Night Owl vs. Early Bird

This can be a difficult one for roommates to negotiate. There are students who prefer to go to bed earlier and get up early. Invariably, some of these students will end up living with students who prefer to go to bed late and sleep in. If you find yourself in this situation there are a few things you and your roommate(s) can do to successfully live in this challenging situation.

• Talk about it - This is one of the most important things to do. Be sure to discuss what your preferences are and then figure out how to compromise if needed.
• Determine what is important to you - If you need the room to be dark and silent, you could invest in a facemask and a pair of earplugs so your roommate can have the desk light on to study. If you need music to sleep, but this won't work for your roommate, consider investing in headphones to listen to your nightly music.
• Be flexible - There will be points in the semester when either you or your roommate's sleeping habits will change due to exams or a large project. Be willing to work with your roommate to compromise in these situations.

Extra Help
To set ground rules for your room, consider drafting a Roommate Agreement. This will help you and your roommate develop common goals and guidelines for sleeping and noise at night.

Last Modified: August 4, 2008

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Questions?
Contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing at 508-531-1277 or reslife@bridgew.edu