How to Share A Home Office With Your Partner

Are you working from home and feeling unfocused and overcrowded? This article will go over ways to share a home office with your partner. Since the start of the pandemic, many families feel more cramped. That is with 2 adults working and children doing virtual learning from home. Things are especially tight if you need to share your workspace with your partner.

In addition, this may be the first time you’ve seen their work habits up close. Or maybe you counted how many dirty coffee cups they leave laying around. Even if you’re used to having an office mate, it’s a different experience when you don’t say goodbye and go your separate ways at the end of the day. Protect your relationship and your productivity by mastering these updated rules for couples who share a home office.

Next Up: Tips For Setting Up Your Shared Workspace

1. Divide your space: Each of you will probably need your own desk or workstation. It will help you to stay out of each other’s way and reduce distractions. There will be less risk of accidentally carrying off each other’s files or losing items.
2. Separate your stuff: Figure out which supplies and equipment you can share and which you’ll need for yourself alone. You can probably save money by having one printer and shredder. On the other hand, you may need your own phone line and storage space.
3. Enable privacy: How will you handle tasks that require quiet and concentration? Maybe you can write or attend Zoom meetings in your sunroom or kitchen. Maybe try facing your desks away from each other. Face your chair away from busy walkways.
4. Create ambience: Design your office for maximum comfort and cheer. Buy comfortable and ergonomically correct furniture. Display some plants, artwork and/or photos.
5. Minimize clutter: At the same time, open space and tidy surfaces are more relaxing, so be selective about your furnishings. Cleaning up after yourself helps too.
6. Stagger your schedules: If possible, work different hours from your partner. That way you can count on some privacy for at least part of the day.
7. Get Organized: Have a place for everything, with most used items within easy grasp.

Etiquette for Sharing Your Home Office:

1. Establish boundaries: Planning ahead will avoid many conflicts, but you’ll still need ground rules.
2. Talk things over: Resolve minor annoyances promptly to keep them from escalating. Be open to compromises and keep your sense of humor.
3. Find Win-Win Solutions: Maybe your partner needs background music to work and you need peace and quiet. Consider one of you wearing headphones. Volume levels are one of the most common challenges in any shared space. Noise cancelling headphones may help you keep the peace. You may also need headsets if you make a lot of phone calls.
4. Stay focused: Maintain balance by using your home office for work and dealing with personal matters elsewhere. Save personal conversations for after hours. Remove distractions, such as facing the t.v. away, or hiding the remotes.
5. Take breaks together: While sharing an office with your partner takes some effort, it can also be a lot of fun. Drink your morning coffee on your patio. Take your dog to the park at lunchtime for a long walk or run some errands together.
6. Be considerate: Overall, treat your partner with respect and courtesy. It’s easy to drift into taking each other for granted, so remember what you like about them. Show your appreciation and look for ways to make their life easier.

There are many advantages to working from home, and the trend will continue long after lockdowns and quarantines end. Implementing these strategies will minimize the stress of working at home amongst distractions. Learning to share office space will help you and your partner to enjoy your relationship and your remote work experience.

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