two roommates watching TV and eating popcorn | | personal space
Read time: 5 min

When you live with others, carving out some personal space in your home is essential—it maximizes your ability to concentrate, express yourself, and decompress from the stresses of student life. Whether you live in a residence hall, at home with family, or in an off-campus apartment with roommates, making a shared living space your own is key to succeeding academically (and mentally) this semester. Here’s how.

desk icon | personal space

1. Create a designated study space in your home

Find a nook in your bedroom, living room, or kitchen—preferably at a desk or table. If your chosen study space is in a common area, be sure to talk with your roommates or family ahead of time to determine which area will be used for studying and at what times so you don’t get interrupted when you’re in the zone.

“I let my family know that I need a few hours to complete my work and I cannot have them come into my room where the computer sits.”
—Maritza O., first-year graduate student, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado

Studying in bed may cause our brain to associate the bed with stimulating or stressful activities rather than sleep. Using your bed only for sleep (and other bedroom activities) helps strengthen the mental connection that associates your bed with sleep, so your brain knows not to rev up when you’re trying to wind down. In fact, strengthening our brain’s association between our bed and sleep—and weakening its association with stimulating activities—is a common insomnia treatment called stimulus control therapy.

icon of three people | personal space2. Manage distractions

It’s inevitable that other people will be around when you’re studying, at least some of the time. More than 40 percent of respondents to a recent CampusWell survey say that managing distractions is one of the hardest parts about living with other people. 

“The biggest challenge that I face when I’m trying to study is my friends or classmates wanting to talk to me.”
—Brandon P., third-year student, Troy University, Dothan, Alabama

  • Let the people you live with know that when they see you in your chosen study spot, you are effectively hanging up a “do not disturb” sign.
  • Wear headphones—this can work as a visual cue to others to give you some space while simultaneously drowning out ambient noise.

clock icon | personal space3. Establish clear boundaries

Sit down and talk to the people you live with to create ground rules about things like quiet times and cleaning schedules. You can even write up a contract (to keep it casual, write it on a white board or get crafty with a poster board). Doing this early on, before you’re deep into the stresses of the school year, can prevent conflict later.

“I try to communicate openly and honestly with my roommates about my expectations or study needs.”
—Micah T., fourth-year student, Stanford University, California

sample roomie guidelines | personal space

Sample roomie guidelines:

Quiet study hours

Monday–Thursday: 4 p.m.–9 p.m. 

Saturday: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sunday: 1 p.m.–5 p.m. 

Bathroom cleaning

Jen—every other Sunday 

Maikha—every other Wednesday   

Kitchen cleaning

Jen—every other Thursday 

Maikha—every other Saturday

picture frame icon | personal space4. Make the space feel like your own

“It is really important for me to personalize my space,” says Katie T., a fifth-year student at Stanford University. “I put up posters of things I like, and I keep sticky notes around to remind myself of positive affirmations and to connect with my values and personal goals. I’ve learned it is important to make sure my environment fosters a robust connection to my internal self.”

  • Hang your favorite poster, tapestry, or artwork.
  • Go shopping with your roommate for shared items such as couch pillows or kitchen gadgets.
  • Decorate the walls or your workspace with pictures of your friends, family, or pets.
  • If away from home, bring a meaningful item from your childhood, such as a crocheted blanket your grandmother made or a souvenir from a family trip.

“I live with my wife, so I don’t mind us sharing space, but I have my own work area that is just for me. I like to use cute decorations or colors that are specific to me so I feel the space is personalized. I also like to keep my favorite small snacks at my desk!”
—Rachael T., second-year student, Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, North Carolina

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Article sources

CampusWell surveys, May 2019 and May 2022.

Sharma, M. P., & Andrade, C. (2012). Behavioral interventions for insomnia: Theory and practice. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 54(4), 359–366. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3554970/