12 Bonding Activities To Do With Your New College Roommate
Need some bonding activities to do with your new college roommate? Look no further! College can be such an exciting time, and part of that excitement is getting a new roommate. Bonding with your roommate can be mean possibly result in getting a new best friend or at least a person you’re comfortable living with. Skip the awkward first meetings by suggesting one of these fun bonding activities to do.
1. Go on a shopping trip
When you first get to your dorm or apartment there is a lot of unpacking to do. You quickly realize there are things you didn’t pack that you need like food, toiletry items, cleaning supplies, extra decorations and so on. Before you head out the door, ask your new roommate if they would like to join you! This will help break the ice and create an easy conversation. Not to mention how you’ll both be able to save money by splitting the costs of things like cleaning and kitchen supplies.
2. Eat a meal together
The first few nights in a new place means trying to get used to a new routine. You can start to feel really lonely, overwhelmed and unorganized, that food might not even be on your mind. A good way to take a break from everything and connect with your roommate who is probably going through the exact same thing is to suggest getting something to eat together. This can be done by making an easy meal like spaghetti, ordering a pizza, or going to the dining hall together.
3. Go on a coffee date
If a meal doesn’t work out, you can go for something quick and easy like coffee. This is a great suggestion if both of you are busy or have opposite schedules. It doesn’t have to be coffee either, it can be icecream, smoothies, frozen yogurt or anything that is quick and easy. This will give you a breather from all the hard work you’re doing to adjust to college life, give you a chance to find the best coffee place in town, and bond with your roommate. So, take a study break and invite your roommate for some coffee.
4. Get crafty
There are tons of cute craft ideas to do with your roommate on Pinterest and other websites such as making a decorative chore list, a door sign that has both of your initials on them, vision boards and more! Find one that you and your roommate both like and buy all the supplies from your local craft store. There’s nothing like making your space feel homier than sitting on the floor in your dorm or apartment and crafting. There’s also a lot of time for talking and getting to know one another.
5. Introduce your friends
If you have another group of friends or coworkers that you spend time with, try introducing them to your roommate. This will make it so when your friends come over to your place, your roommate will be comfortable and not feel left out. Also, your roommate might even become friends with them and you all could hang out together, therefore, expanding your friend group.
6. Tour the campus
If you’re new to your college or it is a new semester for you, classes can be hard to find. Your roommate might be in the same boat or may even have more knowledge about certain areas of the school than you do, and therefore you can explore the campus together. This is a great way to prepare for upcoming classes and help one another out!
7. Decorate your room
You and your roommate might have some ideas about how to decorate your room or common areas of the dorm or apartment. This can be a great way to interact with your new roommate and discover more about them through their design choices. Compromise with your roommate and try to come up with some decorating ideas that you both like. Not only will your place look homier, but you’ll learn more about your roommate in the process.
8. Go to school events
At the beginning of each semester, colleges usually have activities and events for students to attend like sports games, clubs and organizations fairs, bonfires and so on. Mostly everyone at these things is new or is trying to see what the school has to offer. What better way to do that than with your new roommate? This give you a chance to explore all your interests and hobbies as well as learn about your roommates.
9. Go to a party
Parties are a huge part of college and are almost a right of passage to go to at least one. From personal experience, as a freshman, my roommate and I went to our first college party together. It was a new experience for both us, but I was glad to have someone there with me. We ended up not being close, but after that night, I knew I could count on her if I needed anything.
10. Join an intramural team
Almost every college has some form of intramural sports or organized amateur games. Playing an intramural sport can be so much fun, even if you or your roommate aren’t particularly athletic because it’s all about having fun! For example, invite your roommate to play with you and a group of friends in a volleyball tournament. It gets you both out of the dorm or apartment, you’ll both meet new people, and you’re gettings some exercise in. Also, intramural sports are only about once a week so it can be nice to have some regularly scheduled bonding time to look forward to if you both are busy during the rest of the week.
11. Go to the gym
Continuing with the exercise activities, having your roommate also be your gym buddy can help you develop a great bond. This way you can hold each other accountable for staying healthy, try new exercises and classes together, and grow together on your fitness journey. Whether you both get up at 6am to go to the gym to lift weights, or you both attend a cycle class in the afternoon once a week, that’s bonding!
12. Game nights
Game nights can become a great tradition, because who doesn’t love to de-stress by not having to leave your room, eating junk food and playing some board games. From my experience, I started off with just one roommate asking her if she wanted to play cards and then eventually it turned into having all 5 of my roommates plus other students down the hall join in for our weekly game night. We played board games, card games, video games and even did puzzles. So, pop some popcorn and bring out the Uno cards, it’s time for some roommate bonding!
