Tips for Working at Home With Your Spouse During COVID-19

People across the United States suddenly find themselves working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and perhaps even more stressful in some circumstances, working from home alongside a partner. While there might have been an initial novelty to this, it likely wore off quickly, and could become the source of tension in your relationship.

There are steps you can take to minimize or eliminate potential tension as a result of you both working from home. Here are a few tips for you to try:

• Take a few minutes in the morning together: Try to get up around the same time each morning and perform your morning routines. Talk over breakfast or coffee about the schedule you have for the coming day so you’re both on the same page, and so you know if there’s anything you can do to be helpful for the other person.
• Set up your own work stations: Try not to work right next to each other—even if you remain quiet and respectful, the presence of the other person might leave you feeling uncomfortable or on guard. It’s better to work in completely separate areas of the home, and avoid setting up in the bedroom to reserve that as an area for communication, sleep and intimacy.
• Don’t turn to your spouse for work issues: It’s important not to treat your spouse like a coworker. Don't ask them to brainstorm with you about work issues, or unload your work burdens on them. That can place a lot of undue pressure on a person.
• Stick to a routine: Try to establish a routine that you can follow every day, from wakeup to lunch to time to “go home.” Get up and shower and dress as though you are still going to work—you may find this helps your mental health.

For more tips for working at home with your spouse during the pandemic without causing any stress on your relationship, contact an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates.