Living in close quarters, especially in apartments, can result in various difficulties. Of course, it can often offer many benefits as well, from enjoying shared amenities to the comfort of knowing your neighbors. However, this closeness can sometimes cause discomfort, especially if you constantly hear your neighbours’ arguments of your neighbors.
If you are ready to deal with your neighbours’ arguments, there are several steps we can recommend. This article therefore summarizes some strategies for dealing with such disputes effectively without creating further discord.
1.Think and understand the situation
It is important to fully understand the situation before taking any action. Are your neighbours’ arguments a one-off or a regular occurrence? How much do they disturb your peace or your daily routine?
The answers to these questions will help you decide what to do. Also, it’s important to remember that anyone can have a bad day, and ideally we should show compassion and understanding when an argument is a rare occurrence.
2. Keep a positive attitude and communicate
Maintaining a positive attitude towards your neighbors even in such situations can help maintain a harmonious relationship. Remember, it’s not your fight, and by staying neutral, you can’t get drawn into an argument. On the other hand, a hostile approach can escalate the situation, causing more harm than good.
If, however, arguments continue to disturb you and disturb your peace, it is important to communicate your feelings to your neighbors. They may not realize the extent of their disagreements or that the noise bothers you on a regular basis. Approach them in a calm moment, remain polite and explain your point of view. A simple, friendly conversation can often solve problems effectively.
If direct communication makes you uncomfortable or you fear it might lead to conflict, consider writing a non-confrontational letter. Clearly explain the problem and how these high-profile arguments affect you. But also empathize with their situation and ask them to try to eliminate the noise. Remember that the tone of the letter should be neutral, polite and understanding.
3. Find a mediator
For stubborn disputes that refuse to subside, consider engaging a neutral third-party mediator. This professional can help facilitate a conversation between you and your neighbors to resolve the problem. Many communities have local mediation services, some of which are free.
In multi-apartment housing, it is necessary to seek help from the elder of the house, who takes responsibility for resolving such conflicts.
Make sure you see our article on Determining when to seek legal help to know if maybe this is the right move for you.
4. Consider noise canceling solutions
If your neighbours’ arguments occur regularly and cause significant disruption, consider investing in noise-cancelling solutions such as headphones or earplugs. This will be especially useful if the noises are at night and disturb your sleep.
Home sound insulation can also be a real solution. It won’t solve the problem, but it can certainly give you peace of mind.
Therefore, maybe it is worth taking a quick loan and doing home repairs. In a situation of disputes, this should be one of the last moves, but not in the case of simply loud neighbors. For example, if you listen to music loudly every day during the day, it is not really a reason to call the police. Therefore, it is good to take care that the noisy behavior of the neighbors will not disturb the comfort of your home.
In general, already living near quarrelsome neighbors can be burdened with various difficulties – that’s clear. But with patience, empathy and strategic action, it is possible to restore peace.
Definitely see our article about How to disconnect from everyday stress for some helpful tips on how to be at peace.
Remember that maintaining a harmonious neighborhood environment is a collective responsibility, and constructive communication plays an important role in achieving it.