It's definitely an issue, and one that can be difficult to overcome. Since I'm splitting my time between my full time job, and working on Appleseed almost full time in the off hours, the last year has been short on social interaction, and I've felt the effects. That Oatmeal comic really hit home a few months ago when I went to a party a few months ago and found myself feeling very socially awkward. Not nervous, just a little bit clueless about what to do and how to do it.
I'm a very social person, so it was a little bit jarring how quickly those skills could atrophy.
But there are remedies. Scheduling social time is important, and not seeing as "wasted" time, but an actually necessary task for your mental health. Working in coffee shops when you need to, going for walks when taking breaks, etc. And going to a co-working space once in a while doesn't hurt.
It's definitely an issue, and one that can be difficult to overcome. Since I'm splitting my time between my full time job, and working on Appleseed almost full time in the off hours, the last year has been short on social interaction, and I've felt the effects. That Oatmeal comic really hit home a few months ago when I went to a party a few months ago and found myself feeling very socially awkward. Not nervous, just a little bit clueless about what to do and how to do it.
I'm a very social person, so it was a little bit jarring how quickly those skills could atrophy.
But there are remedies. Scheduling social time is important, and not seeing as "wasted" time, but an actually necessary task for your mental health. Working in coffee shops when you need to, going for walks when taking breaks, etc. And going to a co-working space once in a while doesn't hurt.