Whether you’ve lived with roommates for a while or you’re doing it for the very first time, there’s always a feeling of apprehension about how your roommate will turn out. You keep wondering whether they’ll contribute to a positive living experience for you. You think you have an idea about someone based on your interactions, but you might be surprised to find how completely wrong you were when you start living under the same roof. Nonetheless, to make the living situation work for both of you, there are several things you can do to bond with your roommate. They don’t have to be your best buddy, but when you’re living together, you can’t possibly refrain from interacting with them altogether. Share a camaraderie that makes it comfortable for both of you to live together. Here are 14 activities that should do the trick:
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1. Prepare a meal together
You or your roommate don’t have to be a seasoned cook to throw some ingredients together and make something simple like pasta or pizza. In fact, experimenting with the way you make the dish can also be another way to communicate. Consider it an activity to help you break the ice while you get to know about the other person, besides gaining insight into their culinary skills!
Food is an excellent way to connect, so preparing and sharing a meal helps you do precisely that.
2. Chat late into the night
Having an open conversation with your roommate (with the things you’re comfortable sharing) can go a long way in helping you connect. Instead of waiting for them to make the first move, initiate a conversation about something that happened at work or school (if you’re a student) and see where it goes.
While sharing your experiences, be mindful of allowing them to talk about things they like. Of course, it works both ways. The more you share, the more comfortable you feel in each other’s company. As a result, you don’t have to think twice about approaching them and talking to them about moving to a new rented house or roommate issue.
3. Work out together
Working out together is another exciting way for you and your roommate to bond. If feasible, you can find a time that works for you both and do a home workout. Or better still, find a fitness studio or a gym and sign up for either yoga or Zumba or a bit of everything to stay in shape. You could even take up cycling together, which is an amazing form of exercise.
Find out what you both like and align your schedules so that you can exercise together. Exercising is always more fun when you have company and is an excellent way to drive one another to stay physically and mentally fit.
4. Watch a movie or TV series together
With Netflix at the tip of your fingertips, you have an entire gamut of movies and TV series that you can watch until you aren’t able to keep your eyes open anymore! Get some popcorn, order a couple of pizzas with assorted toppings, get soda or beer, and you’re all set!
Take up a movie or a TV series that you both find intriguing and watch it together while sharing comments and your knowledge on cinema. Even if the movie or series turns out to be horrible, the experience of watching it together and bonding will work wonders for you both.
5. Spruce up your apartment together
As tenants, it’s both your and your roommate’s responsibility to keep the apartment neat and clean. Discuss with your roommate and fix one day in the week, preferably the weekend, get your cleaning supplies ready, and get going! Play some music that you both like and enjoy the experience, which isn’t something people usually like doing. The company is what’ll make all the difference!
6. Have a meal at a local restaurant
As a bonding exercise, find some time on a weekend and head over to a local eatery to try out the local dishes. If you both like experimenting with different cuisines, it can help you connect further over your love for food. You can search for restaurants in the city, specializing in national and international cuisines and pop by at leisure to try them out.
7. Shop together
If you like shopping, you could invite your roommate to tag along with you. We’re not talking about regular grocery shopping, although that’s also a great way to bond. Whether you need to buy clothes, accessories, or other items for your room, invite them so that you can check out stuff together. You could even ask them for their opinion about something you’re interested in buying. It might encourage them to purchase something for themselves.
If you see something that you both like and want to use in your apartment, you could buy it and split the expenses later.
8. Travel together
Discuss with your roommate, pick a place you both are interested in, and head off for a short trip to relax and unwind from the rigmarole of your daily lives.
Sleep in, have some mouth-watering food, check out visitor attractions, take long walks, chat, and just chill! Spending more time with someone means learning more about them and forging a deeper friendship. Also, since you’re traveling together, you can save on travel and lodging expenses too!
9. Attend a concert together
Are you interested in music? Dumb question? Don’t answer that! Share your interest in catching a concert by a popular music band in the city, and ask your roommate if they’re keen to accompany you. If the answer’s yes, good for you! Both of you can pitch in and get the tickets. Last but not least, be sure to scream your lungs out and dance to your heart’s content while watching the performance! Grab a quick bite if it’s not too late before heading home.
10. Accessorize the common areas together
A fantastic way to know your roommate better is to find a way to accessorize the common areas, such as the living room, together. Perhaps you both could look online on portals such as Pinterest and browse through multiple decorating ideas before you both find something that appeals to you both. Whether it’s a couch, tables, chairs, or showpieces, you can purchase items and set up your living space together.
Suppose you’re interested in decorating your room and find that your roommate shares the same interest. In that case, you could exchange ideas and help turn your individual living spaces into cozier and more beautiful places.
11. Have a weekly game night
You wouldn’t even have to ask your roommate whether they like games because most people do! Invite them over for a game of Uno, Monopoly, or Scrabble, and have some fun. It’s a perfect opportunity for both of you to connect over food, drinks, conversation, and laughter.
A better option is to assign a day in the week you both are most comfortable and call it Game Night. Your roommate might have some games of their own, so put them together, make a schedule comprising the game and the day, and you’re good to go! You can include puzzles and video games too!
12. Do a little gardening together
Do you have a green thumb, by any chance? If you do, it might be a great idea to set up a little garden in your backyard, if you have one, or bring nature into your home by getting a few plants. Take turns to look after them. Interactions about how you can care for them better will allow you to bond well. Besides adding color and brightening up a house, plants uplift you and relieve you from stress and anxiety.
13. Check out the neighborhood together
While you may have checked out your neighborhood earlier, there’s a lot that may not have been explored. Invite your roommate for a stroll. Walk around the community and explore places of interest, such as cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, shopping centers, and the like. Use the occasion to converse with your roommate and have them open up to you as well. Get a drink together or something to eat while taking a walk and make a day of it!
14. Acquaint your roommate with your friends
While living with your roommate, you’ll be inviting your friends and coworkers home occasionally. When you do, introduce them to your roommate and invite them to hang out (should they feel like) with your guests. This will ensure that they don’t feel awkward and embarrassed amid a bunch of strangers. Also, your friends and your roommate might end up liking each other’s company and have a great time together. If both are comfortable, your roommate can become a part of your inner circle, so you’ll end up spending more time together!
So, are you all geared up to try these bonding activities with your roommate? We sure hope so! While you may be wondering why you should be the one to approach your roommate first, let us tell you that there’s no harm in setting an example for someone else to follow. Your initiative could lead to a peaceful living situation and provide you an opportunity to make a life-long connection with your roommate!
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