9 Life-Changing Hacks for Introverts In College That Will Help You Thrive While Living In A Dorm

Want to know the best hacks for introverts in college so you can survive living in the dorms as an introvert? Here were some of the biggest life savers that I did while living in the dorms that helped me thrive.

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Moving into a dorm is a huge lifestyle change. If you’re an introvert, that can make the adjustment even harder. Here are some tips from one introvert to another on how to live in a dorm as an introvert!

Finding alone time to recharge as an introvert in college can be really hard when living in the dorms. Don’t worry. I’ve been in your shoes, and I have some tips that will help you be able to recharge in your dorm even when you’re never alone.

Here are some of my tried and true tips for surviving as introverts in college dorms.

Best Hacks for Introverts in College Living in the Dorms

1. Get earplugs 

The first tip that I have for you is to get some ear plugs asap. Literally one of the first things I did after a few days living in the dorms was buy some.

They are also SUPER helpful if you are wanting to take a nap or if you need to get some studying done, because dorms are typically pretty noisy in general. Before I got my earplugs I could always hear people upstairs and outside when I was trying to nap. 

Also, It seems kind of weird, but if you have some ear plugs  it makes it a bit easier for you to think that you’re alone in your dorm because you won’t be able to hear your roommate. Which is perfect for introverts.

These aren’t the exact ones I used when I lived in the dorms, but they are very similar! And they have super good reviews.

2. Use Noise Cancelling Headphones

This is kind of the same concept as the last point, but dorms can be really noisy. As an introvert, nothing bugs me more than when I’m trying to listen to music and be in my own little world and I can hear everything going on around me.

Also, if you don’t have earplugs, noise cancelling headphones, even if you’re not playing music, can block out noise pretty well.

I have airpods and they work surprisingly well at cancelling out noise! Also, they are just WAY more convenient to wear when studying than headphones that have a cord. They are a little bit of an investment, but they are SO worth it.

3. Cherish your time in the shower

Okay this one might sound a bit weird, but odds are, the only time that you will get to be alone when living in the dorms is when you are showering. Take that time to relax and enjoy being alone. Don’t rush through things. If you can, take your sweet time so that you can enjoy a little bit of alone time to recharge.

4. Go stay with a friend if you need to

Something that helped me a lot when living in the dorms was going to my friend’s house if I was feeling a little overwhelmed.

No matter how much you like your roommate, it can be pretty hard to be around someone 24/7 without getting burned out. Take some time away if you need to! It can be really nice to just get out of your dorm for a night to just spend some time with a friend, even if you’re not entirely alone.

5. Watch shows on your laptop with headphones on

If you watch shows on your laptop with headphones in, it will definitely help you to recharge. There is a huge difference between watching a show with headphones in and watching a show out loud with your roommate in the room. Wearing headphones will help you to feel like you’re alone, which can really help you recharge as an introvert.

6. Read with earplugs in

This is along the same lines of the last one. Using some earplugs to block out all outside noise while you’re reading will make it so much easier to feel like you are having alone time.

7. Take advantage of alone time

If you and your roommate have class at different times, take advantage of the time that they aren’t there to have some alone time. Take the time that you get to do relaxing things. Try something like yoga, reading a book, watching youtube videos, etc. Do anything during that time that you want to do, and then do your homework later on.

For me it was always tempting to just go ahead and start my homework as soon as I got out of class, but I really needed the alone time that I got between when I got out of class and when she got out of class.

8. Visit home if you need to

Some people feel ashamed about going home from college too often, but if you are really in need of some alone time, just go home. It can provide some much needed relief from the stress of school and dorm life. Also, there is no shame in visiting home as often as you want.

9. Communicate with your roommate

Personally, when I am feeling burned out on social interaction, I tend not to talk to anyone. This is fine if you live by yourself, but if you live with a roommate it can complicate things.

A lack of communication with your roommate can sometimes cause weird tension, which is the exact opposite of what we want when living in the dorms.

If you are feeling burned out, make sure that you let your roommate know what it going on so that they don’t think you’re giving them the cold shoulder or being passive aggressive. Open communication will make things easier for everyone in the situation.

This post was all about the best hacks for introverts in college to help you survive living in the dorms.

Alright, that’s all of my tips for now! I really hope that this post helps you in your dorm living experience. Living in a situation where you’re stressed not only from school but also because of dorm life is no fun! I hope that you use these tips and that they help you like they did me when I lived in the dorms!