
Tips for Coexistence during Quarantine (and for Life!)
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Living together is not easy, and that is nothing new. In this new wave of #athome, several issues associated with living together pop up in everyone's daily lives: whether they live with family, friends, partners, romantic partners or even alone. After all, living with yourself is already a challenge – and living without company can be more difficult than it seems.
But if not everything is perfect, it is also not always easy to find obstacles. Sharing a home is a very obvious way to get some benefits, such as paying less, living in a more spacious and better-located place, and even choosing who to be with. In this sense, co-living also allows you to be part of a community – a concept that goes far beyond sharing a home.

Whatever the type of housing, the golden rule is that what is agreed upon is not expensive. With this in mind, we have put together some tips for those who will be sharing a roof with other people: there is nothing like being open and making the rules clear!
1. Have good financial planning:
Finding a new place and making plans is very exciting, but you need to keep your feet on the ground. Set values that fit within your income, without having to juggle to pay the bills. Unforeseen events happen (the shower will burn out on the coldest day of the year, you know) so it's a good idea to leave a margin for these costs. If possible, make an emergency fund of at least three months of fixed expenses, in case something unexpected happens.
Remember that other people living with you may depend on your financial contribution to make ends meet at the end of the month.
2. Leave the rooms in order .
Even if you have a cleaning lady, it is good to have some rules for cleaning and organization. Just as it does not overwhelm anyone, it also does not bother those who prefer a tidy space. Use common sense and keep your mess to your own personal space.
Did you use something? Wash it immediately, or arrange a specific time with your colleagues/family members and have everyone agree to do it. Since the kitchen is shared, everyone is responsible for their own mess and must respect the space, which also belongs to the other person.
Keeping the environment clean should be an agreement between the parties, so that everyone is satisfied. Cleaning can be divided in several ways: taking turns by room, by period (week, day) and a fair distribution of tasks is important to avoid possible misunderstandings. It is important that, if the group chooses to hire a cleaning service, everyone agrees on the frequency and associated costs – and that everyone agrees on the format.

3. The bathroom is always one of the most complex environments.
As it is a more intimate space and totally associated with hygiene, it is also one of the places of greatest conflict and discomfort among residents.
Try to understand what kind of things bother the person you share the bathroom with the most. Is a clean sink important? Do they prefer you not to hang your towel in the shower? Is there a conflict over space in the cabinets? In this case, it is best to have a frank conversation about acceptable limits (or not) and for the agreement to be followed. Ideally, the space should have clear restrictions and be cleaned regularly, in agreement with the users.
4. Be sensible with visitors.
Visitors are often another controversial topic in this context. Some homes already establish rules before accepting a new resident: no visitors, no visitors, no visitors, no visitors, no visitors, no visitors.
Again, the best of all worlds is that these things are always discussed and agreed upon, and these agreements are respected. Sharing a space also means sharing part of one's life, and therefore the people who are part of the resident's life. But this freedom should never override the individual limits of other housemates.
It is good form to always let other residents know in advance, even if visitors are allowed. Everyone has their own routine, and visitors should not disrupt any plans without asking first. Since the space is not just yours, be careful not to make too much noise or talk too loudly, especially when your roommates are sleeping.
Imagine arriving home after a day's work and being surprised by an informal meeting of several strangers in your living room: it is certainly an unwanted inconvenience, unless it is arranged.
Sometimes the roommate also comes with an “extra person”: that best friend who always rents the couch, or the girlfriend who spends a few days a week at the house. This isn’t necessarily a problem, but it’s worth remembering that an extra person always generates additional expenses. Be sensible when dividing expenses so that these additional costs are not unfairly passed on.

5. Shared apartment , shared food? Not always.
We know it may be obvious, but conflicts over food items are very common in shared housing. Once again, it is clear how important it is to have well-defined rules – even if they are common sense. Cooking together and sharing expenses is a format that usually works, but consuming food from other residents without their consent is not acceptable.
If you wish to consume an item, let us know and discuss it: and even if you obtain consent, try to replace the item as soon as possible.
6. Practice flexibility: Getting used to living with new people is a process that can take time – but it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Everyone has different schedules, eating habits, and hobbies . Although reconciling someone else's tastes with yours can be a challenge, this is a great opportunity to try new things: that dish you've never tried because you don't have company, or that movie you've been meaning to watch but never did. Take advantage of new things.
It’s also worth mentioning that not every friend is a good roommate , and not every roommate needs to be a good friend. Many long-term friendships have been ruined by the decision to move in together, just as people who aren’t that close end up living together in a very efficient way. It’s important that everyone is on the same page and willing to make the venture work. Consider this choice carefully!

7. Shared housing , individual space.
Your roommate won’t always be your best friend – and that’s okay, it’s not personal! You’ll probably make friends with the people you live with, but it’s important to respect each other’s time and space.
In times of socializing, such as quarantine, a good way to do this is to think about group activities: cooking a meal together, playing a game, watching a movie or even chatting! Having people around is a great way to pass the time. But remember to have hobbies that are exclusively personal: your independence and fun will continue, even if you are alone at home.
8. Share the space, not your bad mood.
Having a bad day? That’s okay, you don’t have to be the nicest person in the world when things aren’t going well – but the people you live with don’t have to suffer because of it. And that includes your family members!
If something is bothering you, talk patiently. Are you feeling stressed? Count to 10, 50, or 100 – or wait until later. Knowing how to listen and put yourself in someone else’s shoes is essential to being able to share a space.
It is worth remembering that it is better to discuss sensitive matters in person: avoid discussions via text message or over the phone.

9. Finally: empathy.
This is a very simple tip that applies to many situations beyond a shared home. Always try to understand the other side, to understand that the other person is also going through the same experience of living together as you. This exercise, which should be done constantly, not only avoids conflicts but also makes you a more pleasant person in general.
Sharing a home can be an opportunity for great personal growth, in addition to the conveniences and other benefits we have already mentioned. In addition to learning new things, discovering a little more about responsibility and becoming increasingly independent, it is a way to meet new people and become part of a community, even if it is small. We hope these tips are useful and remember to always try to make the most of this experience!