You’re in the midst of a crucial work meeting, and you’re about to respond to your boss’ query when you’re interrupted with, ‘Can you get the door? I need to send in this report immediately’. As irritating as this may seem, it’s perhaps what most couples who are co-workingat home, are dealing with. If it’s not the door bell, it’s the telephone or your child’s scheduled break in between his/her online classes. Either way, co-working for most couples is no mean feat.
That said, while most companies are still following their work-from-home protocols, it’s perhaps easier and cohesive to set some ground rules to ensure lesser interruptions, or missed deadlines. Here are 5 simple rules to follow to help you stay sane, and get the job done:
Tell your SO what you need
Nobody is a mind reader so tell your partner exactly what you want and need from them. If you have a separate workspace, which is the best idea if you’re both working from home, make sure your partner knows exactly when it's okay to ask you something and when it’s not. You can create a colour chart that can be placed by your computer, or hung on your chair that lets them know your schedule. Red stands for no interruptions whatsoever; green means you’re free to talk; yellow can indicate you’re busy, but can make time for a quick chat. Of course, you and your partner can choose what a colour can signify.
Check in on each other
On a regular day, when both you and your SO are at work, you’d probably check in on each other every now and then. However, given the fairly intense work schedule even while working from home, you need to make sure you have time for conversation every day. Whether it’s scheduling your breaks at the same time, or stepping out for a quick stroll, make sure you don’t forget your SO during your work day.
Have a designated do not disturb (DND) spot
Remember that annoying interruption by the doorbell from earlier on? We do. Because there's nothing worse than being disrupted when you have your game face on, or that laser focus to meet a deadline. When you know you need to be on point with your work, figure a DND spot at home, or a DND time during the day when interruptions will not be entertained. It could be your bedroom or your balcony—whatever you decide, when you step in, the distractions must step out. Be respectful of this spot, and you and your SO can enjoy a harmonious work day.
Avoid the bedroom at all costs
Unless your bedroom is your designated DND spot, it’s best to steer clear of the bedroom when working from home. After all, you need boundaries even from work and the bedroom needs to be a relaxed place where you just chat, sleep, or be romantic. You wouldn’t want to bring work into the bedroom, so as much as possible, try and avoid that space.
Cut your partner and yourself some slack
Yes, work can get stressful, but remember, you and your partner are in this together. No matter how frustrating work can get, or how unreasonable a co-worker can be, it’s no reason to take it out on your partner. Instead, this would perhaps be a great time to pause, take that well-deserved break, and try to calm yourself instead of snapping at your spouse. Besides, finding the humour in the situation is a great way to cope with a trying situation, so lighten up.