7 Dorm Living Tips for True Introverts

According to the general definition, an introvert is someone who feels more comfortable focusing on their internal ideas and thoughts rather than on things going on externally. Some clear signs of introverts include self-awareness, reflection, a hard time making decisions, the comfort of being alone, etc.

People with this personality type often find it hard to “fit in” into larger communities. They prefer to spend time alone or with a couple of close friends rather than be in a crowd, which only makes them feel tired. So, it’s not hard to guess that such people might find it hard to get on with living in a crowded dorm. But there are a few life-changing tips that will help you out if you are a true introvert.

Delegate Homework

While in college, students have to deal with lots of everyday tasks, including homework, academic papers, test prep, and more. Knowing that introverts enjoy alone time, it’s not hard to guess that they often find it hard to concentrate and get the work done when they lack privacy.

In such situations, they can find someone to ask, “please, write my papers for me,” and ensure that their papers and homework assignments are handled by professionals. This will help you keep your grades high. At the same time, this will reduce the tension of not being able to study in privacy.

Own Your Space

After you have an external solution to take care of your schoolwork, it’s time to revamp your space in college. Traditionally, introverts recharge and get energized by spending time in a relaxing and comfortable space. You can call it a comfort zone. And your dorm room must become this comfort zone for you.

To do this, you need to make it a place that you find truly relaxing. Get rid of any items that you find annoying. Instead, fill your room with things that mean a lot to you and that will make the space around you more home-like, convenient, and enjoyable. The more “you” the space feels, the more it will recharge and energize you.

Invest in Earplugs

One of the hardest things to get rid of in a dorm is noise. Of course, there are dozens of other students living next door to you, and, of course, they make noise. For a true introvert, this can cause quite a lot of distress and irritation. To avoid this, buy yourself a few pairs of earplugs.

Earplugs can be used during your study sessions or when you want to read a book in privacy. They will block out the noise and help you feel more comfortable.

Buy Noise-Canceling Headphones

Along with earplugs, every introvert in a dorm needs to have a pair of high-quality noise-canceling headphones. Students with this personality type often find “me” time incredibly important. Thus, when they listen to music or, let’s say, watch a movie, they really want to spend this time in their small private world. Of course, this is nearly impossible if you are in a dorm. But not with noise-canceling headphones.

Such headphones can help you create a sense of privacy wherever you go. They can be used while listening to music or watching your favorite movies, as well as when you just want to block out noises without playing something.

Create Your Own Small Community

As was said earlier, being in a crowd of people often overwhelms and even drains introverts. However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t need socialization at all. In fact, people with this personality do need to surround themselves with good friends. They just need a smaller group.

So, the next tip for living in a dorm as an introvert is to create your own small community. Don’t feel like you have to get out there and meet everyone right away. This will happen naturally over time. Instead, focus on finding same-minded peers. Make a couple of good friends and stick to your group so that you feel like you belong somewhere and, at the same time, you don’t feel too pressured.

Make the Most Out of Alone Time

Before you arrived at college, we bet that you had as much alone time as you needed. This will inevitably change on campus, where you are surrounded by lots of peers. So, as an introvert in a crowded dorm, you need to learn how to cherish and make the most out of every minute you spend in privacy.

Don’t let this time go to waste. Instead, use it to do something meaningful and energize yourself to the maximum. For example, try yoga and meditation. Reading books or doing art also works great. So, go ahead and find something that feels right for you and fits into your lifestyle.

Talk to Your Roommate

Most often, people with this personality type quickly get burned out from social interaction. In such situations, they tend to close up and stop talking to anyone around. This is totally fine when you are living by yourself. However, being in a dorm means that you will have a roommate, and that’s where your silence may complicate things.

If you have a roommate, a lack of communication can cause additional tension and stress. Of course, this is the opposite of what you’d want. Therefore, the last tip for a comfortable life on campus is to stay open and communicate with your roommate. Even when you are burned out, make an effort to explain to them what’s going on. This will work much better than being passive-aggressive, cold, or distant.

The Bottom Line

Living in a college dorm can be challenging, scary, and overwhelming, especially when you prefer more privacy and are stuck in a crowd of people instead. However, you can still make the most out of it, even if you are a true introvert.

The tips from this article are very simple. Yet, they can help you create a better environment around yourself and make your life in college comfortable and stress-free. Use these tips to pull it through, and maybe, with some effort, you will eventually even start liking it!

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