Living with a Roommate
Respect each other.
- Don’t forget the golden rule! Treat your roommate the way that you would like to be treated.
- Don’t degrade or ridicule your roommate. This is the BEST way to make someone loathe you.
- You may not always like your roommate, but you still need to give him/her the respect that they deserve. After all, they are paying half the rent and its their apartment too.
- Situation: You come home from work, kick off your shoes in a pile at the door, make your way over to the fridge where you chug milk directly from the carton, grab a frozen dinner, slam it in the microwave and then proceed to eat it watching the football game as loud as the television will go. You then leave the empty food container on the table, along with an empty beer can or two and then get on your computer to check your email and tie up the line for a couple hours. You then make your way to the bathroom and are completely and utterly disgusted because your roommate forgot to flush the toilet. You have nothing to complain about!!! Sure we all have a bad day every once in a while, but don’t assume that your roommate will be willing to pick up after you, after all, they may have had a similarly bad day. (By the way, there is just no excuse for not flushing the toilet.) Respect the feelings of your roomie and expect the same in return.
Be considerate.
- Say your roommate is sick. Wouldn’t it be nice if you took care of more of the housework while he’s laying in bed coughing his brains out, brought him soup or ran to the drug store for him? By doing nice things for your roommate, odds are he’ll be more than happy to return the favor when you’re in a time of need.
- If your roommate is having an argument with his or her significant other, don’t sit there and listen in on the conversation (no matter how bad you really want to). Give your roommate some space and clear out of the room. This little thing may be very significant and will show that you are concerned about maintaining each other’s privacy.
Sure, a lot of these things seem like common sense, but when you’re dealing with day to day stress, and especially if you’re used to living with your parents or siblings, it’s easy to fly off the handle. Remember the reason you got a roommate in the first place. It’s a financial decision, without him or her; you probably couldn’t live out on your own. Treat this person more like a co-worker than a family member and you’re good to go.
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