Having a roommate is great— you have someone to stay up late with, someone go to when you need advice, and someone to keep you company whenever you need it. But having a roommate can be hard, too. Sometimes you feel like your space is crowded, or you need some alone time, or you and your roommate get into a fight. Living in such close quarters with someone can be rough, so make it easier! Step up your game and follow these steps to be the best roommate you can be!
1. Ask before you take anything.
Roommates love to share clothes, nail polish, books, and more. But before you grab that cute scarf you’ve been eyeing, double check with your roommate to make sure she’s cool with it. It’s common courtesy!
2. Tell your roommate if you’re bringing someone home.
This doesn’t only count for late-night hookups. If your bringing anyone over—from a high school friend to a new fling—just shoot your roommate a text so they’re prepared!
3. Clean up after yourself.
Don’t be a slob. We all get lost in the semester, but that doesn’t mean we have to let our cleanliness go! There’s a difference between being messy and being dirty. Messy is leaving your clothes everywhere. Dirty is not washing your dishes…ever. Cleaning up after yourself takes five minutes, and even you will feel clutter-free!
4. Wear headphones at night.
If your roommate is going to bed and you want to stay up and watch Netflix, just pop in some headphones. No one likes to be kept up late at night! Let your roommate have a good night’s sleep, because nothing is more annoying than trying to fall asleep to the sound of someone else’s Netflix playing.
5. Share your food.
Sharing food is one of the biggest issues roommates have. Avoid this common problem by buying food that you wouldn’t mind your roommate taking a couple nibbles of. If you buy food you don’t want them to eat, just tell them so they know. (Or maybe mark it with your name.) No one likes a snack hoarder!
6. Set aside roommate time.
College students have hectic schedules, and before you know it, you may be getting too caught up in the semester. Between internships, work and homework, who has time to sit back and relax? Save a few hours a week for roommate time, whether it’s a movie night, getting drinks, or even a having a spa night, cherish the time you have together and unwind!
No matter how much you and your roommate(s) get along, there’s always going to be a rough patch every once in a while. Follow these steps, and you’ll be good to go!