My Roommate and Me
How to Live Together Successfully and Have a Great Freshman Year.
Communication is Key!
Start off the year right, by sitting down together and talk honestly about what you like and dislike. This isn’t time to tell someone what to do or how to do it, but to understand each other and find ways to mesh your lifestyles. No hurt feelings, just honest discussion and compromise.
After your discussion, write down a list of “rules” so there is no forgetting. Make a “penalty” if one of you doesn’t follow through. It can be something simple such as buying a cup of coffee or a muffin. Have fun with it!
Topics for Discussion
- Listening to music while studying
- Leaving clothes on the floor
- Which snacks and food are to be shared
- Cleaning routines
- Respecting each other’s sleep times
Helpful Hints for Maintaining Your Abode
Nix Germs!
Keeping clean is especially important when you are in contact with lots of people and it is cold and flu season. It’s not a bad idea to use paper towels in the bathroom instead of regular cloth towels. Once a week, use antibacterial cleanser to wipe down frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs, light switches, key boards, cell phones etc.
Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands! It really does make a difference. Google “how to wash your hands,” to see the most effective way to do it. (Think Happy Birthday song twice). Believe it or not, washing your hands has been proven to be the best defense against germs.
Not interested? You will be when you are sick.
Once a day makes it easy (and you hardly ever have to really clean!)
Remember that taking care of housekeeping tasks right away makes things easier in the long run.
- Every day, collect trash: coffee cups, drink bottles, paper plates, paper trash etc. and throw out.
- Make your bed, yes, make your bed! It only takes 5 minutes and your room will look great. Plus when you have been up half the night studying, a nicely made bed will feel awesome!
- Toss dirty clothes in your laundry bag. Designate a place for clothes that have been worn briefly and can be worn again. A bin or basket works just fine. Toss your clothes there instead of the floor.
- At the end of each day; tidy your desk. It doesn’t have to be perfect but it will help from getting out of control.
- Sanitizing wipes are a great for quickly cleaning toothpaste and hair out of the bathroom sink or freshening up the toilet between cleanings.
The successful person has the habit of doing things failures don’t like to do. They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose. – Albert E. N. Gray
Once a week makes it easy!
Have a Swiffer and Swiffer cloths to snatch those dust bunnies on bare floors or on the top of your desk. A small hand held vacuum is perfect for area rugs and carpet if you have them.
When you know you’ll be in your dorm room for a couple of hours, do some laundry. Small loads get done faster than large ones. Set a timer so you remember to move your stuff to the dryer. Wet laundry sitting in the washer for a half hour means that it will take a half hour longer to get your laundry done!
Keeping up with your laundry means your favorite T Shirt will be ready when you are and you won’t spend a whole afternoon or morning in the laundry room. Notice when the laundry room is especially crowed and find a time when you have it to yourself.
If you are lucky enough to have your own…..
No one likes to do it, but cleaning the bathroom once a week makes the whole job easier, faster and less disgusting. If you have been using sanitizing wipes during the week, this job will be a breeze. Alternate weeks with your roommate and you are only cleaning twice a month!