Everyone reaches a point in their life, whether it be in college or at another time, where they make the decision to live with another person. This could be for many reasons, such as dorming, moving in with friends, or just for a more stable financial situation, all of which are completely fine.
Two (or more) people who have never lived together before need to quickly learn how to adapt to a new environment. Here are five tips if you're not quite sure how to keep your roomie happy.
1. DO NOT spend all hours of the night up on the phone.
This counts especially if you live in a dorm where you and your roomie(s) are living in only one room. There isn't much escape when it's just a single room that you share. Some people do have lives and early mornings. If you're up late, just try to be courteous to your roomie(s) about it. And if you're not sure, there's no harm in asking!
2. If you dirty it, clean it!
This is a much simpler way of cleaning that a set schedule because you will quickly learn that one of you is messier than the other. It's easiest just not to let the mess build up more than anything. The simplest way to live is something my boss taught me: If you drop it, pick it up. If you dirty it, clean it. If you empty it, refill it. I'd say it's very easy way to live your life. Don't expect your roommate to pick up after you, You're not at home with mom to pick up after you anymore.
3. Passive aggressive anything is a no go.
This could be something as simple as a text message or as annoying as a post-it note. The only thing this is going to make your roommate do is roll their eyes at you. Most likely this will not solve anything. If you're having an issue with your roommate, it's best to have a conversation about it face to face.
4. Be courteous to each other's things.
This is just simple, don't eat each other's food. Don't touch each other's stuff, and if you need to for any reason, it's not crazy to ask them first! In order to have a smooth sailing relationship with anyone, you need communication. This is especially so when it comes to things that one person owns. Just don't be a jerk about their things.
5. Always keep the other person's feelings in mind.
This can apply to almost anything. If you notice that your roomie is going through a rough time or a great time, it's always okay to ask if they want to talk. This is someone you live with and sometimes a helpful ear is just nice to help get some things off of their chest.