During the pandemic, almost half of British citizens worked from home. Couples spent more time together than ever before because they were forced to work under the same roof at the same time. For some couples, this was a dream come true - especially if ordinarily their work interferes with their relationship. For others, it was an immense challenge, both logistically and emotionally.
If you are working from home with your partner this year, there are ways you can both enjoy the space and be as productive as you would be in the office. Here are some tips and tricks we’d like to share with you.
Setting your schedules
It is easy to assume that our partner knows our schedule. And when it comes to personal matters, this might be the case. But they are unlikely to know or understand your work schedule unless you tell them. If you have a daily morning meeting, tell them when this is and what you need to attend it. For example, do you require the use of the quiet spare room? Do you need them to watch the children during this time? Do you need to borrow their microphone? Talk to your partner about your typical work schedule and give them an overview of your day. Also, ask your partner to do the same. This way, you can sync up (where possible) and help each other to achieve the best results at work.
Ask family to help
If you have a support network, now is the time to utilize it. Grandparents, parents and friends can help you if you need childcare or favors. If you have children, you might ask their grandma to take them to the park at a particular time so that you and your spouse can knuckle down and work. If your child has a best friend, you can ask the parents of that best friend to take your child for an hour after school - and offer to do the same in return at a convenient time.
Don’t treat it like a weekend
Who your partner is during the week might differ from what you’re used to at the weekend. If you are used to seeing them laughing and joking, watching films, listening to music or seeing friends, you should not expect them to be exactly the same as this when working from home. They are in ‘professional mode’, and need to remain that way to get their work done.
Set up your own workspaces
If you both try to work from bed, you’re going to get into a muddle very quickly. Paperwork, work phones, laptop chargers - they all get in the way. You need your own designated workspace - and so does your partner. This is where setting up a home office can help. A home office needn’t be big, fancy or anything special. In fact, you can easily have more than one home office at an affordable price and without taking up much space. Thanks to ergonomic designs, you can have a discreet and comfortable desk, an ergonomic office chair and handy desk accessories without breaking the bank. Take a look at what we have at Flexispot.
Have lunch together
It can be nice to meet your partner for lunch - and when you both work from home, it is easy! Agree to work for x number of hours in peace, and then meet in the kitchen at a specified time for a cosy lunch together. This can be a lovely way to unwind, hear about each other’s workloads and laugh together before returning to your jobs.
Take a breather
There is no doubt about it. Working together from home can be tough. If you are beginning to argue - which can happen when two people are in close proximity for lengthy periods, take a break. Go and have a bath, take a stroll around the block or simply put your headphones in and zone out for 20 minutes. Taking this breather can prevent arguments and stop resentments from building. Make sure you also communicate with your partner if you are feeling stressed or having a bad day at work, as this will help them to be more sensitive to your needs.
Flexispot Can Help
Harmony at home during working hours can be achieved. One way of doing this is to bring ergonomic furniture into the home to create a shared workspace. A shared workspace that is comfortable, professional and modern can make all the difference to your working day, without disrupting the look and feel of your household.
Ergonomic furniture provided by Flexispot includes office chairs, desks, accessories, storage and anti fatigue mats - and much much more. Head over to our website to check out the latest range of home office supplies.
