If you’re living with someone and you want to ignore them, it can be difficult and challenging. You have to see them every day, after all. But there are a few things you can do to make ignoring them a little easier, and we will be presenting these here today.

What matters, in the end, is that you choose communication first and solving issues with honesty like adults. If it doesn’t work and you choose to ignore them, it is okay but keep in mind that you don’t want to make an enemy out of someone you live with because all of your stuff and belongings are at their disposition.

If the person you want to ignore is a close relative that in the end has your best interest at heart and you just want to show them that you’re mad at them, then it’s all good. But if it’s a roommate or someone you only met recently and just clashed with instantly then be more careful. Let’s just hope they’re not someone who truly doesn’t care for you at all and who has a twisted sense of revenge.

5 steps to ignoring someone you live:

1- Avoid eye contact:

First, try to avoid eye contact. If you can’t help but look at them, keep your expression neutral and don’t engage in any kind of conversation, even if they’re trying to start one with you.

Avoiding eye contact can be difficult if you’re just standing there while they talk to you and look at the floor. It can make you seem submissive, shy, nervous, or even insecure. That’s why ideally what you want to do is always be busy and have a task at hand while avoiding eye contact, which will make more sense.

For instance, if they’re trying to talk to you you can look at the cereal box that you just grabbed out of a shelf. You can keep your eyes on the box and find a bowl and proceed with visually keeping your eyes and focusing on your actions, while you answer back in a short sentence or say “you’re busy, right now”. This will be perfect to avoid eye contact and even seem like you’re not doing it on purpose.

In fact, keeping your hands full can help a lot and that’s what brings us to our next point.

2- Keep yourself busy:

Second, keep yourself busy. If you’re occupied with something, you won’t have as much time to think about the person you’re trying to ignore. Moreover, you will genuinely not have time to interact or socialize with them and it will all seem more acceptable and alright because you truly are busy!

Additionally, try to keep yourself busy with hobbies or other activities that you enjoy. This can help take your mind off of the person you’re trying to ignore and provide a much-needed distraction. Keeping yourself busy will also allow you to study or work more if that’s what you choose to prioritize and do to stay unavailable. That way, you won’t have time to focus on the person you’re trying to avoid or feel bad about it and it can help your career too or studies.

If you don’t have any work to do then you can keep yourself busy by doing things like cleaning your room, working on a project, or cooking. When your room is locked with you inside then you can chill out and take a break as we doubt that the person who lives with you won’t allow any sense of privacy or follow you in.

You can even choose to go out altogether rather than stay in their sight or radar. Do something like going for a walk or running some errands just as long as it keeps you unavailable. Additionally, try to keep your mind occupied by reading, listening to music, or talking to friends. If you can find ways to keep yourself occupied, or unavailable then ignoring the person you live with will be much easier.

3- Focus on developing new relationships:

It can be tough to try to ignore someone you live with, especially if you’re stuck in close quarters with them day in and day out. However, one thing that can help with this mission is to try to find new friends outside of your living situation.

This can help take the focus off of the person you’re trying to ignore and give you other people to socialize with. You can even bring your new friends over and hang out with them without inviting the person you live with to join the group. Of course, only do this if it is something permissible and something you already agreed on together with the people you live.

Try to be as civil as possible when you do have to interact with the person you’re trying to ignore, but you’re under no obligation to hang out with them or invite them to join your group of friends. This can be difficult, but it’s important to try to remain polite and avoid any unnecessary conflict.

In the end, try to find some positive aspects of the situation. Maybe this is a good opportunity to focus on learning more about yourself, your own hobbies and interests or to make and develop some new relationships. Whatever it is, try to find the silver lining and ignore the rest.

4- Avoid being in the same room:

Obviously, if you’re trying to stay away from someone then the smart thing to do is to avoid being in the same room with them as much as possible. If you have to be in the same room, try to sit as far away from them as possible.

And if you somehow happen to find yourself in their presence or in the same room with them, act like they’re not there. Don’t talk to them, don’t look at them, and don’t acknowledge their presence in any way.

If they say something to you, nod and smile if it’s something acceptable but if it’s rude or unpleasant just pretend you didn’t hear them; unless it’s something extremely bad and you cannot stand it. in this case and if they do something that really gets under your skin, don’t hesitate to speak up. The sooner you set some boundaries, the easier it will be to ignore them.

In brief; you have to avoid being in the same room as them as much as possible but if you find yourself having to be in the same space, try to stay out of their line of sight.

5- If they talk to you, be brief and to the point:

If they try to engage you in conversation, be brief and to the point. Don’t engage them in conversation. If they try to talk to you, just respond with one-word answers. Don’t elaborate on your answers or ask any questions yourself.

And try to never address them first under any context. Even, if they do something to get a quick reaction out of you, try not to give them any. Pretend like it didn’t happen and eventually they’ll get the message that you’re not interested in interacting with them. Unless they cross boundaries or press your buttons as mentioned in the fourth point above.

In brief, be brief and to the point when you communicate with them. Avoid small talk or anything that could lead to a conversation. Also, if you share a common space, stay on your own side and don’t engage with them. And, if they try to approach you or start a conversation, be polite but firm in your response.

Let them know that you’re not interested in talking if they try to make small talk or tell you a story and walk away. Keep neutral expressions and loom uninterested. In the end, you can check this article on how to indirectly tell someone they talk too much if you’re trying not to waste your time on empty talk but still be polite enough.