Do you know the people who live next door? What are their names, what cars do they drive, what holidays do they celebrate? If you need to leave for a short time, would you trust your neighbor with a duplicate of the keys to your apartment so that he would water the flowers or feed the cat?Surveys in Russia that 37% of apartment building residents know only a few of their neighbors, and 17% know no one at all. If you find yourself in the same situation but want to change it, there are several ways to meet people living nearby and build relationships with them.
1. Learn more about them
Try to get out of your comfort zone : say hello to your neighbor in the elevator, introduce yourself, ask his name. Gradually, you will begin to communicate more often, you will have common topics for conversation and you will get to know those who live near you much better.
When new tenants move into the apartment across the street, go up to them and offer to help, for example, lift boxes and other things up to the floor. This will immediately set the relationship with the new neighbors on a friendly note.
2. Do something enjoyable every day
Try not to wait for good from others, but to become its source. The simplest example is to help the grandmother living in your building carry heavy bags of groceries to the apartment.
Any small gesture of kindness will not only make others happy, but will also lift your spirits.
Another option is to use your talents and hobbies. If you love baking, make some delicious cakes for your neighbors . If you grow plants, give a sprout so that someone else can plant an unusual flower in their home.
3. Expand your social circle
Coming home in the evening, closing the door tightly and spending time on the couch watching your favorite TV show is much easier than trying to make friends . However, no matter how nerve-wracking the process of getting closer may be, it will bring you much more inner satisfaction.
Try to interact more often with a variety of people. For example, try to find a common language with residents of other entrances or neighboring houses. Your steps forward will inspire others. And that means that gradually your staircase, and then the yard, will change for the better. But for this to happen, you need to start with yourself.
If you have children, encourage them to interact with their peers who live in the neighborhood. Just remember to give your child detailed instructions on how to handle unforeseen dangerous situations. Unfortunately, they don’t always involve strangers. Sometimes people we’ve known for years can be just as troublesome.
4. Take part in initiatives
Join a house chat, help with common tasks, or even organize an event that allows residents to get together, meet, and socialize. Remember that actions speak louder than words. Try to treat everyone equally and don’t be prejudiced.
5. Respect the common space
Each of us shares a certain part of the adjacent territory with our neighbors: a corridor, a stairwell, an entrance, a yard, and so on. And this space deserves the same respect as our own home. Do not litter in common areas, do not clutter the passages, clean up after your dog in the yard, do not make noise late at night – these rules are not at all difficult to follow.
If conflicts arise, it is better to discuss all the problems immediately, so as not to bring misunderstandings to a critical point. The neighbors will be grateful to you