Consider the following scenario: you moved to a new city/country to pursue your dream job, or you just enrolled in that university you have been intending to get into for a long time. The job you got/university you
got into is fantastic, but there is a small catch. You have to share your space with your flatmates. However, since you had your private room in your parents’ house, how do you live with others when you don’t know how to share space with strangers? What’s the trick to turning these strangers or flatmates into your friends and living peacefully with them? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this guide today. Here are a few tips for cohabiting peacefully with your flatmates.
#1. COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.
If you want to save time and effort while living with flatmates, the first and most significant thing you need to do is figure out what your flatmates like and dislike. Your flatmates will be impressed if you take the time to learn their interests and dislikes. They will enjoy it, and getting to know one another will allow you to see whether you share any interests. The more you share, the more you can accomplish together.
#2. HAVE PATIENCE AND BE FRIENDLY.
The most effective way to maintain peace is to be polite and friendly. When you live with others, you must also be patient. Things may start to fall apart as you get to know one other better. You may notice that dishes are frequently left in the sink unwashed. After a shower, you may see that the bathroom has not been cleaned. These things can be aggravating. And to avoid all these situations turning into heated arguments:
1. Remember to be rational in any scenario.
2. Try to handle these situations and mishaps with patience and a cool head.
3. Always try to communicate your point of view with a cool and friendly tone.
#3. BE CONSIDERATE
When you move in with someone new, you should follow this tip. It’s a bit general, but it will serve you well. If you have someone over, ask your roommate if it’s okay if they stay for a bit longer. Before taking their food, ask them first. Therefore, remember that you share a space with another human being, so consider their feelings when making decisions as your decisions indirectly affect them as well.
#4. DO YOUR CLEANING
Clean the shower area, wash your dishes, and do your laundry. A clean shower is ideal to step into when you’re tidying yourself. The Bondi Sands fake tan can last a long time, especially on bathroom tiles, so remember to remind your flatmate about it. You might want to set up a cleaning regimen with your flatmates if you suspect that cleaning once is leading to cleaning all the time. Sometimes, people tend to take advantage of you when you go out of your way a bit, so keep that in your mind.
#5. GET RID OF THE SNOOZE BUTTON
If you live in a shared space with flatmates, you might or might not be sharing your room. However, if you do have a roommate, the last thing you would want is to wake up two hours earlier than you should because of your roommate’s phone alarm. And if you are an alarm abuser and can’t resist the snooze button, place your phone on the other side of your bed – it will make you less likely to hit the snooze again by making you get up to turn off the noise. Then you are less likely to be hated by your roommate for disturbing their sleep.
#6. MAKE DECISIONS AS A GROUP
People feel marginalized, which leads to so many disagreements if you are making a major decision (especially one with a large financial impact), such as which energy supplier you want, where to get broadband, whether you
need a cleaner, whether a friend can stay, etc., you cannot scapegoat.
#7. MAKE A SET OF RULES
It’s okay to set ground rules in advance to prevent misunderstandings, but you’ll have a better chance of preventing them if you create them before you live with others. There are several areas where you share your rules with your flatmates. These include overnight guests, cleaning, meal sharing, billing, entering into each other’s rooms, and other potential flashpoints which you think might be problematic if interfered with.
#8. BE RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR FOOD
If you have a moldy banana in your fruit bowl, consider helping a friend out and composting it. You’ll be helping your flatmates and planet Earth at the same time. As for the fridge: clean out the stinky week-old leftovers or half-emptied jars with whatever you ate from it.
Having to eat your flatmates’ food is also a thorny matter regarding food responsibility. When it comes to food, the general rule is: if you eat it, replace it. Having said that, this is not always the case. Maybe your flatmate was planning on using the last bit of their milk, which you just sucked down, on their breakfast this morning, so you won’t even have time to replace it. So eat at your own peril and always ask before touching anyone’s food!
#9. DON’T BLAST YOUR SPEAKERS
No matter how similar your taste in music or TV shows is to your flatmates/roommates, that does not mean they always want to hear what you’re watching or listening to. So be considerate and don’t put your speakers on blast. This will only annoy your flatmates and might lead to arguments. Instead, invest in good-quality headphones and wear them whenever you listen to music or watch a show, so your flatmates don’t hate you.
#10. HAVE SOME ME-TIME
Sharing your space with others means a lot of socializing, which can eventually drain your energy, especially if you are an introvert. Remember that everyone needs time to unwind, no matter whether they’re introverted or extroverted. Hence, make sure you spend some time with yourself and recharge your social batteries by working on your job/studying or being alone.
Most of us have lived in a co-living space at one time or another, and some still are. CoLiving is an increasingly popular concept in every society, whether it is a dormitory experience in college or a remote job. Sometimes it can be a bit hectic as usual, people come from very different backgrounds, each person grew up in a different country or society which means he might not share similar interests, so always be considerate give them some time and learn about other’s culture and background and communicate with them in a polite and friendly manner to enjoy living in a friendly and helpful environment.
If you are a tenant in of a KUMMUNI CoLiving spaces and you would like to contact our community manager please click here.
