How To Be A Less Crappy Roommate | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

How To Be A Less Crappy Roommate

23
How To Be A Less Crappy Roommate
Scrubs

Not every roommate pairing will be the next Turk and JD, but like it or not, you’re living with that guy (or girl) for the next year. It’s in everybody’s best interest that you two (or four, or eight) get along well, and we at The Odyssey want to help make that happen.

1. Talk about the boring stuff first

    Early into the year, your RA is going to make you and your roommate sign a basic contract about behaving nicely and deciding what parts of the room you’re each going to clean. You probably won’t read it. Make sure you cover the important details, though, like what time you actually go to sleep, and whether or not your roommate is a serial killer.

    2. Communicate

    You don’t have to be in Annenberg to figure this one out. If you’re going to bring friends to the dorm, let your roommates know ahead of time, so they aren’t surprised when they find a house party in their dorm. And if something is bothering one of you, bring it up as it happens. Address the little things while they’re little or you’ll regret it later.

    3. Respect each other

    If Yeezus can do it, so can you. You both have an equal right to your dorm, so act like it. Don’t mess with or take the other person’s stuff. Yes, they’re going to notice if you use their shampoo every day, and not just because you’ll both smell alike. Plan out who brings what, or if there’s something you guys want to share, like a Hulu account. And if you damage your roommate’s stuff, tell them. You’re not going to get away with crashing your pennyboard into the wall and leaving that huge hole. Own up to it. Besides, you can get all that stuff fixed for free with a work order.

    4. Contain your filth

    As someone who has had to napalm one of this roommates with Febreeze during finals week, I cannot stress this one enough. Whether it’s doing the laundry, making your bed, or just keeping your side of the room relatively free of chicken bones, cleaning is important. If you’re in a dorm that comes with separate bathrooms, they’ll be cleaned twice a week. You need to clean that thing more than twice a week so it doesn’t look like the aftermath of one of those L'Oréal commercials. Set rules early on how it’s going to be kept clean and get it done. Not that hard.

    5. Actually get to know your roommate

    Some people expect their roommate to become their best friend. Others just want someone they can live with. Whichever category you and your roommate fit into, try to understand who they are and where they come from. Learn what they like, and you might find something new to enjoy. You’re not going to agree on everything, and one of you will probably like "Magic: The Gathering" a lot more than the other. But like I wrote before, your roommate(s) will have a lot to teach you. So be courteous, be polite, and give them some fair warning if the women’s basketball team is on their way to kick your ass.

    Oh, and find one of those little “Do Not Disturb” things that hangs on the door. It’ll come in handy, trust me.

    Report this Content
    This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
    dumbbell
    Twist Photography

    Going to the gym and working out on a daily basis (with breaks once in awhile) has been a great way for me to feel good about myself. It is 100% more than just looking good. Especially after starting college and having the stress and anxiety of tests, assignments, and just figuring out my future, the gym at my school has definitely been a place of relief for me and I have numerous reasons of why everyone should push themselves to get to the gym when they can.

    Keep Reading...Show less
    shameless
    Tube Filter

    Sometimes you need a break. A break from school, studying, work, anything that life throws at you. We are all guilty of binge watching a show that we just cannot get enough of. I know that I've gotten so fixated on a show that there have been entire days that I have day-dreamed about getting home and watching a particular show. Next time you find yourself having an urge to binge watch a series be sure, to check out the following.

    Keep Reading...Show less
    Student Life

    5 GIFs That All College Students Can Relate To

    Trust me: If you're a college student, you would want to read this...

    377
    college calculator
    Flickr Creative Commons

    Oh college, lovely, lovely college. A four-year time span that is filled with many highs and many lows. Between procrastinating on an essay that is due at midnight to getting your first library card (if you know what I mean), college is a time that you should not take for granted, yet it is also a time where you feel like your entire world is falling apart. It is a time where one day you can feel like you are on top of the world and then the next day you are 500 feet below the ground surface.

    Keep Reading...Show less
    Lifestyle

    12 Festive Ways To Decompress After Finals

    When you need to get rid of your leftover stress but also be in the Christmas spirit.

    262
    dog
    Pexels

    So you're finally finished with your semester and you really need to decompress from it, but you're also feeling the time crunch because Christmas is like ten days away and you haven't even gotten to do anything fun and festive yet. No worries! Fortunately, there are several festive things you can do to help put the stress far behind you. You can also make some of your usual favorite things to do Christmasy. Basically, you're winning.

    Keep Reading...Show less
    Lifestyle

    5 Benefits Of Learning Different Languages

    It's a pain to learn but it's definitely worth it in the end.

    2865
    learning different languages
    a2zli

    When I was learning how to talk, I was taught both Portuguese and English at the same time. In elementary school, I started taking mandatory Spanish classes, which I did well in because of my knowledge of Portuguese. Then in high school, on top of taking Spanish, I also started taking French. Now, in college, already fluent in English and Portuguese, I'm in the process of becoming fluent in Spanish, and I have a standard high school level understanding of French.

    Keep Reading...Show less

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter

    Facebook Comments