Work Friendships: Are they Really Possible?

One of the most concerning issues for global youth right now must be the epidemic of depression. 

The search for meaning is endless, and feels like each day is getting harder, as the ability to understand our needs in the modern world has become quite limited too. 

Connecting and remaining close to loved ones has become a challenge on its own, and it’s ironic, as we have all the means possible to reach out to our family and friends, but instead, these means – the technology and social media, are instead tearing us apart. 

We think we’re remaining connected, but a like on Facebook or Instagram does not compare to the much appreciated question: How are you?

This is where friendships come in, and provide most of us with a bit more joyful perspective, knowing that we’re living in a difficult era, yet, we’re not all alone and we have one, or if we’re really lucky, two friends that miss us throughout the day. 

We might have met them during early school years, when we were very different people , at college, at a bar or at work. 

But does it matter? I can notice a general misconception from people, that when it comes down to people they meet at work, they think that they can’t possibly go anywhere beyond a relationship with colleagues. 

Even when they’re able to perfectly comprehend each other, talk for hours, and enjoy each other’s company – they think that only work is what keeps these folks together. For some cases, this is true. Especially if you hate your job! 

Making Memories

You will surely want to remove any sort of memory you have of your colleagues once you get home. 

However, sometimes, you just might be lucky enough to find a similar mindset to yours, a soul that gets your vibe, and a person who genuinely listens, even within the working place environment.

And to my opinion, it does not matter at all that the friendship has been brought to life in a working environment. Yes, you may have toxicity there, yes, you may not like where you work and you may find the work you do very superficial, but that does not mean that all of the people who work there are superficial too. 

We make friends in places we spend most of our time at, and each place we spend our time is proportionate to our age. 

Say, we made friends during school years because we were there five times per week, for nine years straight, at minimum. 

We saw the same people and were surrounded with them for many hours a day, just like we are surrounded by colleagues eight hours a day, five times a week now that we’ve reached adulthood. 

We pick up from them, and it only comes naturally to share bits of our lives with them, just like it’s natural for them to share bits of their lives with us. 

This sharing sometimes becomes too strong, and we start relying on our work friend just like we would rely on a friend whom we have met in other circumstances. 

Work is not a barrier. On the opposite, it only means that you have one more thing in common and more daily dynamics to share with one-another.

From Colleagues to Friends

It is really simple really, to understand when the relationship you have with a co-worker becomes more meaningful, and you can finally call that person a friend. 

I think there is a pretty obvious bold line of things you usually share with co-workers and things you share with friends. If you find yourself constantly talking about work, with your ‘work friend’, then you can still consider him or her to be your colleague. 

This means that there is nothing else that connects you, and that your working environment is the only thing you have in common.

However, if you notice that you rely on your work friend for more private conversations, if you share daily life concerns, dynamics of your relationships with other people outside the office, and if you find yourself spending your free time with them – then you’re definitely headed to a great friendship. 

Except that, you can also tell when you start to understand one another’s feelings, thoughts about certain topics and people, and you know each other’s judgement before they even start saying something. 

In that case, blessed thy shall be, because friends are gold, no matter at what stage of life you meet them.

What do you think of multitasking? Is it a good thing or not?

Is Multitasking Really A Good Thing?

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