DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve the privilege of working from house as an govt assistant to a veterinary medication skilled.
My job requires me to handle loads of on-call appointments and real-time scheduling, which calls for focus and a spotlight.
Whereas I benefit from the flexibility of working from house, it comes with its personal set of challenges. One of many greatest disruptions is my neighbor, who has a behavior of dropping by unannounced.
Though I genuinely take pleasure in her firm and worth our friendship, these interruptions are beginning to have an effect on my productiveness. It’s turning into more and more tough to stability being well mannered with staying on high of my duties.
I don’t need to harm her emotions or come throughout as unfriendly, however I must discover a method to set clear boundaries. How can I talk this in a means that preserves our pleasant relationship whereas guaranteeing I can give attention to my work?
— Want House
DEAR NEED SPACE: Get or make an indication that claims “Busy Working” or “Do Not Disturb — Working,” and dangle it in your door. Or, if obligatory, lock your door.
Speak to your neighbor and remind her that, sure, you do business from home, however you do have actual workplace hours and duties. As a lot as you want her, you can’t cease in the midst of your day to speak together with her. You must get your work achieved.
Ask her to honor your request that she not disturb you through the workday.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve been associates with this man for 2 years, and over time, I’ve began to really feel like our connection is likely to be extra than simply friendship.
He’s all the time been sort, considerate and supportive, and I actually take pleasure in spending time with him. Recently, I’ve caught myself taking a look at him in a different way and questioning if he feels the identical means about me. There are little moments — like once we lock eyes, share fun or have deeper conversations — that make me suppose he would possibly like me as greater than only a buddy, too.
The issue is that we’re each shy, and neither of us appears keen to take step one.
I don’t need to destroy our friendship by misreading the state of affairs or making issues awkward, however on the identical time, I can’t shake the sensation that there’s potential for one thing extra between us.
I’m torn as a result of I worth our friendship a lot, and I don’t need to threat shedding it.
I can also’t assist however marvel what may occur if one among us had been courageous sufficient to make a transfer.
Ought to I watch for him to say one thing, or is there a means for me to specific how I really feel with out placing an excessive amount of stress on him or our friendship?
— Timing
DEAR TIMING: Be courageous and go for it.
Invite your buddy to do one thing that includes simply the 2 of you. You recognize him, so take into consideration what he likes to do for enjoyable. Is there a competition or neighborhood exercise that you simply two may attend that may be enjoyable however not too intimate? Is there a film that you simply’ve mentioned? What exercise would curiosity each of you?
Ask him if he want to do that with you, and see how he responds. Since you aren’t asking him up to now you, this is usually a secure first step.
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founding father of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to assist folks entry and activate their goals. You possibly can ship inquiries to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
