Juggling friendships, school, work, and hobbies in college can seem impossible. These factors can especially affect your roommate relationships. As a junior living with three other roommates, I have faced these challenges personally.

However, through a system of teamwork, kindness, and respect, I’ve found that maintaining healthy roommate relationships and boundaries is achievable. The key is to remain in constant communication with the people you live with. Instead of waiting for a conflict to arise, put those preventative measures in place beforehand.

I’ve never had any serious conflicts with my housemates thanks to organized cleaning systems, clear boundaries, and a consistent line of respectful communication.

Start with Clear Communication

That line of communication started almost immediately after we arrived at our house in early August. Given the stress of arranging furniture, it made sense to also clarify important boundaries.

For example, I arranged an alternating cleaning schedule with my roommate for the bathroom we share. Especially considering it is more frequently used by guests, we wanted the space to remain tidy.

Be Open About Your Shortcomings

I also made sure to tell my housemates that I can be forgetful. It’s important not only to set boundaries but also to be transparent about your faults.

As a busy student with several part-time jobs, I sometimes leave things around the house or forget to do my dishes right after a meal. After I spoke with my housemates about my shortcomings, they knew how to help me going forward.

Quick verbal reminders have been a fantastic way for me to work on those bad habits. It has now been several months since move-in day, and I can confirm that with the help of my friends, my forgetfulness has decreased significantly.

Remember It's a Shared Space

Above all, the single most important thing for a harmonious living situation is staying aware that everything is a shared space. On days when I struggle to be tidy, I’m reminded that my needs cannot come before my friends' needs. To care for my roommates means doing everything I can to keep our home a place of rest, safety, and peace.

By extension, that translates to doing my fair share of chores and cleaning, at the very minimum. And thankfully, the four of us have remained close friends ever since moving in.

This has not only relieved a lot of stress for us but has also freed up our schedules and cleared our heads. We know that regardless of the situation, we are a team. The quickest way to have a peaceful life starts with having a peaceful home!

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