Roommates: Diplomacy Starts at Home
By Kieran O’Brien

Even if you have shared a room your entire life, living with a roommate has a completely different set of advantages and challenges. 

On television, roommates are best of friends; think Monica and Rachel or Laverne and Shirley for your Nick at Night enjoyment. The reality of cohabitation is not so neat. Your trials and tribulations can be trivial or complex. Most certainly they won’t be wrapped up in a half hour’s time.

9 Simple Rules for Roommate Relations

·        Make an effort to get to know your roommate: sharing a room with another person means sharing a part of your life with them. Extend the olive branch. Set aside a night regularly; biweekly or monthly to grab a pizza or go to the dining hall together, to check in and air any grievances or celebrate good things.

·        You don’t have to be best friends to be great roommates. It’s a welcome relief to come home and not be responsible for another’s emotional well-being. Just having a common understanding can be all you need to come home to a restful environment.

·        Your best friend can be your worst nightmare when it comes to cohabitation. Living with another person means they see the good the bad and the ugly at all times. Many times the same thing that attracts you to a person for friendship is exactly what you don’t want in someone you sleep six feet away from.

·        Embrace the power of words: Know that what you say has impact on another person. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you want and need, but be diplomatic.

·        Embrace the power of listening:  Know that their voice also has value and impact. Listen to your roommate and be open to their wants and needs.

·        Respect your shared space: Maintain order and keep it clean. Keep your possessions on your side of the room. You’re room stays presentable and a stress free ordered environment is maintained. The added bonus is you never have to be embarrassed to have friends over.

·        Adapt to each other’s needs: Honestly discuss your habits, likes and dislikes. If you are a morning person and she is a night person, work out a protocol that you both can function without stepping on each other’s toes. Adaptability can mean the difference between a peaceful existence and a toxic one.

·        Be Proactive: If your living situation becomes increasingly more difficult, see an outside mediator. Don’t be afraid to seek help. That is what your RA (resident assistant) is there for.

·        Get Out: If you feel threatened or unsafe find a new place to live. You deserve to have a home that is a safe haven.