It's about that time of the year when everybody is getting sick of each other. Sure, you're roommate's passion for dubstep was acceptable at first - you even grew to enjoy it. But now it's eight months later, and if you hear one more Skrillex "hit," you'll go insane.
Everybody is happy for those two lovebirds who - after six months - are finally together. You pretend not to mind them cuddling, whispering and kissing across the room from you, but their excessive PDA is enough already, no matter how cute it is. If you see one more playful tickle fight, you're going to snap.
You really do care about your roommate's sexual adventures. In the beginning of the year, sharing them brought the two of you closer together. Details are great, but you really don't need to hear all of them anymore.
Sound familiar?
Whether you're a freshman who has fallen in love with a solid group of new friends or you're a senior getting ready to graduate and leave the clique you now love to hate, it's that time of the year when everybody is getting on everybody's nerves.
Those personality quirks of your roommate, your best friend or your coworkers - which didn't seem like a big deal at first - have been festering in your mind for months. Now, when your roommate takes four days to clean his dirty dishes, you want to punch him.
The root of the annoyance may stem from applying to summer jobs, cheating on your strict beach-bod diet or hating the gloomy Buffalo weather, but it feels like it's your friends' fault. They are being too loud, too nosy, too annoying, too nice or too cheerful.
But remember it's not necessarily their fault.
Yes, listening to your roommate's boyfriend sing Celine Dion in the shower is annoying, but his singing isn't the reason you didn't get that summer internship. And remember, your hungover coworker isn't the reason it's raining outside.
When you feel yourself start to get frustrated with the people you've grown closest to over the past few months, take a deep breath and think about what's really aggravating you. Most likely, it isn't your best friend's high-pitched sneezes or your coworker's lack of fashion sense.
Take a walk, go exercise, listen to your favorite song or watch a movie. Maybe you just need a minute to yourself - time to relax. It's hard to be "on" all the time.
If you have taken some time to think about the situation after you have calmed down and realize you really can't hear another Skrillex song without losing your mind, say something. Talk to your roommate about it. If the problem can be fixed by a simple conversation, then you can save yourself a lot of stress, irritation and headaches.
And I'm sure he or she will have something you do that annoys him or her just as much. Overall, you will end up with a more productive and soothing environment for everyone.
These last few weeks of the semester can be tough but you won't be able to handle the stress of finals, the tediousness of moving out or the excitement of end-of-the-year parties without your college family around you.
Email: rachel.kramer@ubspectrum.com
