The fastest way to get to know someone is to live with them. That’s when you get to know ALL of them: the good, the bad, the ugly. So if you’re stuck on a lease with someone you’re finding out embodies more of the bad and ugly, these things might be good to keep in mind.
Establish certain environmental factors as soon as possible:
- What temperature should the apartment be?
- What is my sleep schedule versus my roommate’s?
- How much noise does each of us find acceptable on a regular basis?
Coming to an agreement on these topics early on will be highly beneficial to everyone’s sanity in the apartment. Sleep deprivation and edginess get very old, very quickly.
Divide up and Share Responsibilities:
You’re probably realizing by now that communication is initially the key to all these things, so be clear about which responsibilities are whose. A good way to tackle this is: if you make the mess you clean it. There are also shared spaces that should periodically be cleaned and a posted schedule (agreed upon by all parties!) is a simple fix for this.
The Golden Rule:
You may have learned it in kindergarten, but that doesn’t mean it no longer applies. Try to be empathetic in all roommate and relationship situations. If you don’t want to be treated that way, your roommate most likely doesn’t want to be treated that way either!