{"id":182654,"date":"2020-05-29T07:00:36","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T11:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/?p=182654"},"modified":"2024-06-11T19:31:16","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T23:31:16","slug":"coworking-from-home-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/telecommuting-survival\/coworking-from-home-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"Coworking from Home: 9 Tips to Keep Your Relationship Strong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated June 2024<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spending an extra eight hours a day with your romantic partner probably sounds like a dream \u2014 at first. Yet many couples who both work from home find the additional time together can make them lonelier in their relationship than ever before. Why? Quantity over quality. Couples are spending substantial amounts of time together or around one another. As a result, they fail to remember much of their relationship\u2019s health rides on the investment of intentional quality time. If you and your significant other are coworking from home, use these nine tips to keep your relationship strong.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Prioritize Your Relationship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, being together 24\/7 doesn\u2019t always equate to domestic bliss. The good news is that a bit of prioritizing can do wonders for a relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hold a Daily Distraction-Free Time<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/b>Start by giving your significant other at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted time each day without technology or too much conversation about work or kids. Turn off the phones and the Kindle, power down the Netflix, and just hang with your partner. Discuss your daily highs and lows, enjoy a glass of wine, meditate or pray together, or share ways you are grateful for one another. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Spend Lunches Together<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Couples who are coworking from home have the perfect built-in opportunity to invest in their relationship over lunch. You don’t need to schedule lunches together every day if it\u2019s not your preference as a couple or you have other lunchtime obligations. However, sharing one to three lunches a week can boost your connectedness as a couple. Consider using this time to train for a 5K together, discover the best food truck in your city, or work on learning a new language for a trip you plan to take.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Date Your Partner<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/b>Whether you\u2019ve been together 20 days or 20 years, dating keeps a relationship fresh when you’re coworking from home. When you mix work and love, it\u2019s even more important to do everything you can to keep your relationship healthy and fresh. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe the budget\u2019s tight. That\u2019s okay. Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator Jamie C. Williams, Ph.D. stresses in her Huffington Post entry that what\u2019s most important is that couples make <\/span>dating a routine<\/span><\/a>. You don\u2019t need to spend a lot of money to give your partner two-to-four evenings a month of quality time. Schedule these dates into your calendar at the start of the year so they take priority. Some people recommend a couple of date nights a month that alternate with a couple of evenings out. You just have to figure out what\u2019s best for you and your significant other at your stage of life and career.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Having fun with each other is the key to a healthy marriage, and the best gift we\u2019ll give our kids is two parents who love each other for a lifetime.” – Jamie C. Williams, Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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2. Get Creative with Your Spaces<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When couples work from home, individualism can suffer. Before long, you’re tired of each other. <\/span>For this type of situation, space and personal freedom can be a relationship-saver, even if you have to create it yourself. Here are a few ways that partners who both work remotely can create some physical space and, consequently, keep their emotional connection from imploding. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Go All Out for Your Home Office<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Create separate office spaces at home to maintain a happy relationship and a productive work environment. While not all couples have the square footage to accommodate each person with a full-sized office, the more your spaces reflect characteristics of typical offices \u2014 such as having a door \u2014 the better. Not only do you want to develop separate spaces, but also build them as far from each other as possible. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of how small each office area is, give each space boundaries, like a sign outside that lists your \u201coffice hours.\u201d Also, have an understanding that work remains in these office spaces only. Don\u2019t move clutter from the living areas of your home into an office to make it appear cleaner for guests or because you\u2019re not sure where to store it. And remember, you’re only as productive as your equipment. Add the right mix of office accessories<\/a> to take your efficiency to the next level.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore Your City<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/b>If you\u2019re starting to get on each other\u2019s nerves during the workday, consider switching it up a bit. On your own, one day a week, explore your city to find your favorite remote work location. This could be a coffee shop, park, library, mall, or wherever else you can find a Wi-Fi signal and a satisfactory work environment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Put up the Money for a Coworking Space<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coworking spaces may cost a pretty penny<\/a>, but finding one both you and your significant other agree on and can alternate spending your days at might just create the space each of you needs to keep your relationship from going up in smoke. Discuss and agree on a budget for a coworking space in your area. Decide on specific amenities each of you need\/want, and begin your hunt for the ideal space.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admittedly, not everyone can afford a fancy coworking space with all the high-end amenities. If you need to give your partner a breather, desk rental agencies such as ShareDesk offer desk spaces at a lower cost. These work great for times when you could use a space outside the home for a few hours or days. Alternatively, you could also reach out to companies locally, ask if they have desks they\u2019re open to renting, and negotiate a price from there. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Understand Your Personality Type and Love Language<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taking time to investigate both you and your partner\u2019s personality types, how they fit together, and potential issues between the two can help create a healthier foundation for your relationship and prevent conflict. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tests like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator<\/a> can provide insight on whether you are extroverted or introverted. Many people misunderstand these terms to mean whether one is outgoing or shy. Yet they actually have very little to do with these qualities. Introversion and extroversion have to do with the way we recharge, whether we get our energy from being alone or around others. Understanding what personality type means for the amount of alone time you or your significant other need as well as the level at which you both need social interaction allows you to create healthy plans and routines<\/a> that should decrease the chances of misunderstandings and miscommunication.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bring on the Romantic Connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With a new outlook on how the gears of your partner’s mind work, conflicts are less likely to escalate. Additionally, certain personality tests can give you a better idea of what your partner needs from you in the <\/span>romantic facet<\/span><\/a> of your relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way to gain a better grasp on what your partner needs from you or how to recognize when they\u2019re showing they care (even when it doesn\u2019t seem that way), is to go through marriage counselor Dr. Gary Chapman\u2019s New York Times bestseller, <\/span>The 5 Love Languages<\/span><\/a>. In his book, Chapman discusses five ways people prefer to receive love, and the ways they naturally give it.\u00a0People with different personalities express love in a myriad of ways. Once you identify you and your partner\u2019s love languages through a quiz, Chapman provides ideas for how to better show one another love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Remember Office Hours Matter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Choose office hours and stick to them. If possible, keep similar hours to your partner. Since most people who work remotely end up working more hours than average, commit to starting and ending work at a certain time. When your office hours end, your laptop shouldn\u2019t join you in the kitchen or living room. Neither should your work phone. If your personal cell is connected to your work email, turn off its notifications in the evenings. Shift your focus to your significant other or any evening activities you have scheduled. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. Coworking from Home? Dress for Work!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may work in a virtual office, but hygiene and dress are still important. Believe it or not, your poor personal hygiene and image can <\/span>negatively impact your partner\u2019s productivity<\/span><\/a> levels. In addition, staying in your pajamas all day might sound fun, but doing so can mess with your head. Night clothes prevent your brain from switching to work mode, and you may struggle to focus. As for your own work, poor personal hygiene can make you appear unprofessional in regular video meetings. Waking up, showering, and dressing up for work reminds our brain what our task is at that time. We\u2019re not in adventure mode or sleep mode. We\u2019re focused on completing our daily work goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. Have a Plan for Dealing With Conflicts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since disagreements and frustration are inevitable when partners are coworking remotely, you need to plan how you intend to address the dissonance. While you may have your own ideas, here are some basic guidelines to get you started:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n