Seeing sitcoms like Friends, living with a roommate may seem fun—but is it? Maybe. We can tell you that this could make or break friendships if not handled properly.
Living Space vs. Personal Space: Understanding Roommate Relationship
Getting a roommate is a common option for apartment or condo renters to increase their financial stability. However, having roommates may be challenging, so learning how to manage your relationship with your roommate effectively is important.
Firstly, you need to know whether you are more suited to live alone or fine with living with a roommate.
Pros and Cons: Living Alone vs. Living with Roommates
Living Alone
Pro #1: Me Time
If you are naturally an introvert, the solution will be quite clear. You get a ton—and we do mean a ton—of alone time when you live alone. You can lock your door and spend the entire day alone if you're not in the mood to enjoy the outdoors and the company of people.
Pro #2: Total Freedom
The freedom to do whatever you want inside the four walls of your room is the finest part of living alone. No one will tell you what you should or shouldn't do in your room, so feel free to express yourself through the interior design of your home! You will feel at home and comfortable if you can personalize your space.
Pro #3: No Fights
Because there is no one else in the apartment or condo with you, you won't have anyone to spark a fight with. You don't have to worry about who gets to shower in the bathroom first or who took the last piece of cake in the refrigerator—the culprit is only you!
Con #1: Quite Expensive
Living alone might be fun, but you can also pay all the bills by yourself. Because you have no roommate to split these costs with, living alone means you must use your own money to pay rent, water bills, electricity, and additional costs like internet and air conditioning. In this type of living setting, saving money is challenging. Consider your financial status before deciding whether you want to do it alone.
Con #2: On Your Own
Speaking of alone, when living without roommates, you are literally on your own. You have to carry out everything all on your own when you live alone. Whether you like it or not, living alone means you must complete all household chores—from cooking to cleaning the whole space—by yourself.
Con #3: Alone and Lonely
You could want some companionship occasionally. When you live with a roommate, finding someone to chat and hang out with is simple, but living alone is a different story. Living alone requires you to adjust to the solitude or discover other ways to amuse yourself while your friends are occupied.
Living with Roommates
Pro #1: Shared Chores
Living with a roommate is less tiring and less expensive than living alone. Splitting up the housework will save you time. You should compromise with your roommate over the chores you both feel comfortable doing. In simple terms, it may make your living more convenient.
Pro #2: Shared Bills
One of the most popular reasons for living with a roommate is to have someone with whom to split the rent. You'll also save money if you live with a roommate because utilities and other costs are evenly split. Ensure everyone has agreed to have a fair share of the expenses before packing your things and moving in with your best friend to prevent potential conflicts.
Pro #3: Building Relationships
If you live far from home and don't get the chance to visit your family very often, the social atmosphere built up by your roommate helps you feel a little less lonely. If you're living with good friends, it makes it easier to hang out with them than in any other situation. Additionally, building strong connections with those you live with is simple. And even if you first live with a stranger, you have the luxury of time to get to know one another better. Who knows? Your new roommate may be your next best friend.
Con #1: Less Privacy
Unfortunately, living with a roommate isn't the best option for people who can't afford to share their home and alone time with others. You have to share almost everything when you live with a roommate, including the kitchen, the bathroom, the common areas, and other things.
Con #2: Less Freedom
Living with roommates involves giving up your own space and your complete freedom. You are not allowed to invite people over freely, and the way you live requires you to be more cautious and mindful of your surroundings as a courtesy. Don't play loud music or be messy—you can't do everything you want, and you'll need to sacrifice your personal space and privacy.
Con #3: Conflicting Relationships
Even best friends might fall out if they move in together. Little everyday incidents may cause you to argue with your roommates and lead to a fight. So be ready and develop your ability to compromise. Try to meet them halfway by compromise rather than turning a minor issue, such as schedule conflicts or what to eat, into a full-blown battle. A heated dispute can be avoided by calmly discussing problems rather than letting them fester. You're more inclined to engage in passive-hostile behavior toward one another while issues go unresolved.
Tips for Living with Roommates
Here are a few tips that can help you live with roommates as drama-free as possible. You'll be able to work through these differences and create an excellent roommate bond as well as a nice living situation if you follow the guides in this article and establish roommate rules and tasks.
Communication is the Key
They say that communication is the foundation of all successful and healthy relationships, and your relationship with your roommate is no exception. You are not mind readers—it's best to say what needs to be said. Learn about the people with whom you will be spending the upcoming months or even years.
Discuss expectations and common interests. Find out what a good roommate means to them, then express your opinion to them. Finding a point of connection is always the greatest method to build relationships. You'll develop respect for one another's preferences in this way. Clear communication lets your roommate know these things and vice versa.
Moreover, being aware of your roommate's daily routine is crucial. In fact, this should be one of your first topics of conversation. For instance, if you were hogging the restroom while other people were rushing out the door or working on their projects, you wouldn't want to be interrupted.
So that you don't disrupt each other's days, talk about your sleeping habits, class timetables, and extracurricular activities.
Split Responsibilities
Make a list of duties and obligations to do in your shared apartment or condo, then discuss how to split the responsibilities.
Create a schedule and place it where everyone can see it. This will facilitate open communication and make life easier for everyone involved. Discuss minor concerns like how long it is acceptable for dirty dishes to remain dirty, how frequently the area should be swept, and who gets to take out the garbage. The most crucial thing is that you equally participate in keeping your place clean and orderly.
Not only the chores but you should talk about financial responsibilities too. Even if talking about financial obligations is not always enjoyable, it is one of the most important subjects to discuss. Determine how you want to share the expense. Internet and utility bills are often issued to one person, so make sure you or your roommate contributes each month.
Being proactive with utility bills is always a wise and important habit when living with someone else.
Set Boundaries
One of the most crucial aspects is establishing personal and physical boundaries with your roommate. Be considerate of each other's personal space and identify the shared areas you have.
Set boundaries. Make ground rules. We can become so comfortable with other people that we overstep our limits, especially when borrowing stuff from them. No matter how close you are to this individual, keep in mind that it is still polite to ask permission before taking any of his possessions. Know your roommate's schedule and compromise with it.
If you have guests coming over, inform everyone in advance to avoid disturbing what they are doing. Always refill and replace any food being shared to avoid having to buy food repeatedly for one person. If your roommate doesn't like loud music, don't blast it from the speakers—you can wear headphones instead
Keep an Open Mind
Living with someone is more difficult than you may believe, especially if they are vastly different from you. Being open-minded and having good communication between roommates might help them avoid a lot of conflicts.
You must respect that your roommate may have a different lifestyle, culture, viewpoint, and ideology than you. If you and your partner don't take the time to understand and empathize with one another, different lifestyle choices and habits could destroy your relationship. Keep an open mind and consider the interesting insights that these fresh viewpoints bring.
If there are things they do that you need help understanding, meet with them to discuss them and be considerate of what they have to say. You must both feel comfortable in the environment you share. An important lesson about living with roommates is accepting other people's opinions and choices.
After all, sharing a space with someone is more about forming a strong bond and a place where you can be yourself.
Be Kind
Treat your roommate how you want to be treated. As the Golden Rule states, "Do not do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you."
Although this advice is a little generic, it's a sound guideline to follow when moving in with a new person. If you plan to have someone over, ask your roommate if it's okay. Don't take their meal without first getting their consent. In conclusion, be aware that you are sharing a space with someone else and consider their opinions before making decisions.
Even though getting along with others might be extremely difficult (and irritating at times), treating them with respect is still necessary. At the end of the day, you know that you were kind to your roommate and that you won't look back and regret it.
If the tables were turned, you would respect that courtesy as well!
Resolve Conflict as Early as Possible
Conflicts are inevitable. Sometimes, they arise for the most trivial of causes.
Undoubtedly, you can be bothered by some of your roommate's habits. Do you enjoy it when somebody searches through your belongings without your consent? Is he overly intrusive in the mornings? Do they need to remember to clean frequently? Address all of these complaints politely rather than keeping them all inside.
If you've ever found yourself in a heated disagreement with your roommate, try ending it immediately. Long-term relationship damage results from continuing arguments. It is better to resolve and confront issues before you start harboring animosity toward one another because you will be sharing this space with them in the long run.
Living together for an extended amount of time in a small space is undoubtedly difficult, but sharing the same room with someone else may be a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. Living with others makes people more self-aware of their mannerisms and teaches them new things about their roommates.
I hope you took notes so you can fully enjoy your roommate experience without much conflict!
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
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