7 Tips for Getting Along Well with Roommates
It’s often fun sharing with roommates your own age, but adjusting to this new living situation can also be challenging. It’s important to do everything you can to ensure you get along with your roommates.
1. Spend Time Together
It may surprise you how easy it can be to spend very little time with the people you live with. If you move in different social circles, you may find you rarely even have proper conversations with your roommates. This can be a problem because it’s more comfortable living with people you know.
Since you cannot expect relationships to develop just from physical proximity, make sure you dedicate time to hanging out with your roommates, especially at the beginning.
2. Make Other Friends
If you’re lucky, your roommate could become your closest friend at university. In this case, it’s crucial to make plenty of other friends to avoid being reliant on just one person. Join clubs and talk to other students in your classes to build several friendship groups.
3. Be Accepting and Learn to Adapt
Things will undoubtedly be different to how they were at your parents’ home. Instead of asking your roommates to change, you need to accept them for who they are. This means you may need to adapt in some ways — in terms of both your behaviour and your expectations.
4. Focus on Communication
Of course, if your roommates are doing something that upsets you, it’s important to address the issue. Open communication is key to maintaining good relationships with roommates. When you move in, agree to some ground rules that will keep everyone happy — and revisit these rules whenever necessary. If one of your roommates has a concern, take the time to listen and arrive at a solution together. Finally, make sure you share important information, such as when you’ll be having guests over or when you’ll be out of town.
5. Come to a Compromise
There may be times when it’s difficult to come to an agreement. In these cases, the best thing you can do is compromise. Allowing one person to dictate how things should be can lead to grudges, which certainly won’t lead to healthy relationships.
6. Take Responsibility for Your Actions
Some conflict is unavoidable — and sometimes, it may be your fault. If this is the case, be ready to apologize.
7. Be Someone Your Roommates Can Rely On
Whether you’re supposed to pick up something for the apartment, stick to a cleaning schedule, or follow a particular rule you all agreed to, make sure you stay true to your word. If your roommates feel they cannot trust you, it will be difficult for you all to live under one roof.
It’s easier to get along with roommates when you only share an apartment, not a bedroom. You can find rooms for rent near Carleton University at The Revalie. Our luxury student housing has everything you need to make your experience at university special, including modern suites, exclusive amenities, and a great location. Join our VIP list to hear about community updates before anyone else.