My friend Elisa, a creative photographer, talks about it.

My friend LoriAnn, a bookkeeper for creatives, talks about it.

In between all the meetings, deadlines, emails, and marketing plans, running your own business can be really lonely. I’ve experienced it ever since I lost my job in early 2020 and started working on my own. Especially for solopreneurs, we can feel like our souls get lost in the lack of conversation and fun that we sign up for when we sign up for running our own businesses. Most of the other women in our churches either are homemakers or work outside their homes. It’s not their fault, but they often just don’t relate to the day to day tasks and struggles of an entrepreneur life.

If you’re one of my fellow people that work from home and love what they do–but still struggle with feeling isolated, I have some encouragement for you.

1. You’re not alone

If you are a Christian who has determined to follow Jesus, His Holy Spirit is living inside you.  You are not alone. Learn to tap in to Jesus as a Person that is doing each day with you. Chat with Him. Ask Him how you should respond to a difficult email. He will show up for you. Be comforted by the assurance of His Presence.

2. Try to meet other entrepreneurs

This one can be hard, I know. But take the time to connect with other people who run their own businesses, even if it is only through messaging at first. Invest in in-person meetups or retreats so you can create connections with people that get it. You can bounce ideas off each other (even if it’s just over Voxer!), suggest software or design hacks, and groan about your workload together. The inspiration and joy that comes from knowing other creative entrepreneurs definitely outweighs the initial hurdle of trying to find them.

3. Be with your people

I can’t emphasize it enough (to myself, or to you) how important it is to prioritize your connections locally. It doesn’t matter if they don’t completely understand your everyday work. Take the time to get coffee, have someone over for dinner, or go shopping with someone. If you’re like me, you might find you talk their ear off because you haven’t seen someone all day. (Although hopefully you are with them enough to make this not too much of an issue;)).

4. Stop thinking about yourself

Is this point for me as much as anyone? Yep, it is. I think sometimes if I would just stop thinking about how I feel and instead try to focus on serving my customers, making my husband’s day less stressful, or connecting with a friend from church, I would be 100% less discouraged about how alone I am. It’s an age-old knowledge that if you try to find ways to open up your life to other people and their difficulties, yours will most likely seem smaller and less significant.

Be encouraged, friend! You are not alone. Don’t despair on the days you feel isolated. Be open to connections that you might not be aware of. And please–schedule that overdue coffee date.