Forum Discussion
Remote working and what it takes
AnnaChu We do have a challenge that if my husband and I both have a wfh day and both have calls, it quickly can irritate each other. While we do have a home office, it was designed to both have a space to be comfortable rather than sit at a dining table on a wfh day. Our desks are in the same room. This space feels small when suddenly one of you is leading a meeting and 1-2m from you!
So recently, with the increase in wfh for both of us, we have setup a break out space. A spare desk, or being able to use one of the kids desks for times when we both are on calls. That keeps the marriage nice 🙂
Otherwise I rely heavily on music and noise cancelling headphones to keep his voice out of my head when I am doing heavy focused work time.
It is key to have boundaries with family and also with work. So often while I am making dinner or in family time he will say "I just have to go write something down" or reply to something. His boundaries are more fluid than mine and I see work slip into family and he is in and out of the home office. I am stronger and drawing a line and ending my work thoughts once the kids are home. It is key to have balance.
MStrant OMG. I haven't even thought of what would happen if my husband has to stay home and we have to shock, horror, SHARE the space. (I think it's only a matter of time. He's already telling me that they've co-ordinated his entire team to spread across regional sites - and some from home - so he doesn't have all the people in the one office). It's a matter of time before he gets ask to stay at home...I think it's time we started to have "a plan"...
- That is a really good point. I did not think about that scenario about multiple people in the same space. I already have that worked out. Our home has a work space for each individual. Though my son and I share a space with two desks. My wife has a desk setup in the lounge (my old closing cabinet I mentioned in the post)
Just think about flexibility and if each of you can move quickly and easily when appropriate.
It is a bit of challenge for sure.
