Sharing your life, room, and other stuff with someone you do not know is a distinctive experience. The relationship between the roommates should be friendly and, usually, most of the roommates become best friends who start sharing everything with each other eventually. But there are some things that you should keep in mind before you choose your roommate.
Every person will not be a good one. Choose a compatible roommate for yourself. Check how they live on day to day basis. What kind of music they play and what is their level of hygiene? If they have a disease or an allergy that can be troublesome, then you will need to be more cautious. Know if they smoke, drink or do drugs and if you are okay with the habits or not. Check the background of your roommate and make sure that there are no criminal records registered against them. Investigate their rental history and their financial conditions. If you are confident about the roommate after examining every point, then you should consider your life after you start living with them.
Tips To Be A Good Roommate
#1. Communicate Your Needs And Expectations
It is necessary to communicate the needs and expectations to the roommate. Every person must inform his or her roommates about how he or she likes to live and what they expect from the roommate. Sit with your roommate and discuss food, clothing, parties, noise, cleaning and so on. This is the right time to set limitations between both of you which is very important in every relationship. The dynamics of your relationship with your roommate will change over time and the restrictions may increase or decrease depending on the kind of bond you share. Initially, you will find it difficult to share your clothes or your food with your roommate, but when you become great friends, then you would not mind sharing anything with them. This conversation must take place right when you move in with the roommate so that you do not have issues living from day one. You could have a list of do’s and don’ts hung over the wall so that you both remember what you should avoid doing.
#2. Sign Agreements Ahead Of Time
Before you begin your life with the new roommate, you should sign agreements. The best way to avoid fights is to sign an agreement. There should be a written agreement between the roommates regarding the bills and the responsibilities. How you will divide the electricity bills, rent for the room and other expenses should be mentioned in the agreement. The responsibilities like who will pay the bill and who will shop for the needs of both should also be mentioned. You could divide the cost equally for every expense, or you could take different departments to take care of. For example one of you could handle all the electrical bills and one could pay the rent and grocery both paying the equal amounts. It is up to the roommates to decide what suits them more. After you have discussed the roles and duties, sign the contract and keep the copies with yourself and the roommate. Abide by the rules you have made so that your roommate follows them too. If you fail to follow your own rules, then your roommate will also relax his/her duties.
#3. Be Prepared For Arguments And Fights
You have divided the responsibilities in the agreement, but you also need to be honest with them. If you are not happy with something your roommate did, then you should communicate it with them instead of fighting or keeping it in your mind. If something bothers you then speak about it or correct it yourself. Roommates get into arguments when they do not find something the way like it. A messed up room or poorly washed dishes may make you angry but you should understand that they do not know how to do it or they have not been familiar with the duties. If the roommate cannot do something properly, then take the task in your hands and give some other responsibility to the roommate. Every time one of you breaks the rules, there will be fights and if you want to avoid them then talk about it. You could also make a rule according to which you are allowed to break a rule once or twice a month. You can take an off from one responsibility only once a month so this gives both the people an opportunity to relax. Be ready for such arguments in the initial year of sharing a place because this is the time you both will not be acquainted with each other’s habits and lifestyle.
#5. Get To Know Your Roommate
If you want to be a good roommate then you should try to know them. The person is a stranger so is every person before they become your best friends. Once you start understanding your roommate, you will become better friends. Every person is wonderful in their own way we just need the eye to see it. Try to be more sympathetic and kind with your roommate. You should help them settle with you and they will help you in return. Lend a hand in arranging their stuff in the room and ask them about how they feel. Listen to them whenever they have something to speak about. If you find them upset then talk to them. Console them when college seems to work their head up. You could help them with the homework. Teach them something they don’t know and ask them to teach you something you do not know. Have a healthy relationship with your roommate to make your and their stay a happening one.
#6. Be Ready To Compromise
When you live with someone, you have to adjust according to the person. Life partner, sibling, parents, best friends or roommates all have to adjust according to each other’s needs. You will have to be ready to compromise while you live with your roommate because if you compromise they will too. If you want to live happily then you will have to ignore a lot of things that you do not like because everything will not work as per your wish. Sometimes you will have to adapt yourself to keep a positive and stress-free environment. A lot of times when your roommate’s friends or family will visit them you will have to work a little extra or you will have to deal with their habit of listening to rock music aloud and maybe they are the worst bathroom singer, so, you will have to deal with that too. No relationship works without one making compromises.
#7. Respect Personal Space And Privacy
You should respect your roommate’s privacy. Every person has their private life and it is up to them if they want to share it with you or not. If you want to be a good roommate then you will have to take care of the roommate’s personal space. They may not be comfortable with sitting closely or sharing their bed. Maintain distance as some people find it uncomfortable to have people inside their personal space. Respecting the other person will get you the same respect in return.
#8. Keep An Open-Mind
Your beliefs may differ from your roommate’s, and that is why you should keep an open mind. They may have a cultural background that you do not know about or you do not understand, but you should make efforts to know the person and the culture. If you believe in something then it is not important that your roommate has to believe in the same. You should accept their thought process and their manner of living. It is their life and they have every right to live the way they want.
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