Doing the laundry. Making a budget. Sending an email.
Your day-to-day requires many essential life skills, from caring for your body to excelling at work.
It's common to feel like you have some weaknesses in your life skills. And sometimes, you don't know there's a gap in your skillset until you're in a crisis.
Basic life skills give you the tools you need to navigate the challenges of life. No matter your age or life stage, you can always add new soft skills to your toolbox and improve the real-world ones you already have. The more you know, the more inner resources you’ll have to adapt to life’s surprises.
What are life skills?
Life skills are the competencies you need to thrive in life, whether that’s completing day-to-day tasks or navigating major life changes. These are the skills that let you adapt in the workplace, your personal relationships, and your personal development.
Successfully managing everyday tasks boosts your self-confidence and self-reliance in your personal and professional life, which in turn increases your feeling of control as you pursue your goals.
Specific examples of life skills range from critical thinking and problem-solving to self-awareness and self-compassion.
Having strong life skills equips you to face any challenge. Adapting isn’t easy, but it’s easier when you’re confident and capable of tackling adversity head-on.
Experts group life skills into three categories: communication, coping, and decision-making. Each includes essential tools for everyone to make decisions and operate as functional members of society.
Communication skills
Expressing yourself clearly and understanding what others are trying to tell you is at the heart of every successful interaction. Without effective communication, you can’t work in a team, maintain a relationship, or set boundaries.
Some types of communication skills include:
1. Verbal and written communication: Finding the words to express your needs helps others understand and respond positively, whether you’re having a conversation or writing a letter. Effective communication can reinforce emotional bonds and clarify everyone’s needs.
2. Emotional expression: Emotions are often at the core of misunderstandings. Identifying and communicating how you feel is the first step toward working through a problem and helping others understand your perspective.
3. Active listening: Go beyond nodding along during conversations — search for the meaning and intent behind the words. Active listening lets the person you’re talking to know that you want to hear what they have to say.
4. Nonverbal communication: Communication goes beyond words. Understanding subtle body language cues helps you recognize others’ emotions and avoid miscommunication.
Coping skills
Recognizing and managing your emotions sets you on the right path to controlling your life. With stronger coping mechanisms, you can better recover from setbacks, set goals, and develop a sense of security.
These skills include:
1. Self-esteem: Knowing you’re worthy of love and respect is intrinsic to reaching your goals. Self-acceptance assures you that you can cope with setbacks and learn from your mistakes.
2. Self-awareness: When you’re aware of the effects of your choices, you can cope and plan for future outcomes. Understanding your motivations, strengths, and weaknesses helps you navigate challenges in a way that benefits you.
3. Self-discipline: Discipline helps you stay focused on your goals, which is important when you go through setbacks. It’s easier to get back on track when you avoid distractions and follow a clear pathway.
Decision-making skills
Finding the right path in life is about making informed decisions, defining your goals, and visualizing the potential outcomes of your choices.
Decision-making skills include:
1. Problem-solving: From your career to family life, knowing how to evaluate a problem and find a solution improves time management and saves energy.
2. Critical thinking: Everyone has a point of view, but only a few know how to evaluate the evidence and draw conclusions. Critical thinking skills let you keep an open mind without accepting every opinion you encounter.
3. Asking for help: Knowing when to ask for input from trusted friends and mentors can keep you from developing tunnel vision. They may have the experience or insight you need to make your best decision.
Comments