There may be periods in life when you have to live with someone you don’t particularly get along with. You know the type, the one who enters the room and makes your skin crawl! Such situations can be challenging for everyone involved, especially if you’re the one constantly struggling with the arrangement.
If you find yourself in this position and efforts to build a friendship haven’t worked, don’t despair. There are several strategies you can use to navigate this time without losing your mind or creating conflicts you’ll regret later.
Define and respect personal space.
Designate areas where each person can have privacy and freedom to do as they please. Common spaces can be tricky, so consider scheduling times for use or collaborating on ways to share them respectfully.
Establish boundaries.
Agree on what behaviors are acceptable and which are not. Set house rules and follow them, but remain flexible when necessary. Ensure that everyone understands and honors each other’s boundaries.
Treat each other with respect.
Ignoring someone, giving dirty looks, or acting passive-aggressively, like leaving cabinet doors open to annoy the other person, creates unnecessary tension. Even if you’re stuck living together, kindness and consideration go a long way.
Maintain peace.
When conflicts arise, resist reacting impulsively. Walk away if needed, revisit the matter later when emotions have cooled, and avoid any verbal or physical confrontations.
Practice strategic avoidance.
If harmony is difficult to maintain, spend time in your own space or outside the home when possible. Sometimes, creating distance is the healthiest option for all parties.
Respect is the foundation of coexisting peacefully. If living together becomes unbearable, make plans for one of you to move out as soon as feasible. While sharing space with someone you dislike is far from ideal, cooperation, patience, and clear communication can make the arrangement more manageable until you can part ways.
