by Abhishek, Chief Resident
From creating a sense of home and comfort in a new space to working out a washing-up and cleaning rota, moving into student accommodation for the very first time is no easy feat.
Here’s a low down on how you can not only survive but thrive while living with fellow flatmates at university.
Be considerate at mealtimes
Communal student areas tend to become the busiest and most cluttered during mealtimes, particularly in the evenings when everyone looks to prepare and tuck into a home cooked dinner with fellow flatmates. It’s at this point of the day that students are hoping to relax and unwind following a busy class schedule. In order to live harmoniously with others, it’s crucial that students are courteous of each other during these points in the day as it’s during this time that students look to socialise and enjoy the company they keep.
Be respectful of those around during this time by not outstretching or being too noisy during mealtimes. While we want everyone to relax in their new home, putting your feet up on a table can be unpleasant for others trying to enjoy their meal or drinks in the communal living spaces, as too is shouting or singing whilst others are looking to initiate conversation. Leaving litter around or not cleaning up after themselves is another area students should be aware of if they want to get on and live harmoniously with those around them. It’s important to remember that if you keep the communal spaces clean and tidy, others will follow suit. Create rotas for cleaning, cooking etc. so that workload is shared evenly!
Assign responsibility to tasks early on
There are many essential responsibilities that come with sharing student accommodation with others. For example, the purchasing of washing up liquid, the hoovering of the communal carpets and the wiping down of shared surface areas. Instead of waiting for someone to find the urge to do this early on, it’s best to allocate these responsibilities to individuals who are sharing the space at the beginning of term. Not only will this ensure that essential responsibilities are split fairly amongst the group, it will also instil a sense of camaraderie among them and prevent any arguments or clashes occurring from things not getting done.
Spend quality time together
While inevitably, schedules will clash with fellow students during your first term at university, by organising weekly meetups and social get-togethers with flat mates, you’ll create a sense of community in the shared space with those you live with. These don’t need to be massive nights out but just something everyone can partake in once a week to ensure weekly bonding time in the living spaces. Activities such as movie nights, pizza making or card games, are a great way to get everyone together. Making the effort to socialise in a positive environment will not only ensure you make new friends but will also make it easier to discuss and delegate important tasks and responsibilities with fellow flat mates. You only get 1st year at uni once in your lifetime, so make the most out of it!
