Living with a roommate can be difficult, especially if you're an introvert. But if you're living together, then it's a great opportunity to learn how to live the "roommate lifestyle" without having to worry about those pesky household chores of cleaning, cooking, and exercising.
While many young adults thrive on the freedom that comes with living on their own, some don't adjust well or at all. Fortunately, it is possible to live with a roommate and still be independent and happy. If you're just starting college and have a roommate, understanding basic living arrangements can be useful for both of you.
Living with a roommate can be one of the most exciting experiences in a student's life. The first time living with a new person, can take some adjustment. There are no doubt going to be times when you don't like your roommates, but living with someone else also means having someone to lean on during hard times and making new friends as well.
Whether you're moving in with a friend or family member, or you're looking to take over an entire apartment and make it your own, finding the perfect roommate can be tricky. Here are seven tips on living with a roommate:
Think about how you'll divide up chores. It's no secret that roommates don't always get along but if you have trouble sharing chores and responsibilities, it might not be worth it. That's why it's important to be realistic about who will do what around the house, including cleaning and laundry. If one person is more responsible than the others, it might be best to avoid signing on with them unless they're willing to divide up those duties equally between themselves and their fellow roommates.
Be considerate of each other's needs and wants. One of the best ways to make sure that your roommate is happy with the arrangement is by being considerate of each other's needs and wants.
Set ground rules early. It's important that you both lay out the rules for how things will be managed in your house. If you are not willing to compromise, then it may be best to find a place that is more suited to your needs, regardless of how much money you make or what kind of lifestyle you lead.
Be friendly and respectful of each other's space. Try to keep your roommate happy by being friendly with them and keeping things clean and organised as much as possible so that there aren't any arguments about who has control over certain areas of the home or who does what around the house (i.e. cooking meals, cleaning up after themselves).
Make sure you both have everything you need before moving in together. sure that you have all of your household items packed up and ready to go when everyone moves in so that there aren't any last-minute delays or incompatibilities between the two of you.
Keep communication open between the two of you so that misunderstandings can be avoided or resolved quickly and easily. It's important to talk to your roommate about how things are going, what you like and don't like about your space, and any issues that come up during the day. This will help both of you feel more comfortable with each other and keep the peace in the house.
If you need to make changes to your living space or schedule, speak up! Make sure your roommate knows how their new situation will affect them — maybe they want to mow their lawn on Saturday mornings instead of Sunday mornings? Or perhaps they'd like some more freedom during the week? Getting this information out early will help prevent misunderstandings later on!
In a nutshell:
If you’re moving in to live with a roommate, we hope that the tips we’ve outlined above will help you get off on the right foot. As always, the key to getting along with any roommate is communication and a clear sense of boundaries; talk to your roommates and work out what living together means to each of you while respecting everyone’s space. If things do turn sour as they sometimes do, try and remain amicable. After all, living with a roommate is a great way to save money while learning more about yourself!