Romantic relationships have their ups and downs, but can the same be said for the relationship you have with your roommate? We all know how it goes: You move in, and you’re both excited to be living together and to decorate your apartment. It’s the honeymoon stage of any relationship, and it feels amazing. Finally, you’ve found someone who gets you. She is the best friend who you’re convinced will be in your life forever – the maid of honor at your wedding and the godmother of your children.
You never hear about what happens after the honeymoon, though. Monica and Rachel didn’t always get along on Friends. In fact, they were often at each other’s throats. Ground rules are key to overcoming the difficult hurdles you might face together. So, how do you overcome the obstacles that get in the way of the relationship you have with your house buddy? Here are a few tips for getting along with your roommate:
1. Communicate
How else are you supposed to know the leftover spaghetti in the fridge is actually your roommate’s lunch for the next day? Make sure to ask each other questions like: Are we okay with sharing? Do we want to buy groceries together or separately? It’s great to feel like there’s a lot of stuff you two have in common, but there needs to be communication between both of you to be happy.
2. Compromise
Whether you’re fighting about who gets to have the top bunk or who gets to have the room with the bigger closet, compromise is essential. She wants to have a Paris-themed living room? Let her have it, but add your own style and creativity to the space as well. Remember you’re not rooming by yourself anymore. Compromise allows you to find common ground between two personalities.
3. Space is a good thing
If you’ve been best friends since high school or from the moment you both moved in together, you need space. Time apart is great for any friendship, especially if you’re living with each other. Having your own hobbies or a different group of friends comes in handy. She can’t go to the gym? That’s fine! You can go by yourself or with a friend you haven’t seen since the semester began. Don’t ignore everything and everyone for your roommate.
4. Have a girl’s night
If you’re living with a random roommate, much like I am, spending some quality time together is a great way to get to know each other. Roommate-matching cards help put you with someone you could live with, but they don’t guarantee a perfect match. Do you both like Mexican food? Have a girl’s night at Chuy’s to bond over the chicken flautas. Go to Mochi to try out new flavors. Just make time for each other.
Above all, you shouldn’t forget that your roommate is a person too. If you don’t like way they act or do things, approach them and be honest. It’s likely that they’re feeling the same way about the situation but don’t know how to approach about it. Keep these tips in mind next time your roommate leaves an empty milk carton in the fridge.