5 Life Skills Adults Wish They Learnt Sooner (and Where to Learn Them in 2024)

Details: Written by Kate Hutchinson |
Published: 11/12/2023

What are you wishing for this Christmas? A recent survey has revealed the life skills that parents wish they were taught in school. From green skills to public speaking and writing a good CV, it is clear that we adults sometimes feel a little unprepared and ill-equipped for what is sometimes referred to as ‘adulting’. With 83% of parents wishing that ‘life skills programmes’ were taught in school, it’s no wonder that adulthood can be daunting at times. Here at The Skills Network, we are committed to making lifelong learning accessible to all, so without further ado, this blog will show you how we can make 5 life skills that you are wishing for, come true. Discover our range of online life skills courses today

83% of parents think life skills programmes should be taught in schools

Life skills, the essential abilities that empower us to navigate life.

Whether mastering how to change a tyre, cook a staple meal or simply pay your electricity bill, finding the time to nurture these skills can be tricky. The hustle and bustle of modern life often consume our time, leaving little mental bandwidth for skills training that can enrich our lives.

And, we’re not sharing the skills we *do* have.

A survey conducted by The Independent, researching over 1000 mums and dads of children aged 11-16, revealed that nearly half of all parents don’t feel prepared enough to teach their children important life skills.

Yet, these skills are crucial for our overall well-being, enabling us to manage stress, foster meaningful relationships, and ultimately achieve our aspirations in life.

Here are some key life skills that we adults are wishing for in 2023 and how The Skills Network can help……..

1. Self-Care Skills

Need to work on your self-care skills? The Skills Network can help.

Take a look at our FREE online self-care courses:

9 in 10 parents think teaching self-care skills are more important than algebra

Self-care is an essential skill for maintaining overall well-being and navigating life's challenges effectively. Self-care promotes:

Physical health
Mental health
Emotional health

Good self-care can…..

Reduce Stress and Promote Emotional Balance:

Engaging in activities like exercise, meditation, or pursuing hobbies can effectively lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and promote a sense of calm and well-being.

Improve Mental Clarity and Focus:

Self-care activities like mindfulness exercises, breaks from screen time, and prioritising sleep enhance mental clarity and focus. These practices allow the mind to rest and recharge, improving cognitive function, memory, and decision-making abilities.

Enhance Productivity and Performance:

By reducing stress, improving physical health, and enhancing mental clarity, self-care empowers individuals to tackle tasks with greater energy, focus, and resilience.

Promote Personal Growth and Self-Discovery:

Engaging in self-reflection, pursuing hobbies, and learning new skills fosters self-awareness, personal development, and a deeper understanding of what makes you come alive!

Enhance Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance:

Practising good self-care can help to build a positive self-image, self-worth, and a sense of inner peace and acceptance.

By nurturing physical, mental, and emotional self-care, you can create a life of balance, fulfilment, and long-term well-being.

Confidence and Self Awareness Online Courses

2. Confidence & Self Awareness Skills

Ever been told you need to work on your confidence? You’re not alone.

The UK is in the midst of a confidence crisis, with almost half of Brits lacking self-esteem.

A 2022 poll of 2,000 adults found 46% are struggling with self-confidence – and more than a third (37%) claim their levels of self-belief are at an all-time low.

A mirror showing a reflection of a smiley face

Here at The Skills Network, we believe confidence and self-awareness can be learnt.

Give yourself a confidence boost for just £30 with The Skills Network’s…..

Developing Personal Confidence and Self-Awareness CPD Certificate

Automatic enrolment with an immediate start
Fully online course
Study from anywhere, at any time
Perfect for an introduction or refresher in a subject
A great addition to a CV
Receive a digital e-certificate upon completion
Nationally recognised
Access to an award-winning e-learning platform
No hidden costs

You will cover the following on this short CPD course:

Section 1: Understand reasons for feeling confident and lacking confidence

Section 2: Understand effective participation in social situations

Section 3: Understand ways to manage stress

Section 4: Be able to set goals for own development

According to leading job site Prospects, the top 7 CV writing mistakes are …

1. Poor formatting

2. Failing to tailor your application

3. Spelling errors

4. Lying about skills and qualifications

5. Lack of evidence behind claims

6. Not explaining the ‘why you did XYZ’ enough

7. Not addressing gaps in your work history

Learn more common CV mistakes

Make a good first impression and nail your CV writing skills with The Skills Network’s…

CV Writing CPD Certificate for just £30

Green Skills Online Courses with The Skills Network

4. Green Skills

What are green skills we hear you ask?

Green skills are the knowledge, abilities, and values needed to develop and support a sustainable society.

They are in high demand as businesses and organisations around the world work to reduce their environmental impact and transition to a green economy.

Hydrogen sector could create over 100,000 jobs in the UK by 2050

The Skills Network has developed a range of online sustainability CPD courses to align with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, addressing the global challenges we face, including those related to…

Poverty
Inequality
Climate
Environmental degradation
Prosperity and peace and justice

So, develop your green skills today, to open doors to employment opportunities AND make the world a better place.

Choose from a wide variety of online sustainability CPD courses:

All sustainability CPD courses from The Skills Network are accredited by the awarding organisation TQUK.

Public Speaking skills development opportunities

5. Public Speaking Skills

Few of us are immune to the fear of public speaking.

Public speaking is one of the most commonly shared fears in the world.

No wonder so many of us wish to brush up on this skill set.

Listeners only hear about 20% of what a public speaker is saying, the other 80% is interpreted through body language

Our hybrid and e-learning content is expertly designed to challenge and encourage you to push through your boundaries to achieve personal success.

The Skills Network have developed a range of Skills Bootcamp programmes that include an Industry Project Week (IPW).

Check out our range of national Skills Bootcamp Programmes

During your IPW, you will take part in a group-led presentation task, where you will have the opportunity to present a ‘dragons’ den style’ pitch and speak publicly about your solution to a real business problem.

Upon completion of the presentation, you will be able to:

1) Deliver an effective pitch that communicates your ideas clearly and persuasively

2) Appropriately respond to any questions that may be asked following the presentation.

Here, you will be able to develop key public speaking and listening skills in a real-world environment.

And there you have it.

5 skills that adults wish they learnt sooner and now can with a little help from The Skills Network.

Whether you are a business or individual, visit our website to discover online skills training

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