Surviving College Living

How To Master Living Alone

1. Be accountable for yourself

When living by yourself, you have to realize you no longer have someone checking if you’re keeping your room clean, finishing your homework or going to bed at a decent time - it’s all up to you. The thought of independence can be very exciting, but don’t go too crazy. Start by making some rules or mental check points to stay accountable to yourself. Plan a schedule around your classes or work and decide when is a good time to do homework or when you’ll have time to hang out with friends. Stay consistent with it. Deciding when you’ll go to sleep or deciding when you’ll wake up to make sure you’re on time for your classes is very important as well. If you start out your semester by missing classes or not getting enough sleep, you could hurt yourself in the long run.

2. Buy in bulk

Living by yourself means you can buy whatever you want! Splurge on foamy hand soap or 2-ply toilet paper because you don’t have to check in with roommates to make sure they’re ok with what you’re filling the home with. But also keep in mind that because you’re not splitting the bill, finding a way to save some extra money will be beneficial to your bank account. Buying in bulk is a great way to do this. Sam’s club, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club are your best friends.

3. Get to know your neighbors

Neighbors can be tricky sometimes but if all goes well you could end up with a great work-out or homework buddy. A great way to introduce yourself without awkwardly knocking on the door would be if you see them moving in at the same time as you or carrying in a lot of grocery bags. Rarely ever will someone turn down a helping hand so take the opportunity to make a nice impression while introducing yourself.

4. Don’t get behind on cleaning

Cleaning as you go is a must when you live alone. Letting dishes pile up or laundry go unfolded will be your worst nightmare, especially because you have no one to bug you about getting it done. Make time to clean your dishes after you use them or fold clothes while watching your favorite TV show. Keeping cleaning supplies easily accessible will help motivate you to keep your apartment tidy. Don’t store your vacuum behind a bunch of boxes or in a messy storage room. Instead, keep it in your closet or somewhere close so it won’t be as much of a hassle to do the chore. Keeping a dust rag in your bedroom is also a great way to ensure you’ll dust every few days.

Cleaning the bathroom is everyone’s least favorite chore but there are a few tricks to making it easier. If you spray your shower down with Clorox, let it sit while you’re getting ready in the morning, and rinse it out when you’re about to leave, it will greatly delay those deepcleaning days. Also, wiping your sink down with a Clorox wipe after you brush your teeth will keep your counters looking clean and keep the bathroom smelling fresh.

5. Just because you live alone, doesn’t mean you are alone Don’t forget to make time to socialize! Keep in contact with friends and family, and enjoy time with company. Living with roommates can provide you with a memorable college experience that includes fun adventures, great memories, and maybe even a few horror stories you’ll reminisce and laugh about in 10 years. Who knows, you may even end up living with your life-time best friends.

How To Navigate Living With Roommates

1. Go over the DO’s and DONT’s fairly soon after you move in

Having a roommate contract is something that will be beneficial to everyone. Setting boundaries and making sure everyone is doing their part to live happily in the apartment is very important. Some people may be strict about one thing but flexible with another Learning more about your roommates will help each of you successfully navigate through the year together.

2. Decide how you’re going to split up paying for essentials like toilet paper and hand soap

Taking turns, splitting costs or buying your own are all possibilities. Determining how it will be fair for you and your roommates is different for everybody. Going over this in the beginning will help make it easy so when you’re down to one roll of toilet paper, you don’t have to fight over who’s getting the next one.

3. Check in on each other

A big benefit of having roommates is having someone to check in on you and ask you how your day is going. Make sure to get to know your roommates and provide support when they need it. Having a night to bond with each other - whether it’s watching movies or challenging each other in beer pong these types of activities will make your connection with your roommates even stronger.

4. Decide how you’re going to split up cleaning

This is hard. Most tension with roommates comes from one thinking they do more than the other. Including a cleaning schedule in your roommate contract will help decide the easiest way to keep your apartment clean with everyone’s contribution. If you clean up the messes you make as you go, this process will be a lot easier when the time comes.

5. Dedicate time to yourself

Living in an apartment with multiple people can be stressful. Make sure to dedicate time to yourself so you can focus on your needs and accomplish things you want to get done. Keeping a healthy mind will keep your relationships healthy!