Tips for Staying Sane While Working From Home With Your Partner (or Roommates)

I work from home on a daily basis (yes, before COVID-19). My husband and I are both lucky enough not to have standard 9-5 office jobs, but he does work three to four days a week outside of our home. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, my husband and I now both work from home.

Before, I used to say I didn’t want him to go to work and that I wanted him to stay home with me. Now, I've got what I wished for.

I love my husband and I love that he gets to work from home with me, although, of course, the circumstances leading to this change are certainly not something to celebrate. Plus, we live in an open-floor plan apartment (the only separate rooms are our bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room). As you can imagine, this creates some conflict when it comes to working together.

Tens of thousands of couples (or more!) are being forced into the same situation as ours right now, many who share studio apartments and simply don’t have separate workspaces.

An estimated 56 percent of Americans have jobs that can at least be partially performed remotely. How can you navigate this new life? Here are some tips for staying sane while working from home with your partner or roomies!

Communicate

Communication is the key to a long marriage…so my community college psychology professor said. But communication is also essential in the workplace, and your communication needs to be adjusted based on the demands you’re facing to be effective.

Now that your home is your workplace too, it’s time to communicate with the people who live with you about what they can expect from you as well as what you need from them when it comes to your new home office.

You have to be clear about what you need. For example, if you have a call at the same time every day, let everyone know that you expect quiet during this time. If you need privacy during your set work hours, let your roomies know they can’t come knocking on your door (or walking into your designated office space) asking if you want Chipotle for the fourth time that week. 

If you have to, write down your schedule or a short list of rules and tape it to the fridge or someplace everyone will see it. Does that seem dictator-ish? Maybe. But you’ll thank me when you finally have some distraction-free work time.

If You Can, Have Separate Work Areas

I know how challenging it can be to have “separate” work areas when you live in a studio or just have a tiny bedroom and a larger open space to share with your roomies or partner. How do you choose where to work?

If you have space, try to set up a work area that’s just for you. It doesn’t have to be huge, but try to make it your own. Put a favorite item that makes you smile on your desk. Face your work area toward a window or near plants (did you know research shows bringing plants into your workplace can improve productivity, concentration, and satisfaction?). 

It’s important to bring some happiness to your space, but it’s also important to have a space for all your things and to create some order among the chaos that is everybody’s life right now.

Create a Protocol for Calls

Phone calls and video calls are a reality when working from home (and even for some people who don’t work from home on a regular basis, of course). When you and your partner or roommates are all working from home, having a protocol in place for calls can help ease your stress and make things easier for everyone.

Come up with a plan so that you’re not scrambling to get rid of your hubby in his boxer shorts in the background when a video call comes in unexpectedly. Discuss the protocol with your partner so that you each know what to do should you suddenly (or even not suddenly) have to do a call.

Designate Breaks

My husband and I like to spend time together on our breaks, whether we’re sipping our tea and coffee together, having a snack, or spending some time outside with our animals. Coordinating breaks can be immensely helpful.

Did you know that research shows it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back on track from a task once you’ve been interrupted? Ideally, once you get in your workflow, you don’t want anyone interrupting you, even if it’s for a good reason (such as a snack). 

If it’s helpful to you, discuss potential break times and schedule a few so that you’re both on the same page and working distraction-free for the remainder of your work hours.

Invest in Some Good Headphones

Some people can’t work while listening to music, which is entirely understandable (I can write while listening to music but need absolute silence for editing).

If you’re one of those people that can get work done while listening to music, consider investing in good headphones to block out the distractions that occur when you aren't the only one home.

Headphones are a must at my place where, between my husband and I and our six rescued pets, someone is always making noise. I love my Bose headphones—they weren't cheap but have held up well for nearly 12 years now!

Stick to a Routine

It can be unsettling when your daily routine is disrupted. If you were going to work every day and had a set schedule, and now suddenly you aren’t, it can be tempting to just sit around in your pajamas all day eating junk food. 

Trust me, you’ll feel better if you get dressed and get some work done. Plus, studies show that the clothes we wear can influence our psychological mindset.

You can take time to adjust to your life during the COVID-19 epidemic, but don’t get lost in the world of endless sweats and online shopping. Stick to a routine, and do your best to stay productive. It’ll feel good even if you’re out of work and can only get a couple of things done around the house!

For those of you who are out of work, sulking seems like the best option right now, I know. But take this time to get a fresh perspective on things. What have you been putting off that you’ve been needing to do? Whether it’s organizing your desk or considering a career move, use this time wisely!

Remember to Still Have Fun!

While there are stay-at-home orders in place for most states right now, you can still have fun with your partner or your roommates even if life feels challenging in the moment. Whether you have an inopportune girls’ night with your roomies or schedule a romantic dinner with your significant other, remember to still have fun during this whole thing. One day, we’ll look back on this and wonder how we got through it, but until then—stay home, stay safe, and stay productive!