Tuesday, February 4, 2014

The Pros And Cons Of Rooming With Your Best Friend

By Hedrick Lepsch


You've known each other since the third grade. You've done everything together through elementary, junior high and high school. You've laughed, cried, and even gotten in trouble together. Now that you're about to graduate high school and head off to college, it would only seem natural to room together, right? Before you make that seemingly easy decision, there are a few things to consider. Just because you've spent so much time together over the years doesn't mean that living together would be a smooth transition.

This can be the hardest part. Most likely, you have never even realized that you struggle with this. Many people don't realize how when they study for 5 hours, they actually are texting others, checking there Facebook, tweeting there friends, taking pictures with Instagram, or watching clips on YouTube. A good exercise would be to keep track of the actual amount of time you study during the day vs. the time that you spend on social media. You might be surprised when you learn your results.

You may not want to completely rid yourself of the outside world of social media so perhaps the first thing you could do is turn off your notifications on your phone. Every chime, noise, or signal can leave you losing your train of thought. Plan times when you can check your phone and stick to them. Keep yourself on a strict schedule.

As important as it is to take your mind off of home, it is also important not to forget it. Sometimes the best way to make yourself feel better about being away from home is planning the next time you are going to go back. Budget how much money you have and how much you will need for travel costs.

The key will be to set ground rules and even goals. If you both understand going into your time as roommates the need to make new friends and get out of your comfort zones, you'll push each other to do so.

Sometimes many temptations for social media are situational based. If you are big into gaming and want to make sure that you stay connected with your online friends, than perhaps it is best to study at a public library, on a public computer.

For example, you might be interested in business administration, accounting or property management, while your best friend is interested in event planning, new media marketing, or programming. Focus on your future first, rather than the comfort zone of always being with your best friend.

No matter what you are studying, whether it is accounting, event planning, or programming, trying to stay focused might become a battle. The best advice is to hold strong to what you decide. You will most likely notice the difference as you keep going with keeping away from the distractions and your grades will surely thank you.




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