So, have a discussion up front about your expectations and theirs. Instead of giving a lecture about “rules”, make it a conversation about “agreements”. This puts you both on an equal footing and helps make the whole thing less awkward. Make it clear from the start that these agreements can be revisited if either of you feel like things aren’t working. They are just in place to provide a framework on which you can build a successful house-sharing relationship. Here are some items you can use to start off your discussion by stating your preferences and inquiring about theirs:

Laundry – Do they prefer to keep clothing separate, or is mixing the washing together OK? Some people are embarrassed about having others wash or fold their undergarments.

Food – Would they like a designated food storage area in the fridge and pantry so they can stock no sharing” foods there? Or, would they prefer to chip in to the weekly food budget and add items to the grocery list as needed?

Bathroom – Do they prefer to shower in the morning or evening? Is it possible to assign a bathroom just for your guest? If you have special cleaning measures in place like the use of a daily shower cleaner, this is the time to bring it up.

Add dishwashing routines, cooking, use of family areas, noise levels, and any other items to this list as you think of them.

• Only make 2 resolutions.  That way, you don’t feel overwhelmed. At the same time, if you stop keeping one, you can still say “At least I’m still keeping my other resolution”. Then, you can pat yourself on the back about succeeding rather than focusing on your failure.
• Make a New Week resolution. Don’t commit to doing something for a year. Instead, commit to keeping your resolution for 1 week and then revisit it. That way, you can adjust your resolution to be more or less ambitious depending on how it actually felt from day to day. For example, you could increase or decrease the amount of exercise you do based on how sore you get.
• Don’t boldly go where no man has gone before. If you don’t actually know someone in real life (not on the internet) who has successfully stopped drinking, smoking, overeating, using caffeine, as part of a New Year’s resolution, don’t even attempt it. If you do know someone who’s done it, ask them how.