The beginning of the semester comes with a slew of academic challenges, but one that is often forgotten about are the joys (or terrors) of living in the dorms on campus.
While it can be fun, dorm life can be tricky to adjust to for those who’ve never had to contend with sharing space or living with roommates. But fear not, dear reader. Just like any challenge, there are ways to avoid the stress, and following these tips can help mitigate it.
Communicate with your roommates
This sounds cliché, but if you’re going to survive eight months living in a 30-square foot box with another person, you’re going to have to talk to them.
You don’t have to be best friends, but saying, “Hey, I’m going to have some friends over later tonight,” or “Hey, would you mind trying to stay a little quieter when you get home at night?” goes a long way. It establishes respect between the two of you and can help set the boundaries and rules you want to live by.
You can communicate about the smallest of things, from asking them to keep their side of the room clean to letting them know there’s ice cream in the freezer if you’d like to share it with them. These little things go a longer way than you might think.
Set boundaries
Just like any relationship, setting boundaries and rules will ensure a smooth experience. Communicating about space within the room, cleaning responsibilities and quiet time is critical, especially when it comes to managing conflict.
Delegating space within the room and deciding on cleaning responsibilities are the two biggest boundaries, but Kinzi Robbins, a freshman pre-nursing major from Payson, emphasized another point.
“[Set] designated time to be quiet,” she said. “[Knowing] what the times are can be super helpful. It’s knowing the time when you shouldn’t be [loud].”
Snacks and food are a must-have
This is more applicable in traditional dorms that don’t have a kitchen, unlike the Campus View Suites dorms or Abby Apartments, but trying to study in your room with an empty stomach is brutal. Keeping snacks on hand won’t seem important until you don’t have any when you need them.
Alongside that, keeping your pantry stocked can be helpful if you’re in a morning rush and need a quick boost of energy before class. The food you eat has effects on your brain’s function, and being proactive will benefit you in the long run.
Keep the room clean
Cleanliness is important for a myriad of reasons, but keeping the room clean is important for your mental health just as much as your physical health; a dirty room could lead to decreased focus, which is never good for busy college students.
Annie Brown, a freshman design major from West Jordan, recommends divvying up the work between you and your roommates and communicating with them to ensure the work gets done.
Keeping a clean space extends past sweeping the floors and picking up trash. Some students use air purifiers and dehumidifiers to help combat mold and other allergens that can enter the room. This is especially important since you’re living in close quarters with other people, where germs can spread easily.
Involve the resident assistant if necessary
This may be awkward, but it’s better to involve the RA if there’s a problem as opposed to silently suffering through it.
“Last year, I had an RA give us the suggestion that if your roommates are being really loud at unreasonable hours, you can always put in an anonymous complaint,” said Ellie Wilcox, a sophomore management major from Sandy. “They’ll never know it was you. They’ll just think that it is somebody else.”
Noise complaints aren’t the only issues an RA can deal with; they can also handle disagreements about space, cleaning and the other topics listed above. It’s important to remember that putting up with a problem might not be sustainable in the long term, and ensuring your living space is comfortable and safe should be a priority.
College is stressful enough, and eliminating stress from your living environment is a surefire way to make the experience more enjoyable.
