Rules exist for a reason. They organize things, put them in a structure, and automate processes, as well as reduce conflict (and time talking about the same sh** over and over).

Rules also provide consistency! The world we live in is extremely fast-paced; nothing is constant. Nevertheless, in order to function properly you need at least one constant in your life. The place you live in (even temporarily) should be that constant!

You want to get up in the morning, go to school/work, come back, and know that things are in the same place you left them! If you have a “nobody touches your food in the fridge” rule, you would want to come back to that food! Right?

House Rules 101

I’ll just go ahead and highlight some things that used to irritate me in the shared flat and might help you set your own rules:

• Using the washing machine: washing machines utilize water, electricity, and cleaning detergent. Some ladies actually stress-wash their stuff! It’s true, they’d wash their clothes, shoes, and even their bags. Washing machines are also extremely noisy, some can’t comprehend that night is for peace, and for that, a washing machine utilization schedule better is in place to avoid unpleasant behaviors (and so conflict) like those.
• Following up on the previous point is “water usage”. This is mostly true for germophobes with tendencies to shower a not very few times during the day.
• Electricity consumption: Turning off unnecessary lights and using high electricity usage equipment rationally. I remember this one lady that I lived with who would plug in the hookah coal burner in the socket literally all day. You can imagine what the bill looked like at the end of that month.
• Smells: Those with sensitive noses will get this! If you’re cooking at weird times: 5 am/12 am, and especially if you’re using strong spices, please crack a window, or better, cook another time!
• Smoking, hookah, and vaping are personal preferences, but again, when you’re living with other people, let’s respect the rules. There are terraces, also something called a Cafe established especially to serve you hookah and Turkish coffee, so maybe try that!
• Family and friends: Depending on your flatmates and the agreed-upon rules, beware of the “friends and family” situation. If one of your family members is visiting….. A friend staying over….having a loud girls’ night….
• Noise: Some like yours truly here have hypersensitive ears, so maybe try using noise-canceling headphones or earbuds. And night owl ladies please be gentle in closing the doors and ordering Shawerma at 2 am.
• Key: You’re living with other people, please make sure you close the door with your key and make sure you remove the key from the door so other people can put their key in when they come back home!

Rules exist to help people from different backgrounds, cultures, and personalities to co-exist in peace, so let’s abide by them!