What to Do If Your Roommate Snores

When you dreamed of going to college, it almost certainly didnt include visions of trying to sleep while your roommate loudly snores only a few feet away. And when youre sharing a tiny space with someone who makes a lot of noise while they sleep, it can feel downright impossible to get any rest. Add the fact that youre likely not getting enough sleep anyway, and you have one small situation that quickly balloons into a serious problem. If your roommate snores in a way that is preventing you from getting your much-needed zzzs every night, youll need to address the situation ASAP. Doing so wisely, however, is likely to increase your chances of finding a workable solution that everyone is happy with. 1. First and Foremost, Mention It to Your Roommate If youre waking up super cranky and mad at your roommate, and they have no idea why you cant expect them to guess why youre so upset. If your roommate snores a lot, youll have to bring it up if youre ever going to move toward a solution. How you bring the topic up, however, matters a lot. Avoid angry accusations like You snore so much! or Why are you snoring like that all the time? Your roommate is not snoring on purpose and is certainly not doing so just to make you upset. Try to bring it up gently, as your roommate may not even know that they snore. Did you know that you snore pretty loudly? Have you ever been told that you snore a bit? Have you ever talked to anyone about your snoring? 2. Remember That Snoring Can Indicate Some Other Issues Dont just view snoring as a bad habit; it can be a medical issue for some people, too. The multiple causes of snoring should help you keep in mind that this isnt something that can just be fixed, like a dirty roommate or one who takes your stuff all of the time. Be patient and considerate as your roommate looks into  whats causing the snoring. 3. Find Some Temporary Fixes   As you and your roommate work to find long(er)-term solutions to the snoring problem, look into some short-term fixes. Can you get earplugs? Ask your roommate to try to sleep on their side? Reconfigure the room so your beds arent so close? Perhaps you can ask your roommate to avoid alcohol before bed, or look into getting and using a white noise machine, 4. Look Into Long(er)-Term Fixes Your roommate might just need to change some sleeping habits; similarly, they might also have some serious medical concerns that arent going to fixed quite so easily. If thats the case, look into some longer-term fixes. Know that its perfectly okay for one of those fixes to be finding another roommate. Sleep is important — for  both  of you. If your roommate has something serious going on that is preventing you from getting some sleep, dont hesitate to talk to your RA or other residence hall staff member about possibly switching roommates. It doesnt have to mean anyone is doing anything wrong; it just means that you arent a great match for each other. You can still be a great match for someone else. 5. Keep Things Pleasant and Friendly Consider how youd want to be treated if you were in your roommates shoes. Would you want someone, for example, taking video of your snoring and posting it online somewhere? Definitely not. Would you want your roommate to be gossiping with friends about how horrible you are to share a room with? No thanks. Your roommates snoring isnt an intentional act designed to make your life horrible. Consequently, aim for understanding and patience as you both work to find a solution. It might take a while, but theres no reason why both of you cant be kind, respectful adults during the process.