Have you ever had a roommate you couldn’t stand? You’re not alone. The odds of have a roommate you don’t particularly like at least once in your life is great. When you are unfortunate enough to have this annoying person living with you, you have two options. You can leave, or try to figure out a way to get along with him or her. Here are some useful tips for getting along with a roommate you cannot stand.

One reason many people develop a dislike for their roommate is because they are messy, and disorganized. If you’re roommate fits into this category try the following techniques to lessen the pressure of a messy home.

Lazy roommates like to leave their dirty dishes piled to the ceiling in the kitchen. Their reasoning is that if they leave them there long enough, you’ll do them when you wash the dishes you use. To avoid this, use disposable dinnerware.

Some roommates like to help themselves to your things. Put a lock on your bedroom door so they don’t have access. Use a travel pouch for your hygiene products; bring it into the bathroom when you shower, and put it back in your room after you’re done. Don’t leave your Cds mixed in with theirs or anything else you don’t want damaged or lost.

If you’re roommate is loud and obnoxious, spend time away from the apartment in order to give yourself a break from them. Study at the library or the park. You might even confide in a friend how hard it is to get along with your roommate. They’ll probably understand, and offer their place so you can have a quiet place to study in.

If you feel your roommate is approachable, you might try talking with them about how you feel. If you do decide to take this route, be sure to you words like “I” and “Me” instead of words like “You” and “You’re.” Here’s an example of how using the right words can make a difference.

If you say things like “You’re too loud” or “You’re a messy person” you’ll put them on the defensive from the get go. Instead say things like “I like it quiet sometimes” or “I’m sort of a neat person” your roommate won’t feel as if you’re judging them, but rather just expressing yourself.

Getting to know your roommate may go a long way to resolving some of the issues you’re having. When you get to know a person you can better understand why they do some of the things they do, or act the way they act. It’s not a guarantee, but it may help you to have a little more patience with your roommate.

Sometimes, there is just no getting along with a roommate; no matter how hard you try or which way you bend. If you just can’t get along, you may want to consider looking for another place to live. Sometimes it’s better to completely remove yourself from the situation, rather than stay and have the situation escalate into something that will have a real bad outcome.

Trudi Buck blogs about the many ways to search for a Masters in Counseling online.