3 ways to use a whiteboard with your roommate

Clear communication is key to living peacefully with your roommate. However, sometimes it can be difficult to do this without seeming too pushy. For instance, leaving sticky notes all over the kitchen or bathroom is not a good way to get a message across. Little things, like forgetting to change the toilet roll or accidentally putting a wooden spoon in the dishwasher are best left for face-to-face conversations. Conveying frustrations is important, but so is remembering to have a good time with your friend. Here are a few ways a whiteboard can help you accomplish this task:

1. Leaving (friendly) notes
Everyone has that one forgetful friend, and if yours just happens to also be your roommate, leaving a note every now and then on the kitchen whiteboard won't hurt. However, make sure you don't go overboard. For instance, it's fine to leave a friendly, "Don't forget to take the trash out!" with a smiley face at the end, but it's not okay to leave a laundry list of chores for the person to do.

You should also use this board for things other than reminders, like wishing your roommate good luck if he or she has to take a test or has a review at work. This will help generate positive communication and make your roomie feel important.

2. Playing games
If you have a whiteboard hanging up in the living room or near the entryway, have some fun by starting a game of hangman. Each time you leave, guess another letter, and when your roommate heads out, he or she can respond to your guess.

You could also take turns posting interesting riddles or brain teasers. These puzzles are usually pretty interesting and will give you something to mull over during the day.

Save paper by turning a whiteboard into a calendar for you and your roommate.

3. Creating a calendar
Schedules can get pretty hectic during the day, but making a universal calendar that hangs in a prominent location is a good way to coordinate plans. You can both use this whiteboard calendar to record your appointments, but also pencil in some fun events or local activities you'd like to attend. This way, you don't have to worry about forgetting anything, and if you need to know what your roommate is doing on a particular day, all you have to do is glance at the schedule.