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10 Life Skills to Learn Before You Turn 18

Adulting can be hard. Here are some tips to help you crush it.

March 2024
Meg Richardson • Illustration by Ryan Olbrysh

Close your eyes and picture yourself as an adult. Are you living in a cool apartment? Hosting an Instagram-worthy dinner party? Snagging your dream job?

To reach these goals, you’re going to need to learn life skills. These are big important things like voting, and small—but still important—things like cleaning the bathroom. 

Most of all, having life skills means not needing to rely on others to take care of you. “Being a grown-up means knowing how to manage life independently,” says Jonathan Catherman. He’s a teacher and the author of several books on life skills for teens.  

Learning how to take care of yourself without help from your parents or other adults doesn’t happen overnight. “There’s no such thing as perfection when it comes to life skills. We just get better as we practice,” Catherman says. To start practicing now, check out this expert-approved list of 10 things to learn before you turn 18. Soon you’ll be on your way to adulting like a pro! 

1. Shaking Hands

A good handshake makes a great first impression. Make sure your hands are clean and dry. Grip the other person’s hand firmly. Use the same pressure as for turning a doorknob. Hold on to the other person’s hand for about 2 to 4 seconds, and move your hand up and down with theirs.

2. Dressing for an Interview

Wearing an appropriate outfit for an interview will set you up for success. But that doesn’t mean you need to buy a suit! For almost any interview, you’ll be fine with a tucked-in button-down shirt, long pants (nice jeans are usually OK), and simple shoes. Avoid clothes that have words or big logos on them. If you don’t have the clothes you need, borrow some from a friend or try a local thrift store.

3. Staying Active

It’s important to get daily physical activity. Exercise keeps you healthy and helps you manage the stress of being an adult. But you don’t have to do the same thing each time. Try joining friends for a team sport one day, doing a yoga video the next, and going for a walk the day after that. Just make sure to move your body on a daily basis.

4. Cooking a Simple Meal

Knowing how to cook is a great way to make sure you get to eat what you want. Try this easy pasta recipe.

  1. Boil a large pot of salted water.
  2. Add dried pasta. Read the package for how much to use for each serving and how long to cook the pasta.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat some olive or vegetable oil in a big frying pan over medium heat. 
  4. When the oil is hot, add ground beef, ground turkey, or tofu crumbles. Cook the meat or tofu, breaking it up and moving it around with a wooden spoon so it doesn’t burn, until the meat is no longer pink or the tofu is starting to turn brown.
  5. Add a jar of pasta sauce. Cook until the sauce is hot.
  6. When the pasta is done, dump it in a colander to drain. Then return it to the pot, add the sauce, and mix everything together.
  7. Serve topped with some grated Parmesan cheese if you like and a big salad. Enjoy! 

5. Cleaning Up

You might not mind a messy room now, but it’s important to have a tidy space when you’re an adult. It will be easier for you to find things, keep your clothes clean, and get ready for your day. Here’s how to do it:

  • Every day: Make your bed, hang up wet towels, put away shoes and clothes, put dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher.
  • Every week or two: Change your sheets and pillowcases. Sweep, mop, or vacuum your floor. Wipe off surfaces like desks, counters, and tables with a damp cloth or antibacterial wipes. 

6. Doing Laundry

No one likes wearing smelly, dirty clothes. Here’s how to keep them clean: Check the labels for any special washing instructions. Then group your clothes by wash temperature. Make sure the pockets are empty. Load the machine, leaving room for the clothes to move around. Follow the machine’s instructions for adding detergent and setting the cycles. Once the wash is done, put clothes in the dryer or hang them to dry. 

7. Packing a Lunch

When you’re an adult, you’ll be responsible for your own midday meals. There’s nothing worse than unpacking crumbled cookies, a soggy sandwich, or a smashed banana, so follow these tips for making yourself the perfect lunch on the go. 

  • Use containers with firm sides to keep food intact.
  • Pack sliced tomatoes separately, then add them to your sandwich before you eat. Same goes for dressing for salads.
  • Clementines, apples, carrots, sliced peppers, and cucumber chunks travel well.
  • Include an ice pack to keep your food cool. 

8. Addressing a Letter or Package

There’s something special about sending and receiving physical mail. Plus, you’ll need to know how to mail things like applications or packages.

  • Write your address in the upper left corner
  • Stamps go in the upper right corner
  • Write the recipient's address in the center

9. Voting

One of the most important aspects of turning 18 is becoming eligible to vote. To register, follow these steps: 

  • Go to vote411.org/register to learn about registration deadlines in your state. 
  • Next, find your polling place—that’s where you go to vote. To find yours, go to vote411.org/make-your-plan. 
  • Finally, research the issues. Check out vote411.org/ballot for info on local and national elections. Then, on Election Day, go vote! 

10. Saying You're Sorry

Even if you have the best intentions, you’re going to screw up sometimes. It’s just part of being an adult. If your mistake hurts someone else’s feelings, you can make things right by apologizing. Here’s how to do it well:

DO: Use the words “I’m sorry” or “I apologize.”

DON’T: Give a half apology by saying something like “I’m sorry, but . . .” or “I’m sorry if you feel that way.” 

DO: Acknowledge what you’re apologizing for. (“I’m sorry that I forgot your birthday.”)

DON’T: Give long involved excuses for what happened. (“I’m sorry that I forgot your birthday, but my cat had a cold and then my dog was arrested and after that I flushed my phone down the toilet.”)

DO: Suggest a way you can make things right for the person. (“Can I take you out for ice cream for a late celebration?”)

Life Skills
Career Skills, Goal Setting

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