To ask for a couple of hours to focus on work

[Frogwatch]

My partner and I both WFH nearly all the time. Am I being unreasonable to ask for a two-hour slot each day where I know I will not be interrupted unless it's an emergency? Even one hour would be wonderful. Not knowing when the next interruption is going to be makes it impossible to focus.

If you’re both WFH why is he interrupting you?

What's he doing that's disturbing you? Headphones on and wedge the door shut.

This is standard when you both work from home surely? I'm working on something important, can't be disturbed for two hours, see you later?

What sort of interruptions? Surely he is busy working as well?

I always say this is the bonus of working from home - I can say to DH ‘please don’t speak to me until x time’ whereas you can’t be that blunt with a colleague.

I am not sure why you are asking here. The natural thing would surely be to ask your partner. My partner came home yesterday earlier than expected and I told him that I am having a call at 1.30 and I need him to finish cooking and eating lunch before then so I can work uninterrupted. Didn't cross my mind to check online first if I was being unreasonable...

Usually it's something that is genuinely important but could surely have waited a bit. Like wanting to bounce some ideas off me related to work (theirs not mine), or just wanting to talk about something and be listened to.

What did he say when you asked not to be interrupted?

Surely he would bounce ideas related to work off his colleagues, not you. It sounds like he's enlisting you to do his job too! That would drive me insane.

Just tell him to go away and that you will speak to him later. You are working. Why does he think his desire to "bounce" ideas off you trump your right to do your own job? Does he think he is more important than you?

But if you were in the office such matters would hsve to wait umtil after work. Also why would you stop your own work so that he could "bounce some ideas" off you in relation to his own??

Can't you just say "I'm busy, we can talk about this later" repeatedly until he gets the message?