Almost half of America’s businesses, 46%, have their employees working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Has this work from home plan added a whole new dynamic to your household?
Have you had to come up with separate work hours with family partners?
Do you need help navigating this unchartered territory? Keep reading to discover the best strategies for handling and managing the new home office environment now that you work with your spouse.
Working Remotely? Learn How to Work with Your Spouse and Not Drive Each Other Crazy
You surely have had to work with a partner, but living and working with your partner in your home is a whole new level. Throw a couple of kids in there and a dog and something needs to be done to keep everyone sane in this abnormal situation. Let’s look at some ways to keep it all together.
1. Come Up With a Schedule
What time will you each get up, shower, and start work? Will you break for lunch together? Does your work allow you to stick to a schedule or do you need to be more flexible?
Even if you can’t make a strict schedule, some sort of schedule helps especially if you have to share a workspace.
2. Keep Areas of Your Home Work-Free
If you are working in every area of the home, it will start to feel like you’ve never left the office. Having a non-work space is good for your mental and physical health.
3. Stick With a Routine
Who makes the coffee in the morning? Who is going to make sure the kids are completing their distance learning assignments? Who’s walking and feeding the dog?
Pick a routine and stick with it. This way everyone is on the same page. The normal household chores get done and then it’s time to work.
4. Share Your Calendars
Let your spouse look at your calendar for the next day or the next week so they know when you have a conference call or a meeting with your coworkers.
A shared calendar can automatically show what you each have on your agendas.
5. Communication Is Key
Does your spouse talk too loudly on video conferences? Is your partner not respecting your work boundaries? Would it be better if you didn’t work out together, but had a little time apart?
Talk with your spouse about what’s working or not working. Don’t keep things bottled up if you can work together to resolve the issue.
Work Partner
Now that your work partner is suddenly your spouse, you can try these strategies to work with your spouse in a way that operates smoothly for everyone in the home.
If you feel you need to seek counseling, call on Susan Block, marriage and family therapist. Counseling services include marriage, family, and individual counseling. We specialize in couples counseling and anxiety management. Working at home can heighten stress, anxiety, and frustration. Susan can get you back on track.