Freelance workers enjoy many quality of life benefits: flexible schedules, lack of a daily commute, and comfortable work surroundings. Some freelancers enjoy the peace and quiet, but others crave human interaction to the point where silence drives them to distraction. Luckily, there are lots of networking opportunities for freelancers where they can mingle, both online and offline, and build relationships with others in similar or complementary roles. These relationships can help with the daily isolation, but more importantly, can give freelancers “virtual co-workers” to bounce ideas off, ask for advice, and yes, even commiserate about the SOB who rejected your best work.

Meetup: Meetup is a website with the aim of bringing together local folks with common interests. As of the time of writing, there are Freelance Meetup groups in 18 countries and 114 cities around the world. If there is no group in your area, you can start one of your own on the site, and host dinner parties, evening happy hours, or picnics and golf outings with the aim of bringing freelance professionals together.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a large website with millions of members. It can be a little impersonal, but when you break it down into smaller groups, it is much more manageable and easier to get to know others. Join freelance groups and others that are relevant to your work. You never know when you will need to know a little more about html, and surely, someone in your groups will be an expert. Because LinkedIn is a career-networking site, the focus is the work world. Here, you can stay current with latest technology and other tips, and show off your expertise by participating in group discussions.

Local Networking Groups: You may work from home, on your computer, even in your jammies during the week. Dressing up one night a week, mingling with other business professionals, and passing out business cards can do wonders for your self-esteem and sense of isolation. Most areas have groups that meet in certain restaurants, some even in church basements. Look in your local newspaper in the career section for these groups. You may find other business people who can use your services as well.

Consider a CoWorker: CoWorking spaces have taken off in some large cities on both coasts, with entrepreneurs sharing office space even when their businesses are completely different. Simply having another human nearby, especially one who has gone through some similar tribulations, eases some of the loneliness of remote work.

Online Forums: When looking for opinions or advice, there is no better place to frequent than online Freelance forums. Chances are, your questions will have been covered at some point. Entrepreneurs who hang out on these forums are very responsive to questions, so ask away. You will likely get good answers and possibly make some new friends. Freelance Switch and Freelance Folder are two places where you will find lively forums and articles filled with advice for your situation.

By overcoming the pitfalls of freelancing, your attitude will improve and you will be more productive during your work hours and increasing your leisure time. After all, isn’t that why you decided to freelance in the first place?

Denise Gabbard has been blogging for over five years. She writes about a wide range of topics, from travel to careers, and weight loss to motor fleet insurance .

photo credit: Glenn Batuyong