Even if the only thing you have in common is that you all pay rent to the same landlord, fostering a strong community with your roommates makes for a peaceful, enjoyable home. Consider some tips to make home where the heart is.
How to Bond with Roommates
Take the time to share and listen. Make an honest effort to let your roommates know what is going on in your life. Likewise, ask them how they’re doing. Remember one or two specific things they told you so you can ask about it again later.
Set up a bonding activity. Schedule a time once a week where your household can do something fun together. Whether its getting take-out from your favorite pizza joint or sweating it out at the gym together, this is your chance to deepen your friendships and remind yourselves of why you wanted to live together in the first place. Consider a weekly meal that you can cook and enjoy together.
Old-fashioned good deeds go a long way. Before leaving your roommate’s cereal bowl for her to clean when she gets back from work, consider just how much effort it would take to wash it for her. Actions of kindness foster peace whereas pettiness makes for a hostile environment. Let your roommate know that you have her back.
Buy bulk. Think of foods or drinks you can buy together. Having three different brands of butter in the fridge is silly. If your basic diet preferences coincide, consider buying the basics like milk, bread and eggs together. Going grocery shopping as a household can be a bonding experience in itself.
Solving Roommate Conflict
Pick your battles. So your roommate puts the toilet paper roll on the wrong way. Yes, its bothersome, but ask yourself before an issue like this could potentially get blown out of proportion: Is this an issue worth raising? Will it benefit the household? Is it worth my effort? Keep in mind that some issues are not worth your time or effort and may cause more harm than good.
Schedule house meetings. Set up a monthly or bi-monthly time that your household can get on the same page with house business like bills, chores, laundry, dishes, etc. Also use this time to personally check in with one another, talk about household dynamics, and how each roommate can be better cared for by the house.
Address concerns quickly. The quickest way to kill a thriving community is by letting problems go unaddressed. Don’t let conflicts fester. If it concerns the entire household, raise the issue appropriately at the house meeting. If not, address it immediately with the roommate the conflict involves. Do as much as you can to resolve the conflict the day it happens.
Although the people you live with in college won't be your roommates forever, they are in many ways your temporary family. Planning bonding activities, buying food together, and addressing household concerns quickly are some important steps in making the most of your college living experience.
Amanda Drew - Amanda Drew is a recent college graduate from California State University of Chico with a degree in Journalism and International ...
