The Beauty of: Working from Home with your Partner
#WFH is the topical matter of 2020. If you haven’t heard of it yet, I bet you’ve guessed it- Working From Home. Getting your work done from the comfort of your own couch, or bed, or as we like to call it ‘the soft office’, and it may sound like a dream, but if you live with your partner you know it’s not as easy as you imagined. On the plus side, your new coworker won’t make small talk about the weather. Understandably, navigating uncharted waters can be difficult when there is no HR department in your new office space, even more so when you both work on one end of the kitchen table. We’ve taken on the role of HR to set you and your other half on the road to a healthy and productive #WFH lifestyle!
Sharing a workspace and making your home functional with your partner around the clock
SET BOUNDARIES
The first step you’ll want to take is establishing office rules and be specific! This should include anything from setting your work hours (create a shared calendar) to determining a place in the house for conference calls. Clarifying intentional do-not-disrupt hours are beneficial for times when you want to share a funny meme or when a random home renovation idea pops into your mind. Instead, wait until lunch break or a designated small talk time. If the matter is more pressing, consider approaching your partner as you would a coworker, “Do you have a minute?”
CREATE YOUR OWN PERSONAL WORKSPACE
The Hollywood portrayal of you and your lover working across from each other, always locking eyes, is a far cry from The Office romance of Jim and Pam. Sorry to break it to you, but it’s just not productive. If your house allows for it, split up your workspaces. In a perfect world neither of you should set your workspace up in the kitchen- this should remain a neutral area, similar to a break room. But, if you do have to share a room, consider using headphones and building in time frames where you can work alone for maximum productivity.
Becoming a ‘coworker’ or a sounding board for your partner
SUPPORT SYSTEM
Use each other as a resource! Most likely your better half doesn’t understand the inner workings of your career, yet they can offer an outside perspective when dealing with challenging work issues. Even if you don’t like the thought of blending your professional self with your personal life, you might find comfort knowing that your lifeline is not too far away. Plus, there’s no one better to vent to about your boss than someone who loves you unconditionally!
CHECK IN
During the first few weeks, periodically check in with your SO addressing them as you would a colleague or coworker about the new office space. Part of being productive and proactive is understanding what is effective and what isn’t. So ask questions like, “What did and didn’t work for us today? Was it beneficial for us to take the same lunch break? Was it ok that I offered advice for what you were working on? Was I distracting or too noisy?”
Creating new rituals to help make the day productive and healthy
STICK TO A ROUTINE & DO MEANINGFUL THINGS TOGETHER
Once you refine the schedule that works best for both of you, keep it consistent! Don’t underestimate the power of routine. As hard as it is some days, it’s important to take advantage of this time that you don’t normally have together. Take the dog for a mid-day walk (even if you don’t have a dog get some exercise), hold hands like you did when you first started dating. It’s the morning sunrise, sipping coffee on the deck, type of moments with your lover that makes life worth living.
RITUALIZED TRANSITIONS
Blurred lifestyles between the office and home can be one of the most difficult parts of #WFH. Be intentional with transitions throughout the day so your body associates when it’s time for work and when it’s time to relax. Create a distinct understanding by wearing work clothes during work hours, it doesn’t have to be your best pants suit but something other than your sleepwear. At night, change into comfortable clothes to indicate that this space is now your home and time to hangout. Before you go to bed, spend an hour or two doing something you and your partner enjoy doing to decompress from the day. I’ve found the best part about quarantine and our new lives is just how much time I get so spend with my partner! It really solidifies why we’re in a relationship- we’re best friends!
Conclusion
It’s extremely important to understand that this is a marathon and not a sprint, so you and your partner must establish boundaries and maintain routines to get through successfully. Sometimes the silver lining is harder to see in blinding situations but each day you’re learning more and more about your partner on a newfound level. So enjoy the journey and the next time you get asked, “What does your other half do for a living?” You might actually be able to answer. Now that’s something you probably never thought you’d be able to explain!
