Eff It: Friends to Roommates

Living with roommates is a unique experience for everyone. It can build and/or create relationships that blossom into everything you’ve ever wanted in a friend, but it can also make friendships deteriorate if each person in the situation lets it. There are pros and cons to having roommates for everyone, from having fun and exciting movie nights to clashing over dirty dishes or messy common areas of the house. All these examples are realistic things that can happen when living with friends/roommates, and this guide will teach you how to balance living with others and finding a sense of home and belonging for everyone.

Some topics we will discuss in this guide include communication skills, creating boundaries, handling conflicts, lifestyle differences, and more. Whether you are new to living with roommates or have a bunch of experience in it, trust that this guide will help you prevent continuous conflicts and help create beautiful connections with a positive environment for all housemates.

Why Good Communication Skills are Effective in Living Situations

Communication is key in being able to understand people’s thoughts and concerns, including your own. Since living with roommates is a group effort, communication will play a huge part in everyone’s experience they have living together. The best type of communication is being open and honest about how you feel towards certain things. For example, if one of your roommates leaves dirty dishes in the sink for long periods of time and it bothers you, being honest with that person can help solve the issue. Having open conversations will help everyone feel more comfortable with voicing their concerns, which also plays into boundary setting, something we will get into later.

You may be wondering, how should I initiate certain conversations with roommates effectively? It can be nerve-racking for people to confront others about concerns they’re having. Common worries like miscommunication can arise, which can cause anger and frustration in individuals. The best way to avoid your responses being taken the wrong way and initiate a good conversation are:

• Go into it with an open mindset.

• Think logically before you speak.

• Make sure your tone of voice is respectful.

• Be direct about what point you are trying to get across.

• Make sure your behavior towards the person is respectful.

If you have all five of these boxes checked out, you are good to go into the conversation.

A great way to practice effective communication with your roommates is to have regular roommate meetings to talk about any comments or concerns. Doing this can give everyone a chance to talk about things that have been on their minds, address any issues, etc. Making these meetings happen regularly will help everyone become more comfortable with speaking up about anything to each other.

Navigating Lifestyle Differences

Most people you will meet all grew up in different households. Some people grow up in constantly clean houses, while others can grow up in constantly messy places. These experiences shape people into how they manage their own homes. When living with roommates, it is important to make sure everyone establishes their needs when living together. For example, talk about everyone’s sleep schedules. Who goes to sleep early at night, and who is a night owl? What is the average time that everyone goes to sleep? Establishing clear expectations that the whole house agrees on can help manage those differences to make the house atmosphere a more positive experience. Some expectations to think about and create with roommates could be having a shared guest policy, personal spaces, flexibility and adaptivity with any changes or unexpected situations, conflict resolutions, etc. Utilizing these tips can prevent any unwanted drama or arguments between everyone in the home.

Here is a video you can check out to learn more about how to get through those differences!

https://youtube.com/shorts/Cuf5B7wNVJA?si=3Yjwm_V72nzIpSZY

Conclusion

Overall, living with people can be a great experience if you let it be. Wonderful memories will be made, and new experiences will begin when living with roommates. The three main things to remember when it is time to move in with any friends, peers, etc., is:

· Good/direct communication skills

· Setting boundaries for your own needs/mental health

· Understanding lifestyle differences between the roommates

Having these skills is crucial to make your experience the best it can be. It is very helpful to prevent any issues arising, genuinely understanding how your roommates live, and making the atmosphere of the house feel like a home for everyone.

If you are curious about learning more info on dorm life, student social life, and history of trends throughout student life, click the link below!

I hope these tips help you navigate the best ways to create a positive experience when living with roommates!