How to Live With a Slob

Like Felix in the Odd Couple, you may find yourself living with a slob. It could be a roommate whom you thought was just a bit sloppy, or a spouse who has become a big fat slob after years of marriage. After trying to change the sloppy ways of your live-in partner, you may just have to find ways to cope if you plan to continue living with your slob.

Instructions

1. Set boundaries and arrange to make certain areas of the house off-limits to the slob. You can set up places, such as your own room, or a bathroom that you can keep as clean as you like without having it constantly messed up by the other person.

2. Stop picking up after your slob. Once he runs out of clean clothes or has no room to park the car in the junk-filled garage, your slob may decide to clean up after all. As long as he has you to keep things in order, there is no incentive to change.

3. Tell yourself that at least you are not living with a neat freak that is constantly cleaning and moving stuff around. She can be just as annoying as a slob.

4. Try embarrassing your big fat slob when you go out. Point out when other people stare.

5. Accept your fate and decide what you can live with and what you can't. Choose your battles and do the cleaning that bothers you the most. Realize that you can't always make other people change, but you do have control over your own reactions.