We’re three weeks into the fall semester, and routines are already beginning to shuffle into place, whether that be dusty old study habits or the arrival of household responsibilities that come with living in shared spaces. For many McGill students, living with roommates is an exciting opportunity, a marker of newfound independence and adulthood. With this in mind, it’s important to remember that not everyone is prepared to be entering a shared living space for what may be their first time. Here is The Tribune’s guide to healthy and happy cohabitation.
Take advantage of accessible and free resources
The McGill Roommate Agreement Contract gets those awkward first conversations flowing, offering questions about cleanliness and visitors that are crucial when sharing a dorm or apartment with a stranger.
In an interview with The Tribune, Amelia Gourlay, U0 Arts, explained, “[The Roommate Contract] got the ball rolling on just conversation in general and how [my roommate and I] both wanted to cohabitate.”
If you’re sharing groceries and other expenses with your roommates, take advantage of free apps like Anylist and Splitwise to keep your finances and fridges organized.
Be mindful that communal spaces are indeed communal
Nobody wants to live in a messy space, whether it’s a cluttered bathroom sink or crumbs all over the kitchen table. Keep this in mind, and clean up after yourself.
“Be responsible and slightly hyper-aware of how you act [in shared spaces] and what you put out, from cleaning something to the way you speak. Be aware, true to who you are, and honest with yourself,” Ilia Mehr Bakhsh, U2 Arts, said in an interview with The Tribune
Making a chore chart is an easy way to divide daily and weekly tasks like taking the garbage out, cleaning the bathroom, and doing the dishes.
Embrace communication rather than fear it
For many of us, bringing up our roommate’s annoying habit can feel incredibly daunting. While this feeling is completely valid, strong relationships depend on honest communication.
In an interview with The Tribune, Bakhsh added, “If you see your roommate do something wrong, don’t let that define them for you. But, also be open and be communicative and tell your roommate. Please, please, please communicate.”
Allow for trial and error
Sharing a living space is bound to be a continuous learning curve. Not every first attempt at task division will be a success; give yourself the space to grow with your roommates. Good things take time—Rome wasn’t built in a day, after all.
A common concern for those with roommates is how to go about grocery shopping. Some people prefer to buy and cook everything for themselves, whereas others prefer sharing groceries and cooking meals together.
In an interview with The Tribune, Isabel Burns, U2 Arts, explained that she and her housemates are still figuring this out.
“Our biggest concern right now is food. Splitting food and figuring out how we do that financially because food is expensive, and there [are] things that some people like that others don’t. That was a point of contention. Now we have switched to people buying their own food.”
It is okay to change your mind; make mistakes and navigate cohabitation through trial and error. Be flexible and generous with your roommates and yourself.
Strive for a positive perspective
Reframing your opinion on having roommates can help uplift your experience. Roommates can be a lot of fun if you let them be; they can turn an apartment into a home. Even if you and your roommates are not destined to be best friends, consider the built-in companionship that their presence provides. Let your roommate situation be an opportunity for you to learn more about yourself and how you interact with others.
