Independent Living Skills

Learning Objectives:
 Define the term independence,
 Apply the 5 steps of problem solving, And;
 Appreciate the suggested independent living skills.

What is Independence?
Independence is an essential aspect of human life that can be described as the ability to
take care of oneself and make decisions without relying on others. Being independent is
important for various reasons, ranging from personal growth and development to financial
stability and self-sufficiency.
13 Independent Living Skills
1. Prepare healthy meals
Preparing healthy meals is an essential independent skill to develop because it can help
you save money and improve your overall health. Consider learning basic cooking skills that you
can apply to several meals, such as boiling water, chopping food properly and following simple
recipes. If you learn how to meal prep and save leftovers, you can cook one meal to eat for
several days, which may help you save money.
2. Shop for groceries on a budget
Learning how to shop for groceries can help you save money and prepare meals at home.
Before going to the grocery store, take an inventory of what's in your kitchen and list any
essentials you need to buy. As you learn more about what foods you use and how much you eat
during a week, you may remember what items to purchase during future visits.
3. Exercise regularly
Exercise allows you to build strength in your body. Exercising is an important skill
because it can help you remain physically and mentally alert and sleep better at night. Consider
making a daily or weekly exercise schedule for yourself, whether this involves taking regular
walks or going to the gym.
4. Clean and organize your home
Knowing how to organize your home can help you keep your space clean when living by
yourself. This can also help you discover where to find your belongings. Regularly cleaning your
home can involve vacuuming, wiping your kitchen counters and dusting your furniture and
other surfaces to minimize dirt.
5. Maintain your finances
It's important to track how much money you make and spend so that you can budget
properly and understand how you're using your money. This can also help you create a
retirement fund or learn how to save your money for emergency purposes or large purchases,
such as a home or a new car. Consider tracking what you spend money on, such as bills, rent,
entertainment and food.
6. Communicate effectively
Learning how to communicate with others effectively is important for explaining your
needs and learning about other people's needs. Effective communication can help you make
friends if you move to a new city or start a new job. You can also use this skill to share your
ideas at work. Additionally, talking to others can help fulfill your social needs, which might
increase your well-being.
7. Act professionally at work
Acting appropriately at work includes learning the proper attire to wear and the proper
language to use. This can include adhering to your company's dress code if they have one.
Appropriate work behavior may also include being inclusive of everyone in the workplace,
supporting your colleagues and paying attention to directions from your manager.
8. Manage your time
It's important to manage your time well because you may have several tasks to complete
in a day, week or month. Balancing your personal life with your work can allow you to fulfill your
personal tasks, such as taking care of yourself and cleaning your home, and fulfill your work
tasks, such as finishing a project.
9. Maintain good personal hygiene
It's also essential to take care of your personal hygiene to keep yourself clean and
healthy. Caring for your personal hygiene might increase your personal confidence.
Here are some ways you can maintain good hygiene:
 Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
 Take a shower at least once a day, such as after exercising.
 Wash your hands and face before bed.
 Trim and clean your nails.
 Cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough.
 Wash your hands before eating.
10. Schedule regular checkups
 Learning how to schedule appointments for general checkups is important for making
sure you're healthy. The more you frequent your health appointments, the better your
doctors can inform you about your health and any conditions you might have so they can
treat them
Here are some health appointments you can make:
 Dentist appointment
 Doctor appointment
 Eye appointment
 Counseling appointment

11. Set educational and career goals

Setting achievable educational and career goals can help you plan for the future. These
goals may include choosing if you want to continue your education in a college or at a technical
school and deciding what subject you want to study. You can also create a five- or 10-year plan
for your career and education, such as deciding where you want to work or what position you
want to hold in five years.

12. Develop interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills refer to how you communicate and interact with other people, both verbally
and nonverbally. Developing interpersonal skills can help you build strong relationships with
your friends, family members and colleagues. They can also help you make new friends and
learn how to develop new relationships. Additionally, these skills can allow you to work with
people from different backgrounds, engage in interesting conversations during interviews or
work in collaborative settings.

13. Find a suitable job

Having a job can help you be independent because it can supply you with money to pay
for shelter, food, clothing and entertainment. You can develop your job search skills by learning
how to find jobs online, create a resume and cover letter and schedule interviews. It can also be
helpful to learn how to conduct yourself in an interview, such as learning how to talk about your
work and educational background effectively.

The 5 Steps of Problem Solving

Step 1: Identify the Problem
As obvious as it may sound, the first step in the problem-solving process is to identify the
root of the issue. However, the problem isn’t always easily identifiable and might require some
extra analysis to get the source.

Step 2: Generate Potential Solutions

 The next step is to create a list of possible solutions. Start by brainstorming some potential
answers, either individually or in a group setting. The latter is recommended, because when you
have more input, you get more perspectives that can lead to unique solutions.

Step 3: Choose One Solution

Once a list of possible solutions has been made, it’s time to put your decision-making
skills to the test. To find the best solution for the problem, analyze every possible resolution and
decide which is best for your situation. Before making a decision, consider the potential
solution’s efficacy, practicality, timeliness, resources, and cost. Narrow your choices down with
the process of elimination and with a risk manager’s input. Like brainstorming, choosing a
solution doesn’t have to be done alone.

Step 4: Implement the Solution You’ve Chosen

Now that you’ve chosen a solution, it’s time to implement it throughout the necessary
departments, areas, or people. On average, it takes about 66 days for a new habit to become
automatic, according to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology. In other
words, change doesn’t happen overnight. To make a new change to any business, planning,
patience, and persistence are all required.

Step 5: Evaluate Results

The final part of the problem-solving process is to analyze the results. This can be done
after a couple of weeks, months, or years, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. It’s
important to remember why this problem started in the first place and how it affected the
company.
In conclusion………
Problems will always occur no matter what situation you’re in, so it’s important to know
how to conquer them before they get out of hand. Sometimes, it’s necessary to start the
process completely over. To make the problem-solving process easier, it’s best to simplify the
solution as much as possible. Try to focus on the solution rather than the problem. Be positive,
open-minded, and willing to make the change. With enough practice, any problem can be
solved.