Don’t expect people to change lifestyles, but be open to compromise.

Most of us have a friend or two we know we could never live with. Maybe they’re really anal about cleaning, or extremely messy; maybe they never sleep, or wake up at the crack of dawn. We love getting to know them, but we know the contrasts would be too much to endure under one roof.

When you choose roommates, it’s not always possible or realistic to analyze their lifestyle preferences — sleep habits, cleanliness, food preferences, how they like to socialize — beforehand, especially if you’re moving to a new city or finding a new apartment in a hurry.

However, you should go over some of your fundamental values or lifestyle preferences before moving in: Are you social? Do you like hosting people or is that going to annoy you? Are you into home décor? Do you just want the cheapest options possible?

My sophomore-year roommate, Erica, elaborated: “We didn’t discuss our sleep habits before we decided to live together, so one of us always had to be cautious not to wake the other one.”

No one likes to tiptoe around at night, or in the morning, especially if that’s when you do your best work or like being active. It’s easiest to live with people who share your sleep preferences, but it’s also possible to compromise. Both sides should put in an effort here: Light sleepers (like me) should try out ear plugs or white noise. Heavier sleepers or night owls should avoid being too loud or setting tons of alarms. Don’t be afraid to tell someone if they woke you up last night. Don’t wait until it happens enough that you’re angry.

Yes, roommates who are different from you can be a great way to shake up your routines, but be realistic with yourself about how much you’re willing to adapt after a long and stressful week.

Sit down and talk about how you handle stress. Seriously.

It can be easy to miscommunicate stress and make your roommate feel as if they’ve done something wrong, leaving them with confusion or even resentment. Tell them what’s going on in your life (perhaps a quick “I’ve got a lot going on at work”), and verbalize whether you need some space or quiet.