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Is this your first time living with someone you don’t know? Are you and your current roommate already having some problems living with each other? If the answer is yes, then keep on reading. I’ve lived in a dorm for one year and currently living in an off-campus house, which means that I know a thing or two about sharing a living space with someone you do not know for the first time. I lived with people who didn’t know how to be good roommate and unfortunately, that lead to me always doing the dishes, taking out the trash and tidying up the house. I knew I didn’t want to be the only one contributing to chores, but I just never enjoyed confrontation.
Although, I knew that if I did not speak up then I wouldn’t have a good college experience.
After doing a little research online, I gathered some tips that helped me out with my roomate problem.
If you want to make sure that you and your roommate have a good living experience, then follow these 6 rules. It will make everything better in the end.
Image created by Daniela Curi
1. Set Your Ground Rules Early
You both need to sit down and learn how to live with each other. What are your bad habits? When are quiet hours for you? Who uses the bathroom first? Around what times should guests be allowed to hang out in the house? It’s crucial that you both bring up what makes you comfortable and what doesn’t. If you don’t bring this up, you might be in an awkward situation where you come home from studying at 11 p.m. on a Monday night, and there are random people at your house drinking and playing music loudly.
This has happened to me before, and I had trouble going to sleep. I had an early class the next day, so sleeping early was essential for me.
Always talk in person with your roommate so you don’t run into this type of situation. If you both set your rules early, both of your requests and preferences will be met.
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2. Clean Up After Yourself
I cannot stress this enough. Clean your own dishes. I understand that you had a busy day, or it just slipped your mind. We all make mistakes and we all have busy schedules; however, that doesn’t excuse you for leaving your dirty dishes out for more than one full day. It’s gross and inconsiderate.
Clean regularly. Your roommate might notice that you like to keep things clean all the time, which can influence her to do the same. But if she doesn’t, then communicate with her. Let her know how you feel about being clean, without sounding rude.
Another tip that I have is to establish cleaning schedules. This would be perfect for trash pickups, sweeping the floors, or even cleaning the bathrooms. That way, everything is fair.
Image created by Daniela Curi
3. Respect Your Roommate’s Sleeping and Study Habits
Everyone has different studying habits. Some like to study during the day, while some like to study at night in complete silence. You should definitely ask your roommate when and how they like to study. If your roommate likes to study in a quiet setting, but you like to study with music, then use headphones.
If your roommate likes to be in bed by 11 p.m., then try to avoid having people over at that time. You have to respect her requests, and I am sure you would want the respect in return.
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4. Early Mornings
One of you might have class at 12 p.m., and the other have class at 8 a.m. You both should coordinate with each other’s schedule, so you both can plan out who could use the bathroom first.
There will be times where you need to get ready for class, but your roommate is still using the bathroom. If you both plan ahead of time, things will run smoothly and no one will be late for class.
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5. Ask Before You Take
This rule applies to food, clothes, school supplies and so much more. Your roommate has spent money purchasing their own items that they planned on using only for themselves. Don’t be rude and take something that is not yours. If you ask, I am sure they wouldn’t mind you borrowing their sweater or eating a snack of theirs.
You both should be respectful of each other’s stuff and if you aren’t, this will annoy your roommate.
Image created by Daniela Curi
6. Communication is Key
While all these rules are good tips on being good college roommates, none of it will work if you don’t communicate. You are both in college now, which means you both need to act like responsible adults. This is a great learning experience for the both of you to be more mature and to prepare for the real world. Here is an article that further explains the importance of communication.
