How To Successfully Work From Home With Your Spouse

In the beginning, working from home with your spouse can be exciting. Is that excitement going to last forever? Here are some tips on how to successfully work at home with your partner, to maintain your relationship and your career. 

We have all shared workspace in new ways in the last three months than many of us expected us to. Some with our whole families, some alone, and some with their spouses. Each situation comes with its pros and cons, adjustments, and excitement. We've spent time talking about how to set up your own home office and how to make the most of your space. But, what happens if that space is not entirely yours? Sharing a workspace with a spouse can be challenging, but thankfully if you put in the time and effort, it doesn't have to be. 

From the moment you entered the serious stages of your relationship, we're sure you started hearing the age-old saying that relationships, to be successful, take work. It's no surprise to any working professional that this saying applies to any relationship, personal or private. You need to cultivate and work hard for any connection to be a successful one. As many of us continue to work from home and to deal with this transition, we have to cultivate a healthy working relationship with our spouses. This might be something you never thought you'd have to do, but even with this new necessity, these tips and suggestions can make your professional and private lives equally as happy under the same roof. To make this a successful working relationship on top of your personal one, you need to make sure you're taking positive steps in this transition together. Acknowledge that this is going to be difficult, and could even get a lot harder. If you're both dedicated to making it work and supporting one another to make sure that each of you succeeds in your workday, it will work out. 

• One of the very first things to remember to do is to communicate and communicate well. Talk about what your schedules will be like every day, when phone calls or video conference calls will be happening, when your work days end and begin, and what worked during the previous day and what didn't. If there are any issues, make sure to address them right away, and work on ways to fix it. Communication about your professional needs and what you need from one another is a must. Being able to structure your day so there isn't a fight about who uses the bathroom first, who takes care of the children or pets, when break times are lunch is happening, and when happy hour starts are also all very important. Giving structure to your new environment and schedule is a huge key to success while working at home together. 
• If you're living in a studio apartment or a four-bedroom home, make sure to have designated and separate workspaces. As fun as it might have been in the beginning to work together, that might not last forever. Pick a space, if you can't be in separate rooms, where phone calls and video calls can happen without interruption. Investing in a part of noise-canceling headphones can be a lifesaver. Make sure that you both have the proper equipment that you need to be successful and don't have to worry about sharing. A printer is easy to share, but a laptop, computer, or iPad is not. Don't forget to stock up on pens, paper, and other supplies while you're nesting into your office. There will be no supply manager to speak to if there's an issue. 
• Treat your time and your schedule as similarly as you would if you would be back in the office. Wake up at the same time, spend time getting reading, working out, and eating breakfast. Use what was once your commuting time to be productive; read, listen to a podcast, study up on something new. Give yourself time to be alone and to be away from your partner. Be just as respectful to your partner and give them their own time, too. If you can schedule breaks and lunchtimes together to still make your day special, do it! Don't forget to carve out time after your workday that is just for you and your spouse or you and the whole family where you don't talk about work. Personal hours and relaxation are just as important as your working hours. 
• Communication is key, but there can be a limit to that. During working hours, work should be the topic of conversation. Leave personal issues at the doorway of the workday. Don't bring those into your work environment or put them on your spouse during work hours. Wait until the workday is over to handle any personal situations. 
• Remember that your partner is not your coworker (unless they are!). While you're working together, don't assume it's a great or productive idea to take up their work time to chat about your coworkers, your frustrations, or have them help with every project. This isn't to say that you can't do this from time to time, but don't abuse that relationship between the two of you. 

We urge you both to recognize together that this is going to be a change, and it's going to be hard. But, you WILL get through it. Take the time to nurture your relationship together and apart. Work hard to cheer on one another and to support one another's careers. Let this be another important milestone in your career and your relationship, and push to come out strong. Don't forget! If you're looking for the best tax accountant in Summerville, the best tax services in Summerville, the best Quickbooks services in Summerville, and the best payroll services in Summerville, we are still here for you. Tax season may be over for some and just starting for others, and we will be here for you no matter what!