You’re right – personal space is a problem. My spouse and I share that need, so no worries. But the day I had a phone conference and so did he, his had to take precedent as he had too many people in too many countries. Since then, I’ve insisted on coordination of his schedule. If he’s inviting/responding to an invite for a conference, he’d better be copying me so I can accommodate. Otherwise, he’s missing out. I can say that because he has an outside office – I don’t. :)

One thing I quickly noticed is the different office cultures we’d come from – and how important upholding these cultures was to our general well-being. Here are two examples: 1.) Just starting out with my consultancy, I was very keen on projecting a professional imagine when I was on the phone. I didn’t want my contacts to envisage me working at the end of the dining room table in my bathrobe; holding the phone with one hand while stirring a bubbling pot of spaghetti sauce with the other. He, on the other hand, had no problem continuing a conversation, talking to our puppies, or loudly blowing his nose while I was on the phone, which caused many a tense moment on my part. 2.) Because his consultancy is more established and his work with ongoing clients already routine, my SO has lots of time to spend reading the news online, etc. Of course he wanted to share any interesting tidbits with me and hear my comments. It didn’t matter what I am in the middle of actually doing (and as someone just starting out, there is still always something to do!). Needless to say, his conversational nonchalance diminished in direct proportion to how involved he was in a project or report.

Fortunately, we have two rooms that are viable as office space. After moving into our small library for technical reasons at the beginning of the winter, I rediscovered the joys of working without interruption, as well of the simple pleasure of listening to my favorite music or radio plays without headphones.

Although we ended up both moving into the library for awhile to cut our heating costs during the winter, I’m now back up in our large, shared office space. I know he’ll get around to moving his primary computer back up here soon, too, but till he does I’m enjoying having my own office again!

Tips for Successfully Sharing Office Space:

1. Talk about issues of office etiquette, and make clear which ones aren’t negotiable.

2. Spend some time each morning talking about anything important on your agendas. Will someone need the phone all afternoon? Is the black ink in the printer running low? Are you working towards an important deadline all day?

3. Discuss your preferences about the general noise level. I don’t mind his taste in music, but game sfx are a big no-go with me!

4. Establish something to signal when you need more personal space. For me it became putting on my earphones.

5. Take time out together for a coffee break, etc., and just talk.