Many people in my circles right now aren’t freaking out about working from home. We’re used to this! Our everyday life, now that we’ve had to think about it, looks suspiciously like being quarantined already.
The problem is, for some of you, that you’re not just working from home anymore. You’re working from home with others in your home at the same time.
You’re no longer alone, working from home.
That’s awesome – BYE ISOLATION-INDUCED DEPRESSION!
Anddd it’s crazy-making.
So here are 7 tips for working from home with others in your space:
- Blame it on your “co-worker”
Come up with a name for your imaginary co-worker that keeps leaving dirty coffee cups everything and cabinet doors wide open. So then you can blame it on Cheryl and not be at each other’s throats all day long.
Credit: Molly Tolsky on Twitter @mollytolsky - Take breaks outside together
We’re all “cooped up” inside, but we really don’t have to be. Walk, run, just go sit on your porch for a few minutes together. Choose 2-3 times a day to schedule this into your schedules and make it happen. - Create separate workspaces
Unless you have lots of practice working with your S.O. and kids around, don’t fool yourself into thinking you all can just be happy together in the same room for the next 3+ weeks. Designate separate workspaces and stick to them. - Create intentional conversation
After a few hours of heads-down work, get up, move around, go find your housemate(s) and ask them questions about their day, how they’re feeling, what they’re thinking about, what their favorite Power Ranger is, whatever. Talk it out. - Make a sign system to indicate when you’re working and when you’re not
“On a call” and “come on in” signs do wonders for everyone involved. Let the kids have their own signs, too, during school hours. Great example here, from @jacq_fisch on Instagram. - Stick to your usual routines
The more you stick to your usual routine, the more everyone else will fall in line, respect you, and create their own. - Soak it up – this is a gift.
Did you find this helpful? If so, share it out to fellow work-from-home entrepreneurs who might be drowning a bit right now. We’re all in this together, y’all.