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Whose Meeting is More Important? Making a Workspace for Two

You’re working from home. Your partner/spouse/roommate is working from home. Dueling conference calls, deadlines, lunch hours...it’s a lot. Kate Whalen, an Accessories & Gifting Merchant at Crate and Barrel, is working from home and juggling childcare with her husband, Matt Strom, a project architect for Crate and Barrel and CB2. The couple have two sons aged 4 and 2. Here are Kate’s tips for how they’re making their workspace for two, well, work.

Office Space vs Playspace

We brought our Crate and Barrel desk up from the basement into our bedroom. That way the first floor of our home could be the kid zone.

Divide and Conquer

We take turns working 6am to 11:30am, and then noon to 6pm. We try to eat lunch together and have kept our evening routine the same. We allow the kids to pop into the "office" to bring snacks. I'm enjoying the extra sunlight coming through the windows and hearing the kids play outside.

Screen Time and Mealtimes

“I have taken a few conference calls on the road--meaning kids in the stroller, snacks and a movie on the iPad.”
We did make a schedule. I blocked off "Mom Time" on my calendar to let coworkers know I had limited to no access or availability. Teams have been flexible to accomodate the best working times around kids. I have taken a few conference calls on the road--meaning kids in the stroller, snacks and a movie on the iPad. It's new for the kiddos and feels like a screen time treat so they don't complain. I pop in my AirPods while taking a call, getting exercise and fresh air all at the same time. Lunch we have kept easy, leftovers or PBJ. We meal-plan and are ordering out one lunch and one dinner a week to support local restaurants.

WFH Must-Haves

I'm dependent on my earbuds now. Whether I’m taking a call during a walk or sitting at the desk, they help me stay focused. Our insulated coffee carafe and water bottles help us stay holed up and not cause a distraction to the kids by going downstairs. Our kids love art, so we stocked up on supplies. We’ve been dropping artwork in our neighbor's mailboxes, hopefully bringing some color and a smile to their day.

The Bottom Line

We’re acknowledging—and okay with the fact—that we aren't functioning at 100%. That at times I might have a work fail, a parent fail or both. We are healthy and together and that's what's important.

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