Oh, Quiet Time How Much I Value You

I've mentioned in previous posts the constant issues with noise while living with roommates. The times when you most crave the peace and quiet is usually the time when everyone else decides to be their loudest. I know it's never intentional, but at least that's what it seems like. I know I'm not the only one who likes peace and quiet. All university students need a break once and awhile, from homework, paper, studying, working, whatever else they do. And when living with roommates, the times when it is quiet and you can get some peace is the most valuable thing ever.

There's about a two hour gap on Wednesdays when I'm the only one home. The rest of my roommates are at class between four and six. I get home from class at four, check our in and out board to see who's home. I always relish in the fact that my name tag is the only one in the in slot. It's so quiet in the house; it gives me chills, in a good way. Now, mind you, I'm not about to start running around singing and dancing because I have the house to myself. I don't do something crazy when I'm home alone. Usually, and I'm not exaggerating, I lay in bed. I don't sleep, because then my sleep at night gets messed up. I just lay in bed, basking in the golden silence. Sometimes I put on the television, and watch whatever I feel like. Other times, I put on music, my own choice of music that no one can complain about because there's no one around to complain. This is by far my favourite time of the entire week. Sure, once and awhile, I actually do work during my quiet time. I can get a good chunk of an essay done or study in silence. But most of the time, I do nothing.

I know that I'm not the only one who values some personal time. I decided as my little piece of advice today to offer some suggestions of what to do with your own alone time.

1. Read a novel, poem, or anything you've been wanting to catch up on.
2. Listen to music, whatever you choose for your mood.
3. Work on a hobby that you've neglected in the past.
4. Write, call, or email someone you haven't spoken to lately.

5. I also suggest using the time for self-reflection or mediation.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/04/16/is_this_chimp_relaxing_after_an_exh.jpg

Four In The Morning, Really?

Like most university students, I juggle classes and all that goes with them and a part time job that helps pay for school. I am, however, the only person in my house that works. We all juggle school in this house, and it can get stressful when we're all studying and working hard. I work quite a few hours at work, mostly on the weekends, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Often, it's late Friday nights, followed by early Saturday mornings. This usually means I work Friday and then fall into bed after eating dinner, just to get up and do it all over again the next day.



Anyone that lives with roommates can relate to this. There are times when you crave the quiet for sleeping or doing work. It seems that the time you most desperately want quiet is the time when people decide to be the loudest. The constant issue with noise that I have is Friday nights. I work for over five hours and then come home to find my roommates already on their way to the amazing state of inebriation. I know that we don't really have enforced quiet hours, except for during exam time, and my roommates love to party it up on the weekends to unwind. I try my hardest to tolerate the noise most nights, but there are still nights when I end up getting woken up by noise. This usually results in me getting out of bed, walking out into the hall, and politely asking them to quiet down. I've even started putting notes on my door, before I go to sleep, reminding them that I have an early morning. This is generally a bizarre idea, seeing as how most people, when having good time with their alcohol, aren't able to read all that well.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/sf/10-13noise.jpg

A few weekends ago, I had a very early Saturday morning with Track and Field all day at the St. Denis Centre, and decided that an earlier night than usual would be necessary. Seeing as how past attempts to ask my roomies to quiet down have sometimes failed, I decided to Google tips on how to deal with loud roommates. My results led me to a eHow page, entitled How to Deal With a Loud Roommate. I read six steps that I should follow, that will help me. After reading the steps out loud to myself, I couldn't help but laugh. The first five steps alone hardly ever work, or at least wouldn't in my situation. The first step involves communicating with your roommates and explaining what the problem is. I wonder if anyone has ever been able to talk to four roommates, who may all be slightly intoxicated, and ask them to quiet down. Ground rules don't work, because we all forget them. Earplugs won't work; I won't hear my alarm in the morning, if I'm drowning out noise the night before. These steps aren't very useful at all, and may not work for anyone. Their tips revolve around: talking to inebriated roommates, wearing earplugs, and setting rules that are easily forgotten. I wonder if somewhere out there, there's a website or wiki that will help me with noisy and sloshed roommates.