Working from Home with a Partner Made Simple

One of the major precautions taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is to limit large gatherings of people. Hence, several companies have taken steps to have their employees work from home.

For people who live with their partners, this may seem less than ideal. The time we spend at work is quite different from the ways we choose to spend our time personally. Mixing the two can stir up tensions and cause rifts in your relationship.

That said, there are ways that you can work home with your partner without losing your mind. Here’s what you need to do.

Set Boundaries

Simply ignoring your partner’s distracting behavior while you work is a recipe for disaster. You need to let them know that it bothers you when they decide to play funny cat videos out loud on their phone while you’re working on an assignment or replying to an email. Don’t be passive-aggressive about this. Be direct.

Designate Areas for the Two of You

What do you do when you both need to take video-conference meetings at the same time? It’s best to plan this ahead and designate areas for the two of you. If one of you is using a desktop computer that can’t be moved from its place, their space is already decided. Sometimes, one of you may have to compromise, so try not to make a fuss about who gets to use which room.

Create a Schedule Together

Not only will devising a schedule help you structure your day better and help you accomplish more, but it’ll also keep you motivated to reach those breaks when you both get to spend a little time together. Try your best to stick to the schedule.

Multitasking: Know When You Can and Cannot Do It

When your partner turns on your favorite TV show or decides to order in the pizza you like so much, it can be hard to concentrate on your work. Some tasks demand more attention than others. It’s a useful strategy to be able to know when you can work with Netflix in the background, and when you can’t. You can structure your work around that accordingly.

If working at home with your partner is more stressful than you anticipated despite following this guideline, it may help to talk to a professional couples’ counselor.

Azizeh Rezaiyan specializes in couples counseling, marriage counseling, anxiety therapy in Palo Alto. She is currently offering a special discount to all individuals, couples, and family counseling clients.

Call her at (650) 206-9973 for a free 20-minute consultation, or book an appointment.