<p>I'm headed to college in exactly a month, and I'm a little nervous about the whole roommate situation. I'm used to getting up and being able to do my own thing without worrying about anyone else, so living in such close quarters with someone who is basically a strange is going to be a bit of a change. I'm worried especially about waking up at different times--I tend to be a bit of an early bird. Now, I know that I will probably be staying up later and thus sleeping later in college, but still, I'm wondering how others have dealt with this situation. What if you wake up and your roomie is still sleeping, but you need to do stuff in your room to get ready and such? How do you go about not disturbing them? This is probably a pretty dumb question, but it's something I'm worrying about, so please, it'd be great if I could get some advice.</p>
<p>When you move in, talk to your roommate about it. Most of the time, it’s generally a non-issue, but it can be helpful to talk about different sleeping habits if you are particular about something (or if they are). Tell them that you tend to be an early bird, and see if they have a particular sleeping schedule. If people have particular concerns (they’re a light sleeper, can’t sleep with the light on, etc), they’ll usually let you know, and either of you can adjust.</p>
<p>In general, common courtesy works out well. If your roommate is sleeping, be reasonably quiet and unobtrusive. Try to use a desk lamp, instead of the ceiling light. Try to keep the noise down–don’t play music out loud, for instance. If either of you are light sleepers, invest in some ear plugs. If either of you can’t sleep with the light on, get some desk lamps. Whatever problems you encounter, you’ll work it out. Most people are reasonable. Some are definitely not, but just be up front about what your concerns are and it’ll work out.</p>
<p>Put out some clothes the night before, and have your shower stuff ready, so you just have to grab things, and don’t have to be opening and closing doors and drawers. Get dressed in the shower area, put your stuff back, grab what you need (again, have it ready the night before) and you can quickly and quietly be out the door and to the lounge, or library, or class, or cafe, where ever you need to be. It takes a bit of planning, but is much more courteous, and you will appreciate your roommate taking the same care to be organized and quiet!</p>
<p>If your roommate’s asleep, keep the room dark (use a desk lamp) and try to be quiet… that’s pretty much the best you can do. If one of you is a light sleeper, earplugs or an eye mask might help. It kinda sucks to be on a different schedule than your roommate, but so long as you’re both reasonable and respectful you’ll be fine. Just talk it out with them… there’s also a chance that they can sleep through anything and won’t care too much. :P</p>
<p>This is actually something I’ve had to deal with my whole life because I always have had to share a room with at least one other person. </p>
<p>If you wake up earlier than your roommate, you obviously have to be quieter and I’d say you can change in your room if you want and you can also open drawers and stuff if your roommate is not a light sleeper and won’t be annoyed by it. I don’t think it’s a huge problem as long as you’re trying your best to stay quiet and not disrupt their sleep.</p>
<p>Agree with what those stated above! Talk it out with your roommate and make sure to be respectful as you wake up! There is no need to create loud noises as you get ready!</p>
<p>And don’t stress. You will adjust to your new circumstances. I regularly slept through my college roomie blow drying her hair every morning when we were in college. D is sharing with 2 girls this summer and says she never hears them get up.</p>
<p>A sleep mask and earplugs should prevent your roommate from waking up in the morning (then again, I’m a deep sleeper so maybe that’s why those have always worked for me). In general, don’t blast loud music from your speakers, have people over or talk loudly on the phone while your roommate is sleeping. As an incoming freshman, I have the same concerns, but I think that as long as you’re courteous and your roommate is reasonable there shouldn’t be issues.</p>
<p>I probably won’t be an issue. My first semester of freshman year, my roommate went to bed at 2am every night and woke up at 11. I had an 8am class, so I had to be up early most days of the week. We did have some issues given his habit of raging while playing games a 5am, but I was able to tough it out for a semester and a half.
Anyways, here’s a few tips.</p>
<p>1) Use a desk lamp, but be sure it isn’t pointed at the back of your desk or away from the desk. Ideally, have it pointed down. Having it pointed at the back of the desk makes it reflect away from the desk and potentially at your roommate. My roommate last year did this and it really ****ed me off. </p>
<p>2) Know where everything is before you go to sleep. That way you won’t be fumbling around in the morning. </p>
<p>3) If you need to do any serious work, go find a different location than your room. Common areas are great for this. </p>
<p>4) Just because your roommate doesn’t respect your sleep doesn’t mean you can disrespect his. I imagine that only makes things worse. Keep it civilized, if it becomes a problem, move out.</p>
<p>I had to get up before my roommate most mornings this past year and through this summer due to classes and work. We never really discussed it, it was just something that we both did. As long as whoever was up early wasn’t essentially banging pots and pans together we didn’t care. Even if something loud did startle us awake, it was generally an accident.</p>
<p>Some tips though:</p>
<p>1) Don’t let the alarm go forever! If you’re like me, you’ll need half a dozen alarms to get up. I use my phone since I can tuck it under a pillow and keep track of it. Nothing is more annoying than hearing your roommate/suite mate/person down the hall’s alarm going off for an hour when you’re trying to sleep.</p>
<p>2) Know where your things for the day are before going to bed. Remember when your Mom would have you lay out your school clothes for the next day as a little kid? Do this with your bag the night before. Nothing sucks more than sleeping through those alarms and running late. Not only will you make a bunch of noise, but chances are you’ll forget something extremely important.</p>
<p>3) If you’re watching TV/Netflix or listening to music, be respectable of the volume or use headphones.</p>
<p>4) Communication is really important. Don’t be afraid to take to your roommate. :)</p>