Sorry this is a little late! I had some family issues occur last night and ended up having my family in town for the evening.
Anyway, I realize I said this week's topic would be Smelly Sensations, but I've gotten a request to discuss Shower Situations. More specifically — shower schedules.
Personally, I've only needed to use a shower schedule with my suitemates once, and it worked out. But, I've heard many stories of people not abiding by the rules.
To make your schedule a success, try these tips:
Make the schedule at the beginning of the semester. If you wait too long, people will already be used to a routine, and it will be harder to adjust.
Post it in your room. Otherwise, you might forget. Even if no one is in the bathroom, the person who has permission to be might just be running late. Then, if they are forced to wait longer because of your careless actions, the situation ends up worse than it began.
Stick to it, and make sure everyone else does too. If people are beginning to stray from the schedule, let them know. The problem will just get worse until it's confronted. Make a valid argument and give reasons for why the schedule is so important. If you just scold the other person out of frustration, they won't take you seriously.
Changes need to be discussed in advance. If you need to change your bathroom time for any reason, let everyone else involved as soon as you know. Leaving a note on your suitemate's door the night before is impersonal, and might cause unnecessary drama.
Have you ever thought about communal showers, or how people not living in a suite-style dorm deal with sharing a bathroom with their entire floor? Check out this blog for more tips.
Next Week: Smelly Sensations (Unless there are more requests!)
It's a little late for me now but I can see how this would be useful if I still had to share my shower with 4 girls. Super annoying but schedules would have definitely helped. I can't tell you how many times I was late for class because someone decided to take a shower right when I woke up to get ready. Request: how to deal with suite-mates/roommates that have friends over and are obnoxiously loud when you're trying to get stuff done/sleep.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I could help. Someone using the shower is definitely not an excuse for being late to class. Did you ever work out your issue?
ReplyDeleteAnd I will fulfill your request this week!
These are good tips Liz! I need to show this to my suitemate. Maybe now we can work out our morning shower issues without me waking up the rest of our suite yelling at her to get out of the shower, so I won't be late to class.
ReplyDelete