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10 Ways To Be The Type Of Person That Someone Wants To Live With

These rules can make or break living situations, trust me.

Taylor Wreesman

Feb 12, 2019

Boise State University

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Going from not sharing a place to having to share an apartment or even a room with another person is a big step and many times we do not see how much the stuff we may do can bother those you are living with. No matter the situation or the person, follow these ten things to ease the tension in living situations. Or if you need to figure out roommate discipline, these can also be used for that! Having to live in a whole new place is scary, but it should never be unbearable, uncomfortable, or unforgiving.

Always communicate

Communication is always the most important thing when being with someone. A relationship, a partnership or now a roommate. If something bugs you, talk about it. If you need some space, say something. If you see that their shoes DO NOT match their outfit, make sure they know before they leave the room! Most issues and conflicts can be resolved by talking it out.

Clean up the floor

Whenever you walk into a room, you should be able to see the floor. Always. Things happen and stuff gets messy, but make sure to keep the floor clean. Especially shared floor space, that way neither roommate gets grossed out about whatever may be on the floor or trips over anyone's stuff. Besides, it makes cleaning much easier when people come over or when the parents are in town.

Make sure your stuff stays on your side

Unless you and your roommate share absolutely everything; keep your stuff on your side. This makes things more organized and a lot less stressful. People aren't losing their stuff, clothes aren't being switched around and accidentally taken. If not, things may be stepped on, stuff may be broken and that can lead to unnecessary arguments and fights about space.

Be considerate

If you're coming back from a party at two or three in the morning, try not to wake up your roommate. Or the whole floor. If the door usually slams shut, then close it quietly. Try to navigate the room with a small flashlight or your phone screen turned up. In small dorm rooms, one fully bright phone can light up a whole room. Lights out also mean lights down and volume down. Netflix in the wee hours of the morning? Awesome, but keep it down. Headphones are great and turning down the brightness of a laptop or phone can do wonders to let your roommate sleep.

Make sure to take out the trash

Trash accumulates quicker than you think. Especially with two people. Even if you don't use the trash very often, take it out. Full and dirty trash can easily make a room dirty whether if it's just appearance or how bad the room may reek of the sandwich from last week. It's very easy to take the trash out and put a new bag in. It doesn't have to be "your week" to take it out, just do it. Everyone will feel better.

Set boundaries

Some people don't think to set boundaries and find themselves getting more and more upset at their roommate for doing something. Make sure both parties know of what they can and cannot do. And if things change in the middle of your stay together, it's okay to reset boundaries. Call a room meeting and redraw the lines so everyone is happy.

Learn to wake up

This goes in conjunction with being considerate. It is not your roommate's job to wake you up for your nine A.M. class. They may do it out of love, but 90% of the time, your roommate would like to sleep if they don't have to be up that early. This goes for alarms too. If you know that you do not wake up to an alarm, figure something out. Your roommate does not want to wake you up and yell at you to turn off your alarm for the third time that morning. Find a way to wake yourself up, besides, that way you won't miss any classes.

Do your laundry

We're in college, so laundry isn't our first priority, but it really needs to be done. Similar to taking out the trash, dirty laundry can easily make a room smell. Dirty laundry also piles up, which makes it a now daunting task and it can spread to other areas other than the laundry basket. Roommates don't want to find your dirty clothes on the floor or their side of the room, it's just weird.

Be hygienic

WASH YOU AND YOUR CLOTHES IF YOU HAVE TO. Dirty laundry is one thing, but not showering or brushing your teeth for days on end? Lord help your roommate and whoever has to sit next to you in your classes. Have dignity for yourself and take a quick shower, plus it helps with stress.

Be understanding

Most people are new to having a roommate. It's new and it's scary. Be understanding to the nights when your roommate is stressed out, when their having a bad day or when they're having issues. Roommates fight and things go wrong. That's life, and as long as you don't become hostile, things work out.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Recommended for you

10 Ways To Be The Type Of Person That Someone Wants To Live With

These rules can make or break living situations, trust me.

Always communicate

Clean up the floor

Make sure your stuff stays on your side

Be considerate

Make sure to take out the trash

Set boundaries

Learn to wake up

Do your laundry

Be hygienic

Be understanding

Subscribe to our Newsletter

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

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