The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined life skills as “the abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life”. UNICEF defines life skills as “a behavior change or behavior development approach designed to address a balance of 3 areas – knowledge, attitude and skills”. Life skills are essential and very much needed to promote mental health and competence in young people in order to help them to face the challenges and realities of work and life.
Core Life Skills
UNICEF, UNESCO and WHO lists 10 core life skill
strategies and techniques as :
Problem solving
Critical thinking
Effective communication skills
Decision-making
Creative thinking
Interpersonal relationship skills
Self-awareness building skills
Empathy
Coping with stress
Self-management skills
Advantages of Life Skills
Helps in building self-confidence.
Helps in self-management and to make right career choices.
Helps individuals translate knowledge and values into healthy behavior.
Helps to improve their interpersonal skills.
Helps in making them more independent and to make decisions effectively.
Life skills is essential for working adults as they can upgrade and enhance themselves and be able to stay ahead and compete in the evolving world of work. Here are some ways adult learners can and should use to enhance their life skills:
