Moving into a co-living space can be a big adjustment, especially if you’re used to living alone. It requires adjusting to living with other people who may have different lifestyles and habits than you. But it can also be an incredibly rewarding experience.
In this article, we are listing down 6 practical tips that will help you adjust to a co-living space and make the most of your new living situation. From setting expectations to finding creative ways to spend time with your roommates, these tips can help you feel comfortable and content in your new living situation.
1. Choose Your Housemates Carefully
It is essential that you are comfortable living with the people you will be sharing a space with and that you can trust them. So, take your time to ask questions and do research to ensure that you make the best decision for your living situation.
If you don’t know how to find a roommate, you can start by asking questions from interested candidates about their lifestyle type and expectations for living in a shared space. Knowing these things ahead of time can help you avoid any potential issues down the line.
2. Get to Know Your Housemates
A co-living space can be a great way to build lasting friendships and connections, and it all starts with understanding your housemates. To start, introduce yourself and get to know their names and interests. Find out what everyone does for work or school, and ask what they like to do in their spare time.
This is a great way to find common ground and develop a sense of community. It can also be helpful to ask your housemates how they prefer to communicate with each other and what time of the day they are comfortable talking and going out.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to set up some house meetings so everyone can get together and discuss house rules and expectations and just hang out and chat. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page about making the living space work for everyone.
3. Create a Work-Life Balance
Sharing in a co-living space can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s important to ensure that you don’t let work take over your life. This can be tricky to do when you’re living with other people, and your work is always within reach.
Start by setting aside specific times each day for work and other activities, such as going to the gym or having dinner with your housemates. You should also set aside time each week for leisure activities like watching movies, exploring the city, or going on trips.
4. Keep Your Common Areas Clean
In a co-living space, you will have to share the common areas with other housemates. To maintain good relationships with them and ensure a comfortable living environment, it’s important to keep the common areas tidy and clean.
Start by designating certain areas of the common area to store items such as kitchen supplies, dishes, and utensils. Everyone should be responsible for returning these items to their designated areas after use.
If you have common items that are shared among all the housemates, such as cleaning supplies or vacuum cleaners, create a system to ensure these items stay organized and in good condition. You can also invest in space-saving tables to save some space and minimize the clutter in your apartment.
5. Respect Each Other’s Privacy
When others are living with you in a shared apartment, their privacy is the most important thing you should respect. You should make sure that you respect each other’s boundaries when it comes to personal space.
This means not barging into each other’s rooms uninvited and being mindful of noise levels when one person may be trying to sleep, study, or work. If everyone is open and honest about their individual needs for privacy, you can create a living space where everyone is comfortable and respected.
In this regard, you can consider having detailed house rules early on to make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s also a good idea to communicate any expectations you have of your housemates so that there aren’t any miscommunications afterward.
6. Be Open to New Experiences
In a co-living space, your housemates are from different backgrounds and cultures, and they may have different ideas. And this is what makes a great living space. So, be open to new ideas and experiences that your housemates may bring.
This could be anything from trying a new way of living, exploring different dishes and music, or playing a new game together. Learning to appreciate the differences in each other can help create a more enjoyable co-living experience.
If you want to start with yourself to create this environment, it would be a great thing. You can break the ice by organizing a movie or game night or planning a trip to a local site.
