With summer flying by and the start of a new academic year just a couple of months away, it’s definitely time to start preparing for this new chapter in your life. Shared living spaces like student accommodation can take some adjustment, as it’s likely very different to your home life. But we’ve got plenty of experience and advice for you! Here’s some “unwritten rules” you might want to know…
Pick a shelf – and stick to it
When you move in and start unpacking, one of the first things you should do is choose your cupboard, drawer or shelf in the kitchen, and in the fridge/freezer too. These will be your spaces for things like food, supplements, crockery, specific utensils and so on. Knowing you have a dedicated area for your own *stuff* helps to keep things tidy, and you’ll know exactly what’s yours and what’s not.
Don’t borrow without asking
On that note, don’t use other people’s stuff without asking. This goes for milk in your cuppa, a slice of bread for toast because you forgot to buy some, someone else’s shampoo… most people are generally happy to share if you ask nicely first, but going behind their back can cause tension and arguments that you just don’t need in shared living spaces like student accommodation.
Do your bit to contribute
When it comes to cleaning up and keeping the space tidy, nobody wants to be the one doing all the work. You’re all adults now, technically, and should be able to find a good balance – wiping the sides down, taking the bins out, vacuuming the floors and having a general clear up are things that only take a few minutes. However, when left to build up, the issue takes a lot longer to sort out and again leads to arguments you could really do without!
Give people space
Part of living in shared student accommodation is learning to read people’s body language and pick up social cues; there might be times when people just want to be left alone, needing space to rest, study or just embrace the quiet. Give people space, and don’t pressure them to hang out if they don’t want to; equally, try to get everyone involved in group activities without leaving anybody out. We know, it’s a fine balance! You’ll get the hang of it, though…
Communication is key
What really binds all of these “rules” together is an underlying element of communication. Asking before you use somebody’s milk, inviting people to join in or considering they might need space, letting your flatmates know that you’ve taken the bins out so they don’t need doing – and so on, and so forth. By openly communicating, and also letting people know immediately if there are any issues, you can hopefully prevent tension and arguments!
Shared living spaces are a huge part of life as a student, and remember everybody is adjusting. This is a brand new experience, and one that will shape your young adulthood in so many ways.
