Written by Chloe Debono
Moving into on-campus accommodation (res) or off campus accommodation can be super exciting! It’s a new chapter filled with growth, learning, and of course fun! Living with other people can be great, however at times that is not always the way. To make sure you get the most out of your university experience be sure to be respectful and mindful, and consider your actions and lifestyle choices.
Shared spaces – when living with other people keeping shared spaces tidy is essential to a functional living environment. Creating a weekly chore chart to divide tasks fairly and make making sure each person is doing their fair share can be extremely helpful
Things to stay on top of:
– Washing your dishes (Don’t let them pile up in the sink)
– Putting food away (Not leaving leftovers out overnight)
– Taking out the bins
– Deep cleaning the bathroom
– Vacuuming + mopping
– Cleaning shared kitchen areas
There are plenty of opportunities for nights out and partying, but when you’re stumbling into your dorm at 2am remember to be mindful of your roommates, some of them may have exams or important classes the next day, and nothing is worse than interrupted sleep.
If you have an issue speak up, there is nothing worse than letting little things build up and creating anger towards one of your housemates, it’s as simple as ‘hey it bugs me when you do this do you mind doing this instead’. Having occasional house meetings can assist with this.
Everyone has different routines, causes of stress and responsibilities. Being understanding and respectful of each other’s personal lives creates a supportive living environment.
Remember to have etiquette, don’t take forever in the shower if multiple people are waiting, ask before using things that aren’t yours, give your roommates a heads up if you are having people over.
Happy moving, living with roommates can be so fun, I wish you the best of luck!
One last thing! –
When I moved onto campus accommodation in my first year, my dorm leader shared the following phrase: ‘You don’t have to be everyone’s friend but be friendly to everyone’. Being considerate of this helps create a positive environment that you feel comfortable in.
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
