Living with roommates is a fact of life. Almost everyone, at one point or another, ends up living with a group of people in very close quarters, and oftentimes these people are near-strangers. Its true that you don't have to be best friends with everyone you meet, but being close with the people you live with is a can't-miss opportunity. What sounds more fun than living with people who you love spending time with? There are plenty of ways to bond with your roommates, and below are just a few examples!
1. Game nights.
What better way to bond than playing a classic round of BS with the gang? Game nights are the perfect opportunity to relax and get to know your roommates! Who is quiet, loud, funny, serious, competitive, laid back? A few game nights with your roomies, and you will be closer than you thought possible.
2. Movie nights.
Everyone loves a good movie! Not only are movie nights simple and fun, but you also get an idea of your roommates' likes and dislikes. Do you live with diehard chic-flick fanatics or classic film buffs? The easiest way to find out -- throwing a movie night with the roomies!
3. Sharing a television show.
Most television shows air a new episode once a week, so watching a show with your roommates is an ingenious way to share a common interest with them and spend quality time together. Awkward silence ruining the flow of conversation? Need a common interest to spur the dialogue back to life? Everyone loves discussing their favorite television show!
4. Cooking/baking together.
Cooking with your roommates has so many perks, from learning new skills in the kitchen to spending a regular amount of time with one another! When cooking with your roommates becomes a regular activity, it's easy to relax and be yourselves. Letting your guard down comes naturally as you spend more and more time doing mundane, everyday activities together.
5. Roomie dinners.
Is there anything cuter than roomie dinners? The correct answer is, no, there is nothing cuter that roommates who eat meals together. Just as it is important for families to eat dinner together to stay close, or for couples to go out to eat together to keep the relationship strong, it is equally as vital for roommates who want to have healthy relationships to have roomie dinners. Not only is the food better than a microwave meal, but spending time together helps build a stronger foundation for the relationship and helps everyone to be comfortable around one another.
6. Doing chores together.
Usually, chores feel arduous, rote, and boring. Basically, you would rather be doing anything else with your free time. Sometimes you try playing music or television in the background to make the event less tiresome. In all honesty, though, the best way to make chores fun is to have someone with you while your doing them! Laundry goes from "blah" to "Woo!" when your roomies are right alongside you.
7. Hosting "house parties."
Bonding with roommates means bonding with others outside your little roomie bubble. It is important to have a life outside your suite or apartment. Sharing a friend group with your roommates is exciting and makes spending time with one another even more entertaining! You can host "house parties" for your friends and the entire apartment can work together to make the bash a night to remember! It's fun and brings all of you closer together.
8. Sing-alongs.
Imagine sitting at a table with a small group of people, and everyone is singing at the top of their lungs to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Every person is giving it their all, no matter how good or bad they are at singing. It may not sound good musically, but it sounds fantastic to you, because it means everyone is comfortable enough to let loose and act like fools.
9. Asking about their day.
Asking someone how their day is going seems like a simple, inconsequential act, but showing someone that you care about the little things gives a greater foundation to the relationship. As the phrase goes: a little goes a long way!
10. Walking to class together.
Its the little things that count! Walking with your roommates to class is a simple way to bond. Can you walk and talk? Then you can bond with your roomies, easy!
11. Running errands together.
Again, just like no one likes doing chores alone, no one likes running errands by themselves. Going shopping with your roommates makes the process fun and adventuresome! You discover new places and products, as well as get to know your roomies better.
12. Celebrating birthdays and holidays as a home unit.
Ever wish that every birthday and holiday could be a big occasion filled with balloons, streamers, music, chocolate, and alcohol? Well, having roommates means this dream can be a reality! Not only does it make birthdays and holidays even more special, but celebrating with your roommates gives you memories that will last forever. Roomies who party together, stay together.
13. Field-trips.
Field-trips aren't just for kids, or at least they shouldn't be. Field-trips are always fun and exhilarating; a change from the usual and everyday. Planning and executing a field-trip with your roomies makes the outing even more special. Everyone gets a say in the event, and everyone gets to spend extended time exploring together. Soon, you'll realize you aren't just exploring the world around you, but also growing closer to your traveling companions. You aren't just roomies, you're friends ... you're family.