How do I cope with a job that keeps me away and leaves me lonely?

Your schedule has no rhythm, you miss the birthdays and the ordinary evenings that make up a life, and somehow you feel alone even though you are surrounded by people all day. That particular loneliness, crowded and empty at once, is real and hard, and you are right to take it seriously rather than brush it off. Being around people is not the same as being known, and that gap is what aches. So you have to build real connection on purpose, because the job scatters it. Reach out to the people who matter even when you are away, a call, a message, a small ritual that reminds them and you that the bond is still there. And nurture the friendships among the people who live this odd life with you. They understand it in a way others can't. For the moments you keep missing, find ways to stay woven into the important ones even from a distance, and be fully present for the ones you can make. Quality can partly stand in for quantity when you are intentional about it. Ask yourself honestly, too, how long this schedule serves the life you actually want. For now, fight the loneliness actively. It does not have to be the price of the work.