Life Skills
Life skills can be defined as abilities that enable humans to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life. They may also be called psychosocial skills, as they are psychological in nature and include thinking and behavioral processes. Others define life skills as behavioral, cognitive, or interpersonal skills that enable individuals to succeed in various areas of life (Hodge, Danish, & Martin, 2013).
Life skills are often broken down into three types
Thinking Skills
This might involve being able to think of multiple solutions to a problem or develop new innovations in a creative way.
Social Skills
This might involve knowing how to develop healthy relationships, how to communicate in effective ways, and interact with others.
Emotional Skills
This might involve being comfortable in your own skin, dealing with emotions effectively, and knowing who you are.
The Importance of Life Skills
Research suggests that developing life skills may help reduce drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. It may also reduce aggression and violence (Botvin & Griffin, 2004). In addition to these bigger outcomes, life skills can just make life a bit easier. When we can regulate our emotions effectively and develop enduring, supportive relationships, we’re happier and healthier. This is why developing life skills is key not only to being successful in life, it’s key for our health and well-being.
Examples of Life Skills
According to several key organizations including UNICEF, UNESCO, and WHO, the following are the basic life skills ( Prajapati, Sharma, & Sharma, 2017)
• Critical thinking
• Creative thinking
• Decision making
• Problem Solving
• Interpersonal relationships
• Empathy
• Coping with stress
• Coping with emotion
