When you work remotely as an editor (and I would imagine in any other profession), you run the risk of experiencing burnout due to isolation.

Burnout and isolation can each impact your productivity and your mental health each by themselves. But together, they can be disastrous to your work and even lead to physical problems.

So how to avoid these monsters if you are an editor who works remotely?

One of the most effective things I did was to join a couple of professional editing organizations, specifically the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and the American Copy Editors Society (ACES). I immediately began to network with the other members through email, and then through Zoom. Eventually, I attended an in-person EFA conference in 2023 and a virtual ACES conference in 2025. (I would have loved to attend more of these, but fiscal realities demanded that I hold off on that. I do plan to attend more in the future as my finances will allow.)

“How did you know with whom to start networking?” you may ask. When I was a new member of the EFA, for example, I searched its directory for editors who lived in the same state as I do. I looked at their profiles and contacted the members who worked on scientific material, like I do. I politely introduced myself and said something like, “I see that you edit scientific manuscripts. I do as well.” I have made a few good contacts through this.

Another strategy I employed in order to avoid burnout due to isolation was to use social media, specifically LinkedIn. Right now, LinkedIn is the only platform I use. I was on Facebook for nine years and left in 2017; I was sick of the political garbage and whiny complaining, among other things. Some people say that gathering connections on LinkedIn is akin to collecting baseball cards. In a way, this is true, but as long as you post at least once a week and make several comments a week on other people’s posts, you become visible and known.

Don’t forget to get outside and do things other than work!

If you are an editor who works remotely, what do you do to avoid isolation and burnout?