6 Adult Life Skills You Need To Know (And 3 That Are Worthless)
The Whisky for when you sorta deserve one.
Life would be so much easier if it came with instructions. Unfortunately the closest we get is boomers telling us that we need matching plate sets and good handwriting. Just gonna say it: that’s bullshit.
The truth is, being a responsible adult isn’t as big a deal as we’re led to believe. There are really only a few things you need to have figured out in your 20s.
To help you nail this whole adulthood thing and achieve your goals, no matter how small, we’ve put together a list of life skills every adult needs – as well as some you absolutely don’t need to worry about.
The Life Skills You Actually Need To Know:
#1 How To Mix A Proper Cocktail
Cheap beer and wine was fine when we were at uni but, as responsible adults, we should be aiming for quality over quantity.
Learn how to make two or three cocktails and we promise you’ll be able to impress people at parties, level-up your Sunday drinks sessions, and give yourself a nice treat anytime you’ve sorta earned a reward.
Monkey Shoulder is an affordable whisky that’s made with mixing in mind, so it’s great for beginner mixologists. The Monkey Jam Sour and Ginger Monkey are perfect for warm summer days. You could even try fun spins on classic cocktails like a quick-to-make Lazy Old Fashioned and a whisky-based Espresso Martini.
Image courtesy of Monkey Shoulder
#2 How To Budget
Young adults are, famously, very poor. But you’d be amazed how much money you can save if you follow even a basic budget.
Dedicate some time to learning how to budget and break down your regular expenses, savings goals, and how much money you can spend on fun things like coffees, UberEats, and skincare.
You don’t have to save a fortune right away, but pocketing even a little bit every week helps a lot in the long run. Your future self will thank you for it.
Image: Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash
#3 How To Cook For Yourself
You don’t need to know how to cook a roast or make bolognese from scratch. But every adult should have two or three healthy(-ish) recipes they can whip up without even glancing at a recipe.
A quick and easy dinner is the hallmark of an adult who has their life well and truly together, whether it’s a roasted cauliflower, a vegie-packed quiche, or a medium-rare steak.
Image: Kevin McCutcheon / Unsplash
#4 How To Use A Password Manager
I know you don’t want to hear this, but at some point you need to stop using the same password for every login.
One of the easiest ways to keep yourself safe online is by using a password manager. These (often free) services will generate and store complex passwords for you, then let you log in with the click of a button.
Image: Andras Vas / Unsplash
#5 How To Say “No”
This is much harder than mastering a few recipes or creating a budget, but it’s going to save you a lot of trouble, and maybe even heartbreak, throughout your life.
Remember that you’re allowed to say no to things you don’t want to do – and it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to do it because it makes you uncomfortable or just don’t have the energy right now.
Image: Jessica Da Rosa / Unsplash
#6 How To Clean Up After Yourself
Don’t be the housemate who leaves their dishes in the sink overnight “to soak”. Cleaning up after yourself has Big Adult Energy and instantly makes you a better person.
Image: Daiga Ellaby / Unsplash
The Things You Actually Don’t Need To Know:
#1 How To Fold A Fitted Sheet
Anyone who can fold a fitted sheet is definitely a witch.
It’s very impressive but totally unnecessary. Just scrunch it up and stuff it in a drawer like the rest of us.
Image: Kinga Cichewicz / Unsplash
#2 How To Keep A Plant Alive
Indoor plants are great. And if you can keep one alive for more than a month, you’ve definitely earned a treat.
But remembering to water some leaves and having a sunny windowsill in your tiny apartment doesn’t make you any more of an adult.
Image: Designecologist / Unsplash
#3 Maths
During high school we’re told, conservatively, 637 times that adults need to know how to do maths. But no everyday adult in 2020 has ever had to do calculus, or work out the angle of an isosceles triangle, or even remember which one an isosceles triangle is.
Remember: Google can answer maths questions for you in less than a second.
This article originally appeared on Junkee.
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You just read a whole article, you’ve sorta earned a Monkey Shoulder.
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(Lead image: Laura Chouette / Unsplash)