by Sam Boyd, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies and Faculty Fellow for Faculty SPACE in the Office of Faculty Affairs