5 Ways To Navigate Coliving While Working From Home
Living in a coliving space might look like a scene straight out of ‘Friends’, normally it is, but the lockdown is tough. With nearly everyone limiting their trips outside, roommates who may usually see each other only before work or in the evening are now stuck with each other all day.
And aside from the homesickness and anxiety over safety, this pandemic is aggravating arguments that have long plagued shared living spaces, including those about dirty dishes, unnecessary noise, and cluttered bathroom sinks.
Here are some tips to navigate your life in coliving while working from home.
- BE KIND
Work from home is tough and video calls have left us completely exhausted. While some of us have left for home, there are a lot of people who are still working in isolation, their only interaction being their roommate. It is difficult to maintain a house while being on strict work schedules. In this time, do not attach passive-aggressive notes criticizing their hygiene or have a meltdown overthinking about minuscule arguments. These are abnormal times, be kind to yourself and others around you.
- BE MINDFUL OF THE SPACE
Initially working from home seemed like a fun concept where you work out of your pajamas while sitting on your bed but the excitement quickly faded away. It is a possibility that you and your flatmate work out of your living room. While you love to listen to a song on repeat it may affect your flatmates negatively. It is important to be mindful of the space, especially while coliving and coworking. Take permission from your flatmate if you want to crank up the music; Ask them politely to shut the music if it disturbs you.
- DRAW BOUNDARIES
Work from home accompanies a lot of video conferences, you must allocate a closed room for such calls. If you are coworking with your roommates/ flatmates, it is important to discuss the logistics of work and designate a place where you can take those zoom calls peacefully without stressing about some barging in.
- CREATE A ROUTINE
In this time when we are not able to go to work or college in months, we are craving ‘normalcy’ more than ever. It is essential to create a routine and stick to it rather than keep waiting to go back to how life was before the lockdown. We suggest taking one day at a time, waking up on time, showering and getting dressed for work or studies, having a quick breakfast, and then starting the day on a positive note.
- COMMUNICATE
Nobody has ever experienced this prolonged lockdown so it is natural to be irritated and overwhelmed. The only way to see this phase through when coliving is to recognize that there is no right or wrong way of doing things. Communicate with your flatmate and do not assume they can read your mind. Express your thoughts and ask for support when needed.
These are my few tips to lead a peaceful life during the quarantine period. Share some of your tips in comments!
Living in shared spaces is fun but with nearly everyone limiting their trips outside, mounting homesickness and pandemic anxiety, it is natural to feel irritable and angry. In this article, we have listed 5 ways in which you can navigate your life with your flatmates and still keep your peace of mind.
