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Roomie issues? Don’t sweat it
Going potluck for roommates has benefits: You meet someone new, adjust your bad habits, and you’re likely to end up with a lifelong friend. That’s not to say there won’t be some roommate issues, but part of conflict management is being aware of potential blow-ups and reaching compromises before they ever happen.
Here are some tips for avoiding chaotic roommate squabbles dating back to Hamlet and Horatio:
Clean-tidy or creatively messy
Beware: Whether compulsively clean or obsessively sloppy, you must give some ground either way, and you’ll both be better off. Squeaky, don’t freak out over a T-shirt tossed on the ground or a half-finished soda on the table. Slobs-r-us, commit to a basic degree of tidiness and make sure to do your share of the cleaning.
Conflicting music tastes
There will be times when you crank up Jay-Z, but your Waylon-loving roommate comes home and wants no part of it. Surely you can find some middle ground and common interests, even if it’s Michael Buble. If all else fails, turn on your iPod and get lost in your own world.
Invited guests
Set some time aside to discuss each of your upcoming academic agendas before deciding to host your meeting of the Toby Keith fan club in the room. There are few things worse than being inconsiderate of your roommate’s time and space. You’ve got to work things out and be aware of one another’s schedules.
Early bird or night owl
If nature programmed your bio clocks differently, you both need to set some limits. Early risers can make allowances by setting an alarm to quiet music and refraining from repeatedly hitting the snooze button, and then get ready and get gone. Late-nighters can restrict the room’s light to a table lamp for reading and try to finish any noisier activities early in the night. Late-nighters can also stay on campus for robust conversations about approaching lab assignments or on the floor lobby for debates about politics.
Study time or party time
You may want to have the best party room on your floor, but that won’t take you far. Lay down the ground rules for studying. Your agreement may be that other places on campus are study retreats while the room is an entertainment oasis. That’s OK. You’ll both have enough common downtime that you can agree when it’s time to have the Guitar Hero duel and when it’s time to buckle down.
Figure out what works
Most of all, find out what you have in common and build on that. You may not share the same interests—your roommate’s zoned-in on the PGA and UFC is your preference—but there will be things you both enjoy.
Learn some tips on achieving roommate harmony