Adulthood brings numerous challenges and responsibilities, and sometimes we aren’t prepared. Living requires an abundance of skills that we don’t even realize we lack!
While scrolling through my favorite Reddit sub, R/Ask Reddit, I came across a question asking users what skills are essential for adulthood.
Here are the top skills you should brush up on to be a functional adult!
Composure
It’s hard not to overreact when we feel slighted or disrespected, but the top commenter pointed out that controlling your emotions under pressure is an essential life skill.
We’ve all seen videos of grown adults reacting poorly to everything, from a restaurant not serving a specific dish to being turned down for a date. Don’t be like this. Learn to keep your composure when things don’t go your way.
Cooking
Your mother isn’t always going to be around to make your food, so you need to learn how to do it yourself.
Learning to cook various nutritious meals is essential for a healthy life. Still, one Redditor also mentioned that you should have a handful of specialty dishes in your repertoire for hosting parties.
Budgeting
Adulthood is about balancing the essentials with the things you want. Budgeting is the best way to achieve this goal.
Create a budget that includes your necessities, fun spending money, and future savings goals. The earlier you start, the easier it will be, and the sooner you will achieve financial security.
Read Next: How to Make a Financial Plan
Cleanliness
According to one Redditor, adults should be able to keep their homes tidy and know how to handle basic personal hygiene.
Others agreed, citing how vital basic hygiene is to people’s health and wellness. It doesn’t take much effort. Dedicate a few minutes daily to chores like dishes and cleaning the counter, and schedule a deeper cleaning of floors and toilets once a week.
Adaptability
Nothing stays the same forever. As adults, we need to understand that things change, and we need to be able to adapt to that change.
The commenter also mentioned that adults should learn to think with clear heads, even in stressful situations.
Functioning on Little Sleep
Far too many adults are sleep deprived. While one Redditor pointed out that the real life skill is learning to manage your sleep schedule to prevent sleep deprivation, others argued that babies leave us little choice.
When you decide to start a family, you’ll need to learn how to function on less sleep, at least for the first few years.
Communication
One Redditor said that no one would take you seriously if you can’t put a sentence together. They’re right; learning how to communicate what you want and need, both orally and in writing, is an essential life skill, especially in the professional world.
See Also: 10 Essential Leadership Skills You Need to Master
Vehicle Maintenance
You can’t always rely on a mechanic to fix your vehicle. Sometimes we get a flat in the middle of nowhere or run into engine problems in the wee hours of the morning.
One commenter said every adult should learn how to change a tire, check fluids, and know how a car works. Knowing these things can come in handy if you get stranded on the side of the road.
Showing Up
Adults have to do things they don’t want. We can no longer skip work to hang out with friends; we have bills to pay and responsibilities to manage.
One Redditor may have issues with their coworkers, as they said showing up to work is a top skill adults should master.
Critical Thinking Skills
We know from scrolling Facebook that many adults lack critical thinking skills. The conspiracy theories some folks share, believing to be true, boggle the mind.
One Redditor commented that many people don’t even realize how much their inability to think critically about events holds them back.
Essential Life Skills Make Adulthood Easier
The skills sourced by Reddit users make adulthood easier for those who master them. Knowing how to cook, handle your money, and stay calm under stress will lead to a happier life.
However, don’t fret if you haven’t mastered everything yet. With a bit of patience and a lot of effort, you can learn everything on this list and be a fully functional adult.