I’ve not been able to sleep so well because of my roommate.
I usually want to sleep by 1 AM , but since moving in with her I felt bad to tell her to stop her studying (she sits at the desk and studies when I get home - about midnight) , so I started going to sleep when she goes to shower - about 2 or 3 AM.
Now we have finals, and she started staying up all night. She is quiet and has a desk lamp, but it’s too bright - yesterday when I woke up at 5 AM and she was still up, it was as bright as day and I couldn’t fall back asleep though I went to sleep at 2.
I feel like it’s really disrespectful of her to stay up all night when I am sleeping. I know that my friend’s roommate asks her to study in the kitchen when she sleeps and does the same.
The problem is mostly the bright light, but also just hearing her type/write makes it really hard to fall back asleep in the morning.
I’m not sure how to talk to her about this because we never talk. To be honest, I feel bad to ask her to study in the kitchen because she is always in the room and avoids going anywhere - that includes the kitchen.
What to do?
Invest in ear plugs and an eye mask. Tell her that you are having sleep issues because of light and noise and while you are trying other measures, she should think about what changes she can make so it works out for both of you.
Yes on the earplugs and eye mask AND putting a rule in place about lights out/computers off by a certain time each night. If your study lounge is the kitchen, so be it. Just because she chooses to pull all-nighters doesn’t mean you have to be subjected to it. If you never say anything, she’ll assume it’s OK.
She can study in the common room.
Also here is a handy device for blocking ambient noise, you know so that when she comes back from the common room or wants to shower, you can’t really hear her–http://www.hammacher.com/Product/88606?cm_cat=ProductSEM&cm_pla=AdWordsPLA&source=PRODSEM&gclid=CMXBsK2rgdICFZqLswodY8MLHw
It makes whooshing air noise and is more natural sounding than an app on your phone. It’s very handy.
Also, try these things – http://www.dreamessentials.com/articles-001-how-to-choose-a-sleep-mask
And your alarm to get up in the morning can be your phone under your pillow. The buzz will get you going.
You should try to set some sort of “dark/quiet” hours with them. If they stay up late then they probably sleep in late too right? Try to say something like: On weekdays between 2AM and Noon if one of us is unable to sleep due to the other, we can request the other person leave the room"
I have troubles sleeping and what my roommate and I agree on is that when someone goes to bed, the other person leaves the room until they’re ready to go to bed. She can study in the common room or library, but you can’t sleep there. Her leaving lights on in the room until 5 am really is not acceptable.
@Dustyfeathers : Loving that last link.