Being at a new school can be scary, but most people have their roommate there to experience it with them. Most roomies tend to stay together at the beginning of the semester to get to know the area until they are comfortable and have begun to make friends. But what if you don’t get along with your roommate, and you have to go through this new experience alone? Here are some tips to help avoid any conflicts with your roomie, and ways to solve them if they are to occur:
Communication is Key
Don’t be afraid to speak up if you’re having a problem with your roommate. There might be something that is bothering you that they don’t even realize they are doing. Make sure to the address the situation calmly; Don’t start off by attacking them. Make sure to always collaborate with each other to make sure you’re on the same page.
Set Rules
It is hard living with someone else whether you knew them before college or not, especially in such a small space. Setting rules at the beginning of the year, such as ‘who is allowed to stay the night’ or ‘what time the lights should be turned off’ can prevent any miscommunication between roommates that could potentially cause tension.
Be Respectful
Remember to respect your roommate’s space and their things. Make sure to be considerate of keeping your possessions clean and out of the way in the spaces you have to share, such as the bathroom. If your roommate lets you borrow their stuff, make sure to take good care of it as if it was your own. They don’t have to let you borrow anything, so keep that in mind when handling their things.
Make a Schedule
College can be super overwhelming and busy, and sometimes you forget that the trash is overflowing or your room is messy. Sit down with your roomie prior to the week or month and make a clear schedule of who has what responsibilities and when. This will help to keep things clean and prevent any controversy between roommates.