Roommates: a major part of college and life, they can either be your best friends or your worst nightmare. I'm sure we've all heard horror stories (at least I know I have) about roommates that take your things, trash the room, never leave you alone, do anything that could make them the worst roommate alive. But the issue isn't the roommate themselves, (make sometimes it is) but the real challenge is in learning how to handle them and situations that arise from having roommates.
I have 3 roommates, one I share a room with and the other two just the living space (technically they're called 'Suite Mates' but they've seen with me no pants and no makeup so they're roommates by default). But having 4 people (especially girls) in one space can definitely get a little hectic. But I have some tips to help make things with your roommates run smoother.
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1. Choose your battles.
Though they may do a million little things that drive you insane, it's easier to just take yourself down and decide if it's really worth starting an argument over. Screaming at your roommate because they always leave their hair everywhere (I shed so much I should be bald) isn't really a necessary fight to start. But if your roommate is constantly taking stuff without your permission or isn't keeping their side of things clean, it is definitely a subject to be discussed.
2. Set ground rules from the beginning.
It's much easier to just establish rules and boundaries from the beginning instead of 3 months in and having a mental breakdown because she broke your unknown rule of touching your blanket. Things are easier to navigate and avoid if you're both clear with how you feel and what your rules are for some things.
3. Find your own little 'getaway'.
Living with 3 people that aren't family and aren't used to how you are can be really difficult. And sometimes you just want to get away and have some time and space to yourself. So, you should find an area that you can go to just get out of the roommates whether it's to focus better, leave the room, get some space, whatever. But it is so much better knowing that if you and your roommate are having a rough day that you have somewhere you can run if they get on your nerves.
4. Be honest.
If you don't like something that they're doing or they've upset you, TELL THEM. Don't just beat around the concept and politely tell them that you're hella pissed at them just because you don't want confrontation. If you aren't straight up about how you feel, they won't know what's wrong and you guys won't be able to work anything out.
5. Create a line of territory.
Okay, territory sounds like a really aggressive word, but you get my point. Divide the room so you each have a certain, declared space that is 'yours' and is known to be yours only. This makes organization and transition better. Territory and space is a major fight starter among roommates and if you are able to declare each others' space in the beginning, you will be much better off. There won't be any of the 'you-invaded-my-space-that-wasnt-really-my-space-but-is-my-space-and-now-I-hate-you' issues. We all know what I'm talking about here. Like when someone takes your seat in class that isn't your seat but is because that's where you've sat every class since August and someone decides that they're just going to sit there. (Shoutout to that kid in my Bio class. I see you honey, and that's my seat)
So those are my tips, I know that there's not many but they really do help. And we all have those days where it's just too much and you loose your sh*t on your roommate and thats okay. But they may give you hell sometimes, but they will be there for you when you need it. And besides, they've dealt with you snoring in your sleep, I think they can handle you yelling at them a little bit.
