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How to Be a Better Roommate
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Moving into a new living space can be simultaneously the most amazing and most stressful experience college students will go through when starting the next chapter of their lives.
Throughout this journey the majority of students will have roommates, and no one wants to be that difficult roommate people complain to family and friends about. Being a better roommate is advantageous for both you and your roommates, and will jump start the process of making friends and having a home away from home.
Understand the Situation
One way to be a better roommate is to understand the situation that you and your roommates are entering. Sometimes, neither of you have had a roommate beforehand have no idea what to expect. Realize that you will not be able to act how you can at home. Your family has been able to become comfortable with you since you’ve been born, whereas when moving in with a new roommate, you both are starting from scratch. Have a solid mindset going in is key.
Expect New Things
That being said, expect new things. Almost every experience you have living in your new dorm or apartment will be new for both of you. Some of the new experiences will be fantastic and will make college the best time of your life. There will also be new experiences that maybe aren’t too favorable. When handling these experiences, have an open mind. People are different, and accepting and enjoying diversity in your own home will make you a better person as a roommate and overall.
Be Yourself
You know how when you meet a new person and you try to show the best possible version of yourself to the point where maybe you’re not being entirely truthful about the kind of person you are? Try to reduce that tendency as time passes. This will prevent you from intimidating your roommate. Show them you are a real person that maybe doesn’t go to the gym as often as they want to and watches corny TV shows that society tells people to be embarrassed about. Be yourself!
Further, be courteous and compromise. Respecting your roommate as an equal and not an invader of your privacy will make for a great college experience. It is often difficult to remember all of these things when you’re supposed to be in your home relaxing between dealing with all the stresses of college life, but keeping just some of these in mind will most definitely result in being a better roommate.
Develop Perspective
Finally, develop perspective. The reason for almost every conflict, not just with roommates but in general, is not understanding the other side’s point of view. Your roommates will do things that you have never seen or heard of before that are weird or ridiculous to you. You have to consider that this is a habit they have probably been doing their entire lives, and expecting them to change might not be effective. Remembering to see a situation from your roommates perspective will make you more understanding and will most definitely prevent conflicts.
Should an aggressive conflict arise, write an email to yourself venting your emotions and frustrations. Do not send it! Wait at least three days. If you are still bothered, definitely bring it up at the next roommate meeting. Choose your battles and think to yourself: is it worth making an enemy of someone I have to live with?
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