There are a ton of practical life skills that aren’t often taught anymore. There are students, graduates, and young professionals–and even some adults–who have missed out on learning some basic life skills.
Whether by taking a home ec class, watching YouTube tutorials, reading blogs, or asking someone for help, there are quite a few life skills you or your student should learn before graduating from college.
By the time graduation rolls around you should know how to:
1. Do your laundry
2. Make a budget
3. Care for plants
4. Iron clothes
5. Change a tire
6. Use a gas pump
7. Use coupons
8. Sew a button
9. What to do when you get into a car accident
10. Use birth control and other contraceptives
11. Keep your home/apartment clean
12. Handle basic home-repair
13. Handle basic car repairs
14. Balance work and fun
15. Handle an emergency situation
16. Learn from your mistakes
17. Take care of your mental health
18. Deal with failure
19. Use a credit/debit card responsibly
20. Use professional etiquette/ manners
21. Cook
22. Manage time
23. Apply for a job
24. Write a cover letter
25. Make a resume
26. Utilize and navigate public transit
27. Recognize a potentially dangerous situation
28. Say “no,” respectfully
29. Ask for help
30. Be open-minded
31. Accept constructive criticism
32. Have personal medical information and keep up with appointments
33. Professionally formatting your emails
34. Write thank you notes
35. Network
36. Write a check
37. Balance a checkbook
38. Address an envelope
39. Calculate a tip
40. Set up internet/cable
41. Keep a daily schedule
42. Keep your finances records organized
43. How to use basic kitchen appliances
44. Make your bed
45. Unclog a toilet
46. Hunt for apartments
47. Search for jobs
48. Make your own appointments
49. Read legal documents like leases, healthcare things, and phone contracts
50. Conduct yourself in an interview
Bonus: How to find happiness
The 'good life' is about finding your happiness.
It’s about simplifying and focusing on the genuine and true things in life that really make us happy, including the most important: family, friends, and our relationship with ourselves.
So often do we stray from the path to finding our happiness. We get bogged down with negative feelings and the idea that life isn’t fair. Happiness can improve your health and certainly improve your quality of life. It’s my wish for each and every one of us to find our happiness today and live our lives free from the baggage that weighs us down.
