The importance of finding social hobbies outside of work cannot be stressed enough. However, if you are not in the lucky situation of having a partner for whom

The importance of finding social hobbies outside of work cannot be stressed enough. However, if you are not in the lucky situation of having a partner for whom you feel responsible (e.g. by regularly doing things together, stopping work together, or even just having a conversation over dinner), it becomes way too easy to get sucked into a spiral of not going out and seeing people, and not even feeling like you want to. I have had times when I was working alone for extended periods of time, at which I felt lucky to even be able to talk to a cashier while shopping for food. That alone however didn't automatically motivate me to go out and seek friends or activities. It's way too easy to forget taking care of your mental health in such a state. Ultimately, public health systems and employment laws should take care of people by providing counseling and paid mental health days.