You’ve lived with your parents for 18 years up until now. College is a whole other world, and so is having a roommate. Here are some tips of the trade that I wish my roommates and I would have known when going into our freshman year. Living with your roommate can be amazing, but only if you both want it to be. Take these into consideration when it comes to living with your brand new roommate.
1. Know each other’s schedule
This is important!! You can’t be mad at your roommate if you decided to clean the dorm room/apartment if the other one is at class, work, or elsewhere. Whether you both put your schedules on the fridge or email them to each other. Keep them in mind. Nothing is worse than being told you’re not pulling your weight on cleaning day when you have a 3-hour lab when they do it.
2. Learn each other’s habits and quirks
Odds are, there are things each of you are going to do that will get on the other’s nerves. Figure them out and either tell them or learn to deal with it. Don’t bottle it up inside and let it get to you every time they do it. Passive-aggressiveness is not the answer when they do things you don’t like.
3. It’s okay to share
Some things more than others. Now, always ask when it comes to food, but when it comes to plates, bowls, and utensils – SHARE THEM. Don’t let your dorm room/apartment become hostile territory because someone used the other’s Tupperware. Seriously, y’all share a living space so share things.
4. Don’t mom each other
Your mom is miles and miles away, and you didn’t sign up to have your new roommate be your replacement mom and vice versa. You both don’t have to constantly know where the other is. Let them breathe. College gives you the freedom you wouldn’t have if you were back home with your parents.
5. You don’t have to do everything together
Each of you has your own friends, plans, and life. It’s not the end of the world if your roommate doesn’t invite you to do everything with them. Don’t feel left out, and don’t hold it against them. Do you invite them to everything? Exactly. You will do plenty of things together, so don’t be mad if you didn’t get invited to dinner.
6. Give each other your personal space
PERSONAL SPACE IS IMPORTANT!!! Everyone likes alone time. Just time to relax and decompress from being around one another 24/7. If they want some, maybe go to the library for a few hours or go hang out with some friends. Give each other space, and you will thank me later.
7. Be respectful of what you both want
Where you are living isn’t just yours. It’s also theirs. Be respectful of that. Take into consideration of the things you do. How would you feel if you were in their shoes, and they had their 17 friends over every night when you wanted to go to bed? Or how you would feel if they never listened to anything you ever told them. Being mindful can go a long way in creating a relationship with your roommate that won’t waiver.