It’s been about a month and a half since most of us have started school and been away from home. It should be enough time to develop some type of opinion on your college roommate. Whether you’re struggling to get along with your roommate or want extra advice to keep the relationship positive, here are six tips for living with a roommate.
Communication –
Communication is key with your roommate. Remember, you can’t read each other’s minds. We’re adults now. If something needs to be said, just say it.
You aren’t obligated to hang out with each other –
Learn how to be in the same room together without engaging towards one another. Just because you live together doesn’t mean you have to be with each other all the time.
Inform your roommate if you have a guest coming over –
Letting your roommate know that you’re having company over is crucial. After all, it’s not just your space. You live together. They deserve to know who is going to be in their living space and when.
Give each other some alone time at least a couple hours a week –
It’s not always easy managing your schedule around another person, but always try to be conscious about giving them some alone time in the room. Everyone needs alone time. Think about some of the reasons why you would want alone time and take that into consideration when giving your roommate some time alone.
Try solving problems right away –
Try to solve problems as soon as they occur. The longer you wait, the bigger the problem could become and no one wants to deal with a big problem with their roommate.
Golden Rule –
When all else fails, remember to treat your roommate the way you want to be treated. If you want to at least have a civil relationship with your roommate, you’re going to have to be respectful and considerate of them.