Is Messy:
Living with a roommate who is messy isn’t always the easiest situation to handle.
If you’re a neat freak who lives with a messy roommate, here’s how to survive.
The first thing to do is stop worrying so much. This is probably not the first thing you want to hear, but stressing about it tends to make situations worse than before.
If you and your roommate get along well, attempt to focus on what makes them a good friend. If you aren’t close to begin with, try and get to know each other. You don’t have to be best friends, but a friendship could make things easier.
Next, look at things from the perspective of your roommate. Schedules are busier, and workloads are heavier than most people are used to, especially if they’re a freshman. They might be uncomfortable with the mess and are trying their best to keep above water.
It’s important to remember that some people can function with the mess around them. Be open to compromise and keep in mind that only half of the area is actually yours.
Approach the situation in a calm, polite manner, and discuss what you are bothered about and why. The longer you wait to communicate, the bigger the issue becomes.
The likelihood of your roommate becoming tidy overnight is unrealistic, but that doesn’t mean there’s no hope. Keep having discussions, and cut each other a break sometimes. Instead of losing your mind over the attempt to fix a long-term issue, relax. There are far worse issues than different definitions of “clean.”
