30 Life Skills Every Functioning Adult Should Master

30 Life Skills Every Functioning Adult Should Know

According to Jordan Peterson, Life is Hard, Accept it. You confront it on your own account, with discipline and competence, or else it shatters you. According to this infographic, the skills aren’t easy. They are the very foundation of adulthood, the skills that separate functional, independent people from disordered, bitter people who never left adolescence.  If you don’t prepare them, the world won’t adjust itself to cope with your failure. No one likes to have the rug pulled out from under them. And yet, people are forever trying to change the world rather than themselves.

Let’s go through these skills one by one and understand why learning them is not just useful but a key to leading a meaningful, well-ordered life.

Accepting Feedback Gracefully & Apologizing Sincerely (1 & 2)

Picture this: You mess up and someone tells you about it. What do you do? When you react defensively, you are rejecting the ability to learn and grow. If you are willing to take that feedback on, without being resentful about it, then you are a growing person. That’s the path of competence.

Similarly, apologizing sincerely is an act of humility. To apologize is to concede that you have made a mistake, but it is also to show that you can do better. When you sincerely apologize, it is not because you are inferior; rather, you are taking responsibility for your error. And responsibility is what gives life meaning.

Juggling School / Budgeting Money / and Making Early Morning Classes (3, 10, 21)

Time is finite. You either manage it, or it manages you. Procrastination is not just a habit; it is a way of escaping life. When you do not manage your time properly, you hand over the future of your own life to a version of you that is ahead of you.

The same applies to managing your money. If you don’t manage your money, you hand over the reins of your own future to someone else, just like time.

And let’s talk about waking up on time. If you can’t control your spending, you’ll always be at the mercy of external, clients and events. And, waking up on time. Waking up at a set time that you want to get up at is the first battle of the day. And if you lose that, what else are you going to lose?

Learning to Public Speak & Negotiating is the First Step

The world responds to how you present yourself. If you cannot stand in a confident posture, if your body language is ambiguous, then people will treat you as ambiguous. People won’t be as nice to you as you hope.

Speaking in Public is among the most feared activities and yet, if you do manage to master it, then it will make you stand out in almost every field. Why? Because most people shrink away from confrontation. When you speak clearly and confidently, you are confronting someone. It makes you get your thoughts in order, allows others to see your gems and risk being wrong. But in that risk, you develop strength.

Negotiation follows the same principle. If you can’t back yourself up, if you can’t hold your ground in a conversation about salary, scope, personal space, etc., the world is going to twiddle you. Not because the world is cruel (difficulty level: sometimes), but simply because you did not do your job right.

Defending Yourself & Asking for Help (18, 27)

There will be times when you will have to stand strong. When there is someone else who stirs up agression be it through words or physically you must not let anything pass without standing your ground. When you don’t know how to defend yourself, you are open to tyranny at all levels. Strength is not violence; it is controlled power. A dangerous person who can choose restraint is more virtuous than a harmless person who has no choice at all.

It’s as vital to know when to ask for help. Independence does not mean isolation. Don’t drown in problems that could easily be solved if you just sought help and advice. It’s wise to ask for help. You should not hesitate to seek assistance.

Memorizing Important Information & Managing Up (29, 28)

Your memory is your personal library. If you continually rely on external tools like Google or a piece of paper, you are outsourcing some of your thinking. Developing the ability to remember important information shows self-discipline. It strengthens your mind and sharpens your competence.

Managing up means being aware of what the hierarchy means No matter where you go, there will always be bosses, superiors, and authority. Complaining about it won’t change reality. When you learn how to talk to them in a way that makes an impact, it makes you useful. You cannot ignore the system but you can impact the system while fighting from within to improve things.

Make Meals, Dress to Impress, & Mend Your Clothes

If you are not able to do basic things to help you survive, how are you going to do more complex ones? It is important to learn how to cook. You must respect yourself and the people around you. When you repair your clothing, you learn that mending is easier than throwing it away. Everyone can develop these skills, provided they adapt them to their own personality and circumstances.

Performing CPR & Basic Photoshop (26, 11)

One of these skills could save someone’s life. The other could save your presentation. Both entail precision, attention to detail, and the mental capacity to pull through under pressure. That’s the real lesson. Do you panic when there’s a crisis like a medical emergency or a deadline? Or do you execute like a pro?

End Notes: Why this List is Important

The world we live in today is filled with distractions, temptations and easy ways out. You can opt to numb yourself with social networks or avoid those awkward conversations or just slink your way through life. However, passivity has no power and drifting can’t have meaning. The skills in this infographic indicate character and not just skills.

If you wish to be a person who commands respect, builds stability, and is successful in life, then these are not optional. They are essential. And no one will force you to learn them. That’s your responsibility.