Do you ever feel like high school doesn’t teach you the skills that you’ll actually need in real life? You’re not alone! Good study habits and a good education are important, but having had good grades in high school won’t help you as an adult if they are all you know. Having basic life skills is an essential part of entering what us students lovingly call the real world (aka where our lives actually start after school is finally over).
So, what are some of the skills you should have before entering this long awaited part of your life? I’m glad you asked, because down below, I’ve compiled a list of what I think are essential life skills that every teenager should have before reaching adulthood.
Time Management
First up is time management. Have you ever thought that you couldn’t possibly manage to finish all your homework within the time you were given? You probably can. It’s just that other things often get in our way (I’m looking at you, social media). After all, as Charles Buxton once said, “You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.”
While it can be an annoying skill to develop at times, learning to properly manage our time is something that every adult should know how to do. Yes, binge watching Netflix for hours on end is immensely satisfying. However, time management means you make time for tasks that need to be completed, while also scheduling time for things that make you happy.
Luckily for us teens, learning to manage your time is actually quite easy. It all comes down to organization and self discipline. You can start by using a planner or calendar to organize your time and tasks. By seeing the tasks you need to get done, you are more likely to try and complete them than spend hours scrolling on your phone (which you can do after that big history paper). After all, crossing off an item from your to-do list can be ever so satisfying. You should also practice prioritizing your tasks, so that the most pressing issues are dealt with first.
Another technique to help manage your time better is to have a daily schedule—and actually follow it. This can help you get into a solid routine each day, which means you are more likely to be productive and have time for yourself afterwards. As adulthood often comes with more tasks and chores, these time management tips are sure to help you get the most out of your 24 hours a day.
Money and Budgeting Skills
Next up is financial discipline. Whether you like it or not, money is a very important part of our lives, and a good amount of it is needed to live a comfortable life. That is why teens should learn to manage money and budget before they become adults.
Budgeting is an important part of managing money. A budget allows you to save up for things you want to buy, while still keeping your finances in check. By differentiating between wants and needs, spending within a budget allows you to never worry about being in debt while still enjoying all the pleasures life has to offer.
There are other important skills concerning money that all teens should know before they become adults. Things like opening a bank account, transferring money online, and using a credit card are important skills to have. It’s also important to ensure the price you are paying for an item makes sense, in addition to finding local charities you’d like to support. Don’t you just wish we could learn these things in school? Taxes are another crucial part of adulthood that far too many adults don’t know how to properly do. By becoming more financially independent and confident, you can do wonders for your future self.
Basic Cooking Skills
Food is one of our most basic needs and it is essential for every person to know how to provide for themselves, regardless of gender.
The first thing you should learn when learning to cook is how to make a few healthy and simple meals using ingredients you already have on hand. Not all meals have to be fancy or take up a lot of your time. Learning to make your own healthy meals can save you a lot of money and keep you healthy as well. It is a needed skill that far too many people lack well into adulthood.
Learning to operate kitchen appliances and knowing how to store different ingredients will make your cooking journey much easier and open you up to more recipes. Improper food storage and preparation can put you at risk for food poisoning, not to mention your food may not turn out as tasty as you would have hoped.
Nutrition is a big part of cooking. Having sweets and “junk food” is okay and can be part of a healthy diet. However, the importance of eating nutritious meals cannot be stressed more. Our bodies need many different nutrients to survive and it is our job to provide our bodies with those nutrients through the food we eat. Did you know that there are eight B vitamins that all help your body do different things? In addition to having nutrient rich food each and every day, it is important for teens to learn to read food labels for nutrient and ingredient information.
Basic First Aid and Personal Healthcare Knowledge
Personally, I believe that everyone should know basic first aid. Things like cleaning and dressing a wound, knowing how to call 9-1-1, and treating common illnesses (ex. Asthma, allergies, etc) are all skills that will come in handy the older we get. It is also important for teens to learn how to take care of themselves before they become adults. This includes learning to take care of yourself when sick (with something like the flu), knowing when to go to the doctor (in the case of more serious illness or emergencies), and keeping yourself healthy through the foods you eat and exercise. Learning about the uses of over-the-counter medications and health insurance in your area are next steps you can take so that you can be as healthy as possible in adulthood.
Organization Skills
Benjamin Franklin once said, “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” While this may not always be the case, it cannot be denied that organizing can help you get things done much faster. Have you ever felt demotivated because your work area was too cluttered? Being organized is a big motivator in getting things done and can help reduce procrastination.
There are many ways to help yourself stay organized. Benjamin Franklin, who is becoming quite the organizational helper, has a saying that goes, “A place for everything and everything in its place”. It may sound kind of redundant, but having a spot for everything you own actually makes cleaning up so much easier, which in turn helps you stay organized. It also limits the time you spend searching for things. I like to go by the simple rule that everything I own should have its own home. My backpack? In my study room. My headphones? In my drawer. Phone? On my desk. Once a week, usually on Sundays, I take the time to clean up my study desk so that I’m all set for the next week of learning!
House Skills
Home management is a crucial, but often looked over, part of being an adult. Sometimes, everything outside can be easy, but managing your own home can prove challenging. There are a lot of things to do when you get your own place to live. From paying rent to cleaning up, it is important you have good house management skills to keep your home nice and tidy.
First, it is important to know about the different housing options and which one is best for you. If you plan on living somewhere temporarily or you live alone, an apartment may be a good fit. However, if you are looking to live somewhere long term and have a good amount of savings piled up, a house might be a better option. With your own place to live, it is important to keep up with paying your utility bills. You don’t want to suffer a week without running water because you forgot to pay the bill!
A good house is a clean house. That is why it's important to keep your house tidy through basic maintenance like vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning. Remember, when you start living on your own, you may have to start doing things you didn’t do much before more often, like cooking and laundry. This is probably the time when you’ll reason just how helpful your parents and guardians are!
Driving and Auto Maintenance Skills
In this big world, driving is probably the most popular way of getting around. In addition, it is one of the ways that teens tend to earn their independence. If you don’t know how to drive yet, don’t fret. Take your time to learn about road signals, auto care, and driving rules. Knowing about these things will help make your driving journey much easier.
As an adult, it can be expected that you will be driving to get around much of the time. This is why you should know the importance of wearing a seat belt, following safety rules, and the dangers of speeding. All teens should know ahead of time how to buy a car and how car insurance works. That way, you can make the most of your new found freedom!
For some more life skills to develop, check out this short video!
Written by: Nevadha M
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