As a sophomore in college, I am officially mastering life skills (some better than others). I’m quickly figuring out things people in our generation commonly haven’t learned and exactly how hard not learning those things makes life. So whether you are a pro at being on your own or you struggle just as much as I do, here are some skills you might want to consider learning in and around your 20’s.

1. How to do laundry. If you’re lucky like I am, your parents did your laundry all your life. It’s great not having to worry about it, but the second you move out and have to call home to ask how much detergent you need to use or what temperature of water to wash colors in, you’ll be wishing you would’ve given the process more attention.
2. How to cook actual food. Whether you’ve never had to cook, never been interested in learning or you’ve struggled through trying to learn and failing, this one is essential. No matter where you end up, you have to eat. If you’re in college, meal plans are expensive and fast food is the reason freshmen gain 15 pounds. Even if you’re just in an apartment on your own, you’ll save so much money if you actually know how to make the food you own, rather than doing trial and error until it turns out.
3. How to address an envelope. I’ll be honest, I had to google it. Our generation doesn’t send letters very often but eventually you will have to and it will be a struggle if you don’t pay attention soon.
4. If you have a car: basic car maintenance. This one speaks for itself. You either need to know how to change a tire yourself and know what the lights on your dash mean, or know the number of a local mechanic so you don’t end up stranded and helpless.
5. If you don’t have a car: how to get a taxi. I’ve been in a lot of sketchy cabs. I would definitely recommend getting other people’s opinions early on. It gets really uncomfortable and weird really fast when you’re alone in a cab at 5 am.
6. How to write a resume. In your 20’s you’ll hopefully be finding a job that you love, and in order to get the job you need to impress the people hiring. Handing in a poorly constructed resume with very little information and multiple errors on it is one of the easiest ways to lose an opportunity, especially if there are 20 other applicants who didn’t have those errors.
7. How to budget and pay bills. Life without your parents is expensive and you don’t really realize how expensive until you actually start looking at the bills and your bank account. It’s painful.
8. Time Management. When you’re out on your own for the first time it is easy to get in the habit of having no habits. This makes everything harder because you get less and less motivated the longer you sit purposeless. Or worse, you’ll get in the habit of procrastinating and many people in our generation are familiar with how hard it is to get off of that path.
9. How to clean. In your 20’s it’s pretty hard to find a place that is affordable and exceptionally clean and fancy. But if you know how to do it right, cleaning will definitely help make things homier. Also, it’s a bonus if you actually know how to plunge your own toilet. It may be unpleasant but it’s 10 times less embarrassing doing it yourself than asking for help.
10. How to take criticism. This one isn’t as much of a technical skill as a mental one. Life gets harder once you are officially out of the nest and most people will not sugarcoat what they have to say to you. You’re going to face rejection. You’re going to make some stupid choices, and people will remind you of everything you’re doing wrong. But if you take it well enough, most times you’ll be much better off.