Whether you’re used to a busy office, traveling for work, or you already know how to work from home, settling in to work from home with a roommate in the mix is a whole new challenge. Luckily, your two- or three-bedroom Camden apartment was designed to keep roommates comfortable. Here’s what you and your roommates can do to stay comfortable during a prolonged work from home assignment.
1. Find Your Own Space
Like in an office, personal space is important. You want to be able to spread out papers, open books and files and have any supplies you need near. Make sure you and your roommates find spaces that work for you. I recommend desks if you have them, kitchen counters, flat topped ottomans or a comfy couch.
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2. Over Communicate
Stop disagreements before they happen by over communicating. Let your roommates know what you need to be comfortable in this situation. Whether that’s quiet time, party time, cleanliness, or a little leniency to be messy – speak up before things escalate.
3. Coordinate Schedules
Speaking of quiet time and party time, it wouldn’t hurt to coordinate schedules with your roommates. Avoid having conference calls at the same time. Don't make a smoothie when someone needs to focus. And don’t wake or keep anyone up when they don’t want to be.
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4. Respect Shared Spaces
Working from home means doing a lot of other things at home. You'll be eating all your meals, trying new hobbies and conducting your daily life all in one space. Do your part in being a considerate roommate by keeping not only your area clean, but shared spaces as well. Do your dishes, wipe up your messes, don’t hog the washer and dryer, and end an unnecessary work from home stressor.
5. Share Resources
If you haven’t heard yet, the world is low on toilet paper. Share your resources with your roommates for a more comfortable living situation. Everyday things like cleaning supplies and bathroom products are in high demand. Boredom has also begun its inevitable creep into our homes, so share magazines, DVD’s, games, and whatever else you have. You can even combine groceries to go to the store less often. Trust me; you’ll all be happier for it.
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6. Take a Breather
Being in tight proximity with anyone for too long can lead to stress. Make sure you’re taking time for yourself. Use your personal spaces to have a bit of privacy. Take on silent solo activities like reading. You can take a cleansing walk or a long hot bath for some time to yourself.
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7. Make it Fun
You’re all in this together, so why not make it fun! You can play video or board games, cook, binge watch shows, do in-home exercises, stage a photoshoot, learn a new dance, DIY some crafts, whatever you can think of! If you stay positive and fun, your living situation remains positive and enjoyable. It’s as simple as that.
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For more tips on making staying home fun, check out this blog about the indoor activities we all loved as kids . And if you’re still adjusting to working from home, here are ten tips you won’t want to miss.