Living by yourself has its perks. You can develop a routine at home and bring in all the comforts you want, and you do not have to compromise in any way with anyone else. But, for those of us who live with someone else, we aren’t so lucky. We need to find a way to make our home comfortable for all of us and develop a routine that works for all of us. Here are some tips to make that happen.
1. Communicate Your Needs And Let Everyone Else Communicate Their Needs
You can’t just assume that everyone knows what you need or want in order to be comfortable at home. You need to communicate with your roommates or family members about your needs and wants. This way, you can figure out a way to make sure everyone’s needs are being met.
At the same time, you need to be open to hearing what everyone else’s needs are. If you’re not willing to budge on certain things, then you need to be honest about that from the start. The more honest and open you all are with each other, the easier it will be to find a compromise that works for everyone.
2. Find A Routine That Works For Everyone
If you’re living with someone else, chances are you’re going to have different schedules. One person might be a morning person while the other is a night owl. One person might have a job that requires them to work late nights while the other has a job that has them up early in the morning.
Because of this, it’s important to find a routine that works for everyone. You might need to adjust your own schedule a bit in order to make it work, but it’s worth it if it means everyone is comfortable and happy at home.
To get started, sit down with all members of the household and talk about what activities need to be done each day and when they should be completed.
Once you have a general idea of the daily schedule, start mapping out specific tasks.
Who will be responsible for making breakfast?
Who will take out the trash?
By assigning specific tasks to specific people, you can avoid misunderstandings and help everyone to stay on track.
Finally, be sure to leave some flexibility in the schedule to account for unexpected events. A well-planned routine can make even the busiest household run like clockwork.
3. Give Everyone Their Own Space
Even if you’re living in a small apartment or home, it’s important to give everyone their own space.
We all need our own personal space where we can go to relax and unwind. If everyone is constantly on top of each other, it’s going to lead to tension and conflict.
So, make sure everyone has their own space that they can call their own. This can be a bedroom, a corner of the living room, or even just a spot where they can put their favorite chair.
As long as everyone has a place to go to get away from everyone else, it will help keep the peace at home.
4. Compromise When It Comes To Chores
Chances are, you’re not going to agree with your roommates or family members on everything. And that’s okay! Disagreements are normal and to be expected. But, in order to make sure everyone is comfortable at home, you need to be willing to compromise. Especially on chores because they are an essential part of maintaining a home.
For example, if one person wants the living room to be cleaned every day but the other doesn’t see the need, maybe you can compromise and come up with a schedule that works for both of you. Maybe the living room will be cleaned every other day or three times a week by the person who wants it cleaned daily while the other person cleans another commonly used room daily. Whatever you decide, just make sure it’s something that everyone can agree on.
5. Be Respectful Of Each Other
Above all else, you need to be respectful of each other. Even if you don’t agree on everything, you should still be respectful of your roommates or family members.
This means listening to each other, being open to hearing each other’s opinions, and keeping an open mind.
If everyone can be respectful of each other, it will go a long way in making sure everyone is comfortable at home.
6. Either Compromise On Food Or Allow Everyone To Do Their Own Schedule
Eating is a tricky business for more than one person. We all have different preferences and times when we like to eat. Nobody should be forced to eat dinner at a certain time or eat a food they don’t like.
If you’re sharing a home with someone, it’s important to either compromise on food or allow everyone to do their own schedule.
For example, if one person wants to eat dinner at 6 pm but the other doesn’t want to eat until 8 pm, maybe you can compromise and have dinner at 7 pm.
Or, if one person is a vegetarian and the other isn’t, maybe you can compromise by having meatless Mondays or making two separate meals.
If you decide to go the route of following your own schedule and dietary preference, make sure everyone is responsible for their own cooking and cleaning, which is a part of mealtime. One person shouldn’t have to carry another person’s load in their own home.
7. Always Be Willing To Listen To Each Other
We all have different opinions and viewpoints. And, when we live with other people, it’s important to be willing to listen to each other. Just because you don’t agree with someone doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to them. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
If you’re living with someone, you should be willing to listen to their opinions and viewpoints even if you don’t agree with them. Who knows, you might learn something new or be able to see things from a different perspective.
8. Don’t Be A Slob
This should probably be the number one rule of living with someone else.
Nobody wants to live with a slob. It’s just not comfortable for anyone. So, if you’re sharing a home with someone, make sure you’re not being a slob.
This means picking up after yourself, doing your fair share of the cleaning, and just generally being neat and tidy.
Of course, nobody is perfect and there will be times when things get messy. But, as long as you’re making an effort to keep things clean, your roommates or family members will appreciate it.
9. Be A Good Friend, Family Member, Lover, Or Roommate
One of the most important things in life is maintaining relationships with the people you live with. Whether it’s your family, roommates, or even the occasional house guest, it’s crucial to keep the lines of communication open and to show mutual respect.
After all, we all need a place to call home, and there’s no reason why that home can’t be a place where we feel safe, secure, and loved.
When we maintain positive relationships with the people we live with, we create an environment that is supportive and nurturing. We also set a good example for others, showing them that it is possible to live harmoniously with those around us.
In short, maintaining healthy relationships with the people we live with is one of the most important things we can do to make our home feel safe and relaxing. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
