With no commute, flexible schedules, and the comfort of your own space, working from home can be a dream. However, when your partner also works from home, it can be a balancing act, one that presents more challenges than meets the eye. It isn’t impossible for two adults in different industries to share a space and a home, but it does require intention, compromise, and communication. Here are six practical ways to successfully share your work environment with your partner.
1. Make your office space work for both of you
Everyone has their preferences, some can handle mess and chaos, others most certainly cannot, they prefer a minimalist approach to their workspace. If you and your partner share office or designated space where business is intended to take place, work together to make it a space you both enjoy and a space that is highly functional. It’s one thing to share an office space with a co-worker, whom you may grow irritated with, it’s another thing to share a space with a partner whom you are committed to outside of your work. Ensuring your office is a utilitarian space solves a multitude of problems and makes room for you both to produce your best work.
2. Respect each other’s business
Despite the earned income or magnitude of each other’s business, your work and your partner’s work matters. Both deserve respect. In every conversation, it’s imperative to speak of the other’s work as dignified and worthwhile. If you or your partner feel the other believes their work is more valuable or important, resentment will build between you. Since relationships thrive on love and respect, it’s imperative to always speak and treat your partner’s home business with high regard.
3. Commit to clear communication
Shared calendars and weekly check-ins detailing workload, out of town meetings, or nightly commitments can prevent miscommunication and set clear expectations of what each other can anticipate for the week ahead. Allowing your partner and other household members to know when you are available and when you are not is key to making it work. This cuts down on interruptions, missed events, and mitigates potential arguments over one of your most valuable possessions, your time.
4. Set aside time to help one another
If one of you excels in marketing, bookkeeping, or IT, offer your expertise to your partner to build his or her business. While this doesn’t necessitate your working together all the time, it can be beneficial to have in-house expertise in an area in which you desire your business to flourish. Learning from your partner requires humility, trust, patience, and an understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. When you choose to assist one another, keep the goal at the center of your work and clearly define how and when he or she will help you. You both win when each of you is satisfied with the growth of your business.
5. Determine well-defined time off
Working from home should never mean you are always working especially at the expense of quality time with your partner. Even the most well-rounded individual can fall into the trap of overworking for the sake of getting ahead without realizing the sacrifice of rest and refreshment one has made. However, time off rejuvenates your mind, body, and soul. Regular periods of rest boost creativity and productivity. Whether it’s a trip to Europe or a walk around the neighborhood after lunch, time off to rest on your own, with your partner, and household members is necessary and vital for a thriving life and business.
6. Leave your bitterness at the office door
When you and your partner work from home, you are likely around each other more than the average couple. This can be an advantage and a disadvantage. Whatever emotional, financial, or stress-related issues present in your personal relationship can easily bleed into your workday since you both share space during office hours. However, to assure that your partner is able to do his or her best work, it’s wise to leave your bitterness or frustration at the home office door in order for your partner to focus on business. A frustrated emotional partner choosing to interrupt the workday would derail anyone attempting to work at home. While it may seem insensitive to request a later time in the day to work through personal issues, requesting a defined time outside of work hours creates a hyper-focused time where both parties are able to put work aside and focus on the relationship.
Working from home while your partner simultaneously works from home might be a juggling act, nevertheless, the benefit of a supportive partner under the same roof while you work can be one of your greatest rewards.
