Here are our best tips for coworking with your spouse without driving each other crazy!
I talked my husband Christian into joining me on my channel today to talk about how we share our workspace. We are used to working together in small spaces – we traveled the US in an RV together for over a year while both of us worked full time, and we now share an office space in our home as well.
1. Go over your schedules at the beginning of the day so you’re on the same page. You could also do this the night before if that works better for your routine! As a business owner, I have more control over my call schedule than Christian, but if you can get on the same page as much as possible, that’s helpful. If we have calls at the same time, one of us moves out of the office to the dining room table.
2. Let each other know when your next call/meeting is starting so your partner can prepare. Since I’m a video editor, I often have the sound playing from my computer which means I use headphones when Christian is on his calls. Also, we try to be quiet when the other person is on a call, so a 10 minute heads up to do a snack refill or whatever is helpful!
3. Use good, comfortable headphones (passive noise canceling at minimum or get the foam earbud tips). This is pretty self-explanatory!
4. Batch your meals ahead of time as much as possible – this helps us stay on task during the workday. We like a big batch of stew or chili in the Instant Pot for lunches all week or a giant batch of spaghetti sauce makes an easy dinner. Christian is usually the cook for the house, but we try to keep things flexible if either of us has a later workday.
5. If your schedules align, eat lunch together (but set a timer if you need to stay focused!). We rarely do this, but to be honest, a perk of being at home is you do get to choose to spend time together! OR set boundaries on your alone time + stagger your lunchtimes if that works better for you.
6. Take an afternoon break together to walk around the block, reconnect + get fresh air. The best perk of coworking, for sure. It’s harder in the wintertime but generally the afternoon is the warmest part of the day! So it’s nice to take a screen break even if it’s just a lap around the block.
7. Tell your partner they look good even when they’re working in PJs all-day + don’t judge the Zoom Meeting Style Mullet.
8. We love the Electronic Focus playlist on Spotify or some ambient noise. If neither of us is on calls, we like putting on a playlist in the background. This always adds a boost to the workday!
9. Give yourself permission to not feel like you have to talk to your partner when you’re focusing on work, do the same for them. We spend a large part of the workday ignoring each other (nicely) so that we can focus on work while we’re working. That way, we also maximize the amount of time we have to enjoy each other’s company while NOT working.
10. That being said, take the opportunity of being together to say “I love you” a lot. And also bring them snacks. This is one of the best perks of coworking with your spouse, so enjoy it!
Do you have any other great work from home tips for when you’re coworking with your spouse? How do you navigate a shared working space with a significant other? Comment below to let us know!
