11 Must Have Life Skills Every Adult Needs

There are skills that children need to learn: tying their shoes, cleaning their room, and brushing their teeth are a few examples. There are also important life skills that adults need to learn.These skills will help you not only survive, but thrive in the big world.

Master these skills and reap the benefits:Make a great first impression. It’s not easy to overcome a negative first impression. Others form an opinion about you very quickly, and it takes a significant amount of time to change that impression.

Wouldn’t life be so much happier and easier if it came with a manual tailored for your specific  needs. Imagine for a second, knowing exactly what to do, and when to do it. 

Should you buy  that house? Should you date that person? Should you accept that job offer? These and many more  decisions would be so much easier if we knew the outcomes.

 Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case,  and most of what we learned as children becomes irrelevant as we grow older and age.

You’ll have to learn a lot as you transition into adulthood, things like managing your taxes,  paying bills, and managing your finances need to become second nature to you. And although many  

of the things you’ll need to learn and do aren't difficult to achieve, you must be aware of them.

So let me save you time and give you the simple life skills every adult needs to learn,  to successfully navigate life and achieve their goals and desires, no matter how small.

Number 1: Effective time management

On one side of the coin, you will encounter many situations throughout your life where  you have to juggle, multiple personal and professional priorities. And on the other side,  dealing with the pitfalls of life. 

 But knowing how to manage your time,  can significantly help manage this problem.

It's imperative to stick with one task at a time when it comes to time management. It is  counterproductive to multitask because the brain expends energy switching between activities. 

Also, multitasking has been show to drastically  decrease the quality of work and productivity of the individual.

Number 2: Learn how to set goals.

Goals can help you achieve what you most desire in life. Without goals, your life lacks direction.  

The acronym "SMART" has stood the test of time because it's effective. And this acronym simply  means that your goals should be Specific – A clear and well defined goal is easier to focus and  measure progress.

Measurable – you should be able to clearly track your progress and  achievements.

Achievable – the goal needs to be within reach given your resources and  abilities. 

Relevant – meaning that it should align with your values and interest,  and overall life or career objective. 

 Timebound – therefore it should  be subjected to a deadline, because the sense of urgency helps keeps you focused.

A good goal should be one that inspires and excites you, it should give you a sense of  purpose and direction, and it should also be challenging, yet achievable.

Number 3: Budgeting

Budgeting and financial responsibility are vital life skills, and are also  the foundation of a financially secure life.

Making a budget is at the top of the list of people’s favorite money-saving tactics. Having  a budget not only allows you to track every penny you spend, but it can also be used to assess your  current financial condition and make future projections. 

With a budget, you can determine  how much of your income you put into savings, and your biggest expenses, such as; housing,  food, and transportation. In addition, it can help you keep track of your debt repayment progress.

If you have never created a budget, you can start today by following these 5 simple steps: 

• First, record your income: Estimate your monthly income, from wages, tips,  and so on. Almost all expenses are paid monthly, so making a budget for one month works well. 
• Secondly, document Your Expenses: List each expenditure in a month.  Write down your monthly fixed expenses, like rent. The calculate your average  monthly grocery spending. If you have only recurring expenses, such as auto repairs,  divide the yearly cost by 12. Also include insurance, home maintenance, and taxes.
• Thirdly, budget for savings: Don't forget to set aside funds for savings. Saving the  leftovers from your income at the end of the month is unlikely to yield any results. Rather,  pay yourself first: Treat savings as a necessity, and take it before anything else.
• The second last point is, maintain a balanced budget:  Compile your income and expenditures. If the numbers balance, you are in reasonable  shape. You can add the extra to your savings if your income is higher than your expenses.  Find ways to cut costs, or earn some extra money, if expenses exceed income.
• And lastly, be flexible: Budgeting is a process. So, you'll need to adjust  it as time moves on. Maintain a record of how much you spend monthly. If necessary,  move your money from areas where your budgeting is better to areas where you perform poorly. 
• Also,  you can change your budgeting method if you have trouble following it.  For income that fluctuates from month to month, you might want  to try zero-based budgeting. This system bases your spending on your previous monthly income.

Number 4: Negotiating effectively.

We all want to avoid being cheated out of our money, so having excellent negotiation skills  is helpful not only for professionals, but also you. Negotiation is a valuable life skill since  making an offer and learning how to negotiate can save you money. If you find yourself in  a challenging money situation, the ability to negotiate well, will come in handy.

 And,  if you’re not comfortable with negotiating, keep practicing until you feel confident.

Number 5: Learn the art of public speaking

Communication is part of everyday life, but you must know the basics that will captivate your  audience. Others may take to public speaking like it was second nature, whereas some may squirm in  the corner. You can take the initiative and sign up for a public speaking class or jump right in  and speak to a large group of people if you’re confident and the opportunity avails itself.  

You can share your ideas in a religious setting or engage in an open forum at your community meeting  to home your public speaking skills. As you practice, you'll notice that your skills improve.

Number 6: Network effectively.

Even though many people are resistant to networking, it is necessary for your success,  and probably your children’s too. The strength of your professional network is the people you  have at your disposal. 

These are people you can turn to for advice, information,  referrals, and introductions, and in the same vain, turn to you.

Number 7: Make a positive first impression.

Did you know that first impressions are formed in about three seconds. Within this short period,  people form an opinion about you based on your appearance, body language, and demeanor. 

If you  make a positive impression, it will impact all areas of your life, whether in your career or  social life. So make it a norm, to be presenting the best version of yourself at all times.

Number 8: Learn how to socialize with people.

The vast majority of people reach adulthood without any knowledge  of getting along with others. If you happen to struggle with getting along with others,  a good starting point is Dale Carnegie's advice in his classic book, "How to Win  Friends and Influence People.". 

The following are six ways Carnegie suggests making others like you:

1. Genuinely show interest in others. 2. Smile a lot. 

3. It is imperative to remember a person's name. 

4. You should always listen carefully to what  people are saying. Allow them to tell you about themselves. 

5. It would be best to always speak about the other person's interests. 

6. You should make them feel important - and do it with honesty.

Number 9: Take Advantage of Body Language.

Our body language reveals our true feelings and amplifies our message. It goes beyond just words. Voice tone, gestures, and posture all play a key role. 

The expression of a relaxed smile with an upturned mouth and wrinkled eyes is  an excellent example of body language. An upright stance can convey interest or  touching your head can communicate thinking.

 Hand and arm movements can convey directions.  

It can also be about avoiding defensive postures or restlessly tapping feet. 

If you can "read" signs like these, you can understand what someone is trying  to tell you. You'll know how people react to what you say and do. 

And it  will improve your ability to appear positive, engaged, and approachable.

Number 10: Learn Effective Decision Making Skills.

Every day, we constantly have to make choices in life. In some cases,  these choices can be easy; in others, they can be challenging.  

A simple decision can be choosing the clothes to wear, what to eat, or read.

The most difficult decisions require deep thought. College, career choices,  starting a family, and even getting married and having children are all difficult decisions.  

Making these decisions is challenging because they profoundly impact who we are and what we do.

In a nutshell, decision-making is a skill everyone needs. We do not innately possess it;  instead, it is a proven process derived from experience.

 And  here are five easy steps you can use to make the right decision.

1. Determine Your Goal. Focusing on your goal is  

one of the most effective ways to make decisions. You need to clarify the purpose of your decision  

by asking yourself, what exactly are you trying to achieve? How can this problem be resolved? 

You'll make better decisions if you know what's most important to  

you. Deciding with a sound reason will allow you to defend and stick with it.

2. Weigh the Options. Making good decisions involves  gathering relevant information. In this way, you will better grasp the problems and solve them. 

Ask your friends and family members for their opinions or speak to experts because,  this will help you develop various options when  weighing your options. Use every resource you can before making your final decision.

3. Examine the Consequences. Your final decision can be just as important as  your first decision because it will determine the impact on you and others.

 Ask yourself what will  likely happen because of your decision. How will it impact you? Will it have long-term effects?

Here you can compare the positive or negative options you listed earlier. It is crucial  because you want to be comfortable with all your choices and the results.

4. Decide. Having identified  your goal and gathered all necessary data, you can now weigh the consequences and  decide. Trusting your instincts is vital since this step can cause anxiety in some people. 

Consider this when deciding what you want. Ask yourself, "is it right for you now?" Will it work  in the long run? Answering these questions will make you feel good about the outcome.

5. Measure Your Results.

To succeed, you must evaluate both the decision and the steps you've taken  once you've decided on your final course of action.

 As you would from step one,  you will benefit quite a bit from this last step, as it will aid you in developing decision-making  skills for the future. You may also need to seek out new information and make changes as you go. 

You need to exercise patience during this step. But why? Because the results may not  come right away. You may have to choose another option if the first choice does not work.Moving on.

Number 11: Know how to use a first aid kit.

This may sound funny, but not a lot of people know what’s in a first Aid kit,  nor how to properly use the things in it. 

 Nearly everyone will need a first aid kit  at some point in their lives. So, you should ensure that you know how to use the equipment  when the time arises. It is a good idea to have one at home and one in your vehicle.

11 Parenting Mistakes That Ruin a Child’s Growth

All parents have their own – unique – way of bringing up their kids. They do their best to raise them, but nobody's perfect. That's why, when they look back, they all want to fix some of the mistakes they made in the past. Here are some of the things they regret,so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

1. They scolded their children too often Reprimanding a child for something they did wrong is totally normal. But sometimes parents go overboard and it turns into nitpicking.

Some parents believe that the higher their expectations are for their children, the more successful the kids will be in the future. But it surely doesn't work this way. 

Scolding a child for every little mistake can lead to behavioral problems. Punishments for bad grades are also harmful. They can kill off the desire for learning in any child. And,of course, being too strict can have another huge downside – a poor relationship with your child. That's why you should only punish your kids for things that actually matter.A broken cup shouldn’t be on that list.

2. They missed out on the most important moments in their children's lives.

Of course, every parent has a lot of commitments, and juggling all of them is no easy feat.

But children desperately need parents to be there for them. Some occasions that might not seem that important for an adult, really mean a lot for kids. 

Children need to have someone close to them at moments like these. Even if you think you have a good reason to miss your child's school play, do your best to be present. 

Find time to visit grandma,go to the theatre, decorate your house for the holidays. Because your bond with your children gets stronger by creating memories together. Otherwise, in the future, you'll feel bad about how many great moments passed you by.

3. They didn’t play enough creative games. 

Of course, simply playing creative games with your kids won’t necessarily make them great artists or musicians in the future. But, hey,there’s always a chance. Doing this has a lot of other advantages as well.

 Any kind of activity, like drawing or playing with playdough, has a positive effect on developing their intelligence, imagination, and increasing their vocabulary.

 Also, if your kid is engaged in a lot of different activities, it makes it easier for you to find out what they have an interest in and what they’re good at. This is important since they can show promising abilities even at a young age and develop them later.

4. They didn’t take enough photos and videos. 

Obviously, not taking photos won’t have any bad impact on your kids’ lives. But it’s the best way to capture amazing moments that you don’t want to forget. When your kids grow up and leave home, the pictures will be there to remind you what a long way they’ve come. 

Besides, looking through those pictures together with your grown-up kids lets you relive all their milestones and those beautiful memories together. That’s why not using a camera often enough is one of the regrets many parents can relate to. And even though we live in a digital era, having a classic photo album can be a nice family tradition.

5. They didn’t take their child’s opinion into account.

“You’re too young to decide”, “Adults know better” are probably phrases you heard quite often when you were a kid. It was irritating, right? But this kind of attitude from parentcan have a serious impact on a kid’s future. 

If children feel like their opinion is often neglected, they may grow up to be insecure. And it’s logical if you think about it.

How can you know what you want from life or set your own goals to achieve if there was always someone who made decisions for you? Of course, as a parent, you can’t go along with your kid’s every wish or desire. I mean, your kid really can’t bring home every stray dog they meet. 

That’s your wife’s job. Really! But instead of simply refusing,explain to the child why it’s a bad idea. In some other cases, you can discuss their opinion and meet them half way.

6. They didn’t enjoy communicating with their child.

Communication between parents and kids is probably the most important thing in upbringing.

So if you don’t put aside enough time for it, one day you’ll wake up and realize that your child has grown up already and is living their own life. Of course, it’s totally okay to do things around the house when your kid is playing alone. 

But try not to turn it into a habit. Because children need not only your physical presence, but emotional involvement as well, to feel they’re loved and cared about. There’s no turning time back, so let yourself enjoy the moments you spend together.

7. They didn’t educate them about money. 

For some reason, some parents avoid the topic of money with their kids. Of course, these children don’t believe that money grows on a tree, but they might think it just magically appears in the ATM. 

Without education on personal finance and responsible spending, children don’t understand the real worth of money.

And when they grow up, they find it hard to manage their own income. Giving your kid some pocket money will teach them how to save up and spend wisely. Besides, you can let your teen earn their own money. They can mow the lawn of a neighbor or babysit. Every time you go shopping together, tell your kids how much money they can spend this time to limit their wishes.

 All these tips will provide your children with opportunities to learn about things like budgeting, saving, and being more responsible.

8. They didn’t make their child happy enough.

 Good memories from our childhood are a real treasure for most of us. We like to go back in our mind to that time when we were carefree,and quite often every day was filled with doing something for the first time. Every child should have a lot of new experiences and live in a healthy atmosphere. 

That’s what makes them happy. And when kids are happy, they develop more actively, which means they’ll find it easier to adapt to adult life and start new relationships in the future. So,go to an amusement park, ride ponies, and sail a boat with your kid. Try to do something exciting at least once a day together to make sure your child has as many happy moments in their life as possible.

9. They didn’t hug their children often enough.

Hugs are not only a perfect way to show affection, but also scientifically proven to be good for our health, because they help protect against stress. Besides, it’s simply nice to hug your own child. 

Unfortunately, sometimes parents don’t do it as often as they should.Some of them think that being too affectionate with a child can make them less obedient.

Others – especially if we talk about babies – believe that holding and hugging a baby all the time means that they’ll demand it too much in the future. 

But the truth is,the older a child gets, the less they want to be hugged. So, enjoy the hugs with your kids while you can.

10. They weren’t consistent. 

Consistency might just be one of the biggest challenges in upbringing. For example, you usually don’t let your kids eat unhealthy food. But suddenly you get too caught up with work and give them pizza for lunch. 

Next thing you know they’re demanding it for every meal. It may feel next-to-impossible to maintain the exact same standards for your children daily, but not trying to do so often leads to major regrets for parents. 

Kids get confused about what’s allowed and what’s not. Without clear boundaries, they probably won’t behave the way you want them to, and obedience issues become inevitable. Also, don’t forget that you should follow your own rules to set an example. No phone during family dinner means no phone for everyone.

11. They often followed someone else’s advice. 

There are people who just can’t help but give advice, even if nobody asks for it. And sometimes young, inexperienced parents feel like it’s better to listen to them. Such “experts” have tons of information about the way you should feed, dress, and raise your children.

 Of course, some of it may be useful and sensible, but never forget that YOU are the parent, so it’s up to you to decide what’s best for your kids.

 Also, don’t let strangers scold your child for misbehaving. A child needs to feel there’s always someone who will support and protect them. So, let them know they can always count on you.

What’s your favorite childhood memory? Let me know down in the comments! If you learned something new today, then give this a like and share it with a friend.

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