Do you ever just look at your roommates and ask yourself “Why can’t we get along?” This is not uncommon. Well, not uncommon for me at least. I have found myself counting down the days until the semester was over so that I may never have to ask myself that question again. I have also found myself choosing great people to room with but never really felt connected with them as roommates because of our lack of communication.

It’s hard for me to be a perfect roommate, but it is in my interest to be, as it should be for every college student anyway. I am sure many of us have had our fair share of bad roommates. Well, my roomies and I came up with the best way for all roommates to see each other eye to eye and to enjoy living together. Here’s the list of 5 rules to consider:

1. Personal space. This was number one on the list because it is something everyone values. There’s a fine line when it comes to sharing four walls with girls and it needs not be crossed. While living together, it is important to respect each other’s items and space. Going through your roommate’s prescription medication is not nice and it is a sure way to break each other's’ trust.
2. Accept everyone’s weirdness. So your roommate likes to dance to terrible music while getting dressed. So he/she thinks spiders are friendly. So what? Accept your fellow roommates as they come, because everyone’s got a little bit of strange in them. Quite honestly, it would be boring to have a roommate that did not do anything out of the ordinary. Jesus once said something along the lines of “Love your neighbors as I have loved you”. Let your roommates be who they are unapologetically.
3. Be down for a good time… or just movie night. Grab a bottle of sangria or grab the microwavable popcorn, but be open to sharing a great semester with each other. These are the people you live with for months at a time. It is only healthy to spend time getting to know and create memories with them. This encourages a homely environment that is comfortable for all of you.
4. Cleanliness. This is important. If you’re sort of a messy person, keep your mess on your side. Keep common areas like bathrooms or study areas or lounging areas clean.
5. Be super friendly. Friendliness comes by so rarely these days that we often label it as “fakeness”. This ties in well with rule number 2. To be kind does not take any more effort than being mean will. This one is really the make or break of any relationship. There exists a mutual need between any group of people to respect each other. Part of sharing a room with other people is being able to live in a warm, inviting environment, especially after a day of studying, going to classes, and going to work. So be kind to one another and you’ll enjoy being roommates.

These are not so much rules as they are general guidelines. The most important thing is to treat each other as you would like to be treated and to love each other as Jesus has loved you. It is simple yet so often over-looked.