It’s something that almost every college student has to endure: a roommate. Whether it’s for only one year or all four years, we are all subject to living and being civil with someone else. It’s always a little awkward at first, not knowing if he or she likes the same things as you, wants to be your friend, is medically sane, likes to watch you sleep, etc. Sometimes you get lucky, going random and getting someone that ends up being a great friend for years to come. Other times, you room with people that you are less than fond of and things may get dicey.

No matter what the situation turns into, there are always ways to make things better with your roommate. In an effort to make things a little less awkward and a bit more comfortable, I have come up with a few things that could help your relationship with your roommate.

1. Show interest in his or her classes/major even though it’ll change three or four times during the semester.
2. Respect his or her sleeping schedule, even if he goes to bed at midnight. Every. Single. Night.
3. Listen to them tell you about the things they are passionate about, even if it’s something as dreadful as the stock market and soccer.
4. Compliment his or her style, even if it consists of three different things that you would never consider wearing without considerable compensation.
5. When he or she puts up a strange poster or decoration, just go with it and let him or her have their moment with their side of the room.
6. Understand that everyone has a different taste in music, so don’t freak out when he or she rocks out to Little River Band and Neil Diamond.
7. Respect their strange traditions, no matter if its ordering over 100 S’Mores Pop-Tarts or eating peanut butter before bed.
8. Don’t laugh when he or she is doing work and ends up making weird noises or standing up in their chair 30 minutes in.
9. Put your headphones in and turn your music way up instead of losing your mind when he or she decides to eat chips or snack on anything.
10. Allow your roommate to watch the shows he or she wants, no matter how boring Bloomberg or Pretty Little Liars gets.
11. Do deep breathing exercises when you invite him or her to go out and he or she would rather do homework instead
12. Ask him or her to go back to that homework-loving person when he or she decides to try the party life and makes a mess of your room.
13. Don’t feel judged when you are chowing down on cookies and candy and your roommate is doing crunches and telling you that he “can’t handle the calories.”
14. Lastly, thank your roommate for being the way they are because although they are not perfect, it could always be a lot worse.