Since the first UK lockdown many couples have found themselves working from home, which brings a range of challenges that affect us all in different ways.
You might be one of the many couples who overnight found themselves working from home together – and that’s still the reality years on.
Perhaps you’re looking longingly at the couples who are now back to some kind of ‘normal’, working away from home with some sense of routine returned, wishing that were you too. Maybe you’re wishing you had the house to yourself and that your partner’s working from home agreement would magically cease to exist.
If you were used to working alone at home, having someone else share, and still be sharing, your space all day may be quite a challenge. The joys of having more time together or being able to share a lunch break may have faded a little by now, and it may even be that previously defined roles at home don’t seem fair anymore.
However you’re feeling, know that you’re certainly not alone. So many households around the country, and even across the world, have been going through similar situations to you. Experts say that even the strongest of relationships have been put under strain, and it’s not surprising given the circumstances over the past few years.
Here are a few ideas that may help to ease some of the pressure of working from home together:
Respect each other’s ways of working
Some of us love to work with music on, while others need complete silence to be productive. It can be hard to meet each other’s needs when they’re different from ours. Investing in (or asking your employer for) noise-cancelling headphones may help, as would being creative with where you work, or having a plan in place for break times.
Set clear boundaries for work and home time
Some couples will need to pack their work area away each day, because they’re working at the dining table, while for others it may mean shutting the office door and intentionally not checking emails after hours. Whatever it looks like for you, separating work and home will have a positive impact on day-to-day life.
Forward planning
If you know you can’t be disturbed during an important meeting and you’re expecting a parcel to be delivered which needs signing for, try and let your partner know in advance. This will be especially important if you’re also juggling childcare or school runs. Shared calendars or a quick conversation about the next day can be helpful in preventing last minute panic.
Household duties
As with many other things, household duties may well have changed. What was once something that your partner did, may now be easier for you to complete. Or due to your conflicting schedules, something that used to be left to chance, may now need to be planned in advance. Roles at home naturally change during different seasons of life. Being aware of this and taking time to talk about it can help put you both on the same page, avoiding a build-up of resentment or stress.
Be kind
The past few years have not been easy for anyone, and we’re all impacted in different ways. We’ll each have good days and days where we need a little more love and support. Kindness costs us nothing but speaks volumes to our partner. Looking for little ways to show each other that you see and value them can make an enormous difference, turning a tough day into a much brighter one.
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