What If Your Spouse Is Not Self-Employed?
Working from Home Is Incredible! Yes – it is incredible for you, but not necessarily for those around you. In fact, what if your spouse is not self-employed?
Your being self-employed can be a little annoying to them, especially if they are still getting up every morning to “go to work” and coming home exhausted to find you full of energy and wanting to hang out.
When, you add the fact that work life can bleed into “family/free time” or the fact that you are always talking about your business, it can be tough on them.
If your spouse is not self-employed, it is important to know how to emphasize the pros (and perks) of being self-employed and downplay the cons.
Let’s take a look at how you can do exactly that . . .
Establish and Stick to a Routine
This is one of the most difficult things to do when you are self-employed.
Setting a schedule and sticking to it is critical and challenging. It is far too easy to oversleep, work in the evenings, and/or take long breaks – all of which actually make you more tired and more stressed that a regular, discipline routine.
A good solution is to coordinate your routine with your partner’s. If s/he gets up at the same time every day, get up at the same time.
When they go to bed, you go to bed. This makes it easier to have time together in the evening and also helps you establish and stick to a routine.
Accentuate the Positive
Nurture your relationship by showing your partner that you want to be with him/her. Let them know that you have an “off switch,” that you enjoy relaxing with them, and that spending time with them with no distractions is very important.
Demonstrate the perks of being self-employed by meeting them after work to go for a walk; or surprise them at work by showing up with food for their lunch break. Use your afternoon break or the time s/he is commuting to straighten up the house. Or, make breakfast while s/he is getting ready to leave in the morning.
Remember – you have more time and flexibility in your schedule, so use the time as a bonus to strengthen your relationship and enhance your lifestyle for both of you.
Keep Your Partner in the Loop
Find a balance on how much you talk about the business. You don’t want to talk about it all the time; but, let your partner know what you do and share the “highs” made up of exciting moments and even the horrible “lows” (because they will happen). S/he needs to know what is going on and why the work matters to you.
When your spouse is not self-employed, communication is especially critical. When a partner understands what you are doing, solid support of the time and effort you put into the business is much easier to give.
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