The ability to read is one of the most important basic life skills. Reading requires the recognition of letters and words and understanding the context of what you read loudly or silently, as well as when others read orally. This skill is what helps you distinguish between relevant and superfluous information and follow procedures to complete tasks. In everyday life, there are numerous occasions when a person needs to write. Whether it is to note down a name and address, fill out a form, prepare a shopping list, key in data on an online shopping website or keep in touch with friends by email, writing skills are essential.
Besides counting and writing numbers, math skills include the ability to use the basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Rounding off digits, calculating averages and percentages, and reading charts, graphs and tables are also important skills that are useful in daily life. You need math to measure out ingredients while cooking, make shopping decisions about quantities to buy, calculate distances when you travel and determine how much gas to fill your car. Math is also a significant part of money management. Balancing a checkbook, budgeting, spending, saving, taking out a loan and investing money wisely all require basic math skills.
The ability to think critically is a very important life skill that helps a person collect information, sort data and identify what is relevant. This is what helps you stick to your commitments, evaluate options, make the right decisions and overcome problems. Most life situations are a result of certain causes; it is important to understand this cause and effect relationship, be able to predict an outcome and come up with alternatives. Good critical thinking skills are also important to learn from mistakes, make compromises and deal with the challenges of everyday life.
Interaction with other people is at the forefront of good human relationships. Getting along with others requires you to recognize their individuality and needs and empathize so you can understand their feelings. When you make friends, form a study group, work on a team or start a family, interpersonal skills are necessary for you to be a thoughtful and responsible partner. A major component of this skill is the ability to appropriately communicate your opinions, thoughts and feelings to others. This also includes active listening, negotiating, asserting yourself and refusing to give up on values you consider important. Interpersonal and communication skills are what help you manage conflicts and nurture healthy relationships.