5 Survival Tips For Living With Roommates For The First Time | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

5 Survival Tips For Living With Roommates For The First Time

A survival guide to living with someone other than your parents.

420
5 Survival Tips For Living With Roommates For The First Time
Paste Magazine

So you moved into your dorm and you're all settled in. Congratulations, you're officially a college student. You get to experience probably the best four years of your life and, as a bonus, you're finally independent and on your own. Well... there's a catch. You probably have a roommate or two.

As someone who's lived in on-campus housing, I understand both the advantages and disadvantages to having roommates and what it's like to live with people other than my own parents. You begin to learn the habits of your peers and a little of how they grew up, but unfortunately, there's always one that has a lack of cleanliness. Looking back, that person was probably me.

To help you get a good start to your first year at college, here are a few tips to living with roommates for the first time.

1. Introduce Yourself

They say that first impressions mean everything. This isn't always true when it comes to living with other people, but it can establish a healthy communication between you and your fellow peers.

This is also a great time to let your roommate know if you have anything important that they should know, such as severe allergies. Sometimes accidents will happen and it's important to be aware in the case of an emergency.

2. Designate Cleaning Days

I hate to admit it, but I was that roommate that didn't clean nearly as much as I should have. I was in and out of the dorm often enough that I just didn't want to bother, and by the time I was back in the room you can believe I was off for some sleep.

It's not a bad idea to go ahead and set days where you can keep a check on the housing and clean up if needed. If you both have an hour of free time on Thursday night, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and pick up those pizza boxes that you've been neglecting. Your nose will thank you later.

3. Respect Quiet Hours

This is so important. When you have a roommate, especially if you live in a group of four, the earliest to bed has the priority. If your roommate goes to bed before you do, they reserve the right to have quiet time in the dorm so they can sleep.

When there's a test coming up, it's not a bad idea to set a schedule for when you'd like to have some quiet hours in your room. It's important to have fun in college, but sometimes the noise is distracting. Always respect your peers when they need time to do their work.

4. When In Doubt, Talk It Out

Drama is going to happen and you'd be surprised how fast a pair of roommates can get heated with one another. If you have a problem with something that your roommate has done, you need to just say it upfront than let the issue build up.

Someone is going to get angry and then they're going to explode, and the last thing you need is an unnecessary argument over something that was never intended to be a huge deal. When there's a problem, the best thing you can do is talk it out. If it can't get resolved there, it's time to have your Resident Adviser step in.

5. Privacy, Privacy, Privacy

It's easy to forget that we're on our own now, and like everyone you're going to want to have friends over. Before you invite them, make sure your roommate is content with having friends over. Your room is still technically shared and they have a right to say whether or not you can have guests.

Additionally, you should both respect each other's privacy. If you lost something, don't rummage through your roommate's belongings. Communication is always the key. Just because something went missing doesn't mean it's been stolen by them.

In these kinds of circumstances, I can't help but express that communication and respect is so important to maintaining a stable relationship with your roommate(s). If something has been misunderstood, it can quickly lead to an escalated argument that could very well split you both apart later. If something's wrong, it doesn't hurt to ask.


Did these tips help? Let me know down in the comments and let me know what your experience was like!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

100640
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

17685
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

16695
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments