Life and Work Skills for Young Professionals

Oftentimes, the skills we learn for work translate into skills we use outside of work as well. There are so many critical skills we could and should learn, but the most “important” ones will probably vary depending on who you ask.
Shana Lebowitz created a great list of 24 Life Skills Every Adult Should Master Before Turning 30, so we’ve highlighted a few of the best. These skills are important for both work and life outside of work, so take notes!
- Accepting feedback gracefully: This one is very important. It’s easy to take feedback personally, especially if you haven’t been in the “adult” world for very long. We’ve all been there, and we’ve all had to adjust. Remember especially in a professional environment that feedback isn’t personal, and it’s meant to help you. In fact, a supervisor or colleague who tries to help you with feedback usually wants you to stick around and grow. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be investing their time in you.
- Apologizing sincerely: Being in a situation where you have to apologize, especially at work, never feels good. However, the best to recovering from a slip up is apologizing in an authentic way. Learn when to admit you were wrong, and assure your supervisor that you’ve learned from the situation. Stay humble.
- Empathy: Emotional intelligence is is an important component of working with others. Remember that everyone’s perspective is not the same as your own, and everyone has different experiences. Try to see things from others’ perspective.
- Creating (and maintaining) a budget: Making a budget is a logical thing to do regardless, but sticking to it is also very satisfying. It feels good to be on top of things, and will cause much less stress than not having a spending plan.
Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash
Recent Posts

How To Keep Going In Your Workplace
A key component of persevering is remaining motivated. So, today we’re looking at ways to do just that within any workplace! And having the right mindset is essential to building up your motivation. Mentally persevering entails finding opportunities within any...

Monday Mood Booster: Persevere
Welcome back! We know that after having time off last week, entering into this week might feel like a huge challenge. Which is why we’re encouraging you to persevere! Set the tone for the rest of your work week by getting off to a strong start. Remember that you’re...

Wednesday Wellness: Gratitude
Happy Hump Day! As the end of the week draws nearer, this is a great time to reflect on the opportunities that have come your way. And to practice gratitude for even the little things, as the way to reach your goals is one step at a time. Each small opportunity you...

How to Best Express Professional Gratitude
So, you’ve realized that you have a lot to be grateful for within your professional environment. Now what? If you’re looking for ways to express your appreciation--and to do it most effectively--you’ll want to make sure to not only read but internalize today’s tips...

Monday Mood Booster: Gratitude
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful weekend. This week, we’re focusing on gratitude. We know that this year has brought with it ample difficulties--and so it might feel really difficult to find things for which to be grateful amidst these present, unprecedented...

Feel Good Friday: Clarity
Happy Friday! As the week draws to a close, know that you’ve managed to navigate all of the twists and turns that life has thrown your way--and find strength in that knowledge. Know, too, that the weekend will offer up plenty of time to access even more mental clarity...

Finding Clarity In Any Professional Setting
Today we’re examining both digital and physical ways to help you gain mental clarity. Whether you’re working remotely or in person, we know that technology can often come into play throughout your work day. And we also know it can be very easy to stray from your...

Wednesday Wellness: Clarity
Happy Hump Day! And welcome to the week’s midpoint. This is a perfect time to take stock of both how far you’ve come this week and how far you’d like to reach towards your goals by the week’s end. To help you dive into that exploration, make sure you’re also taking a...

Finding Mental Clarity At Work
We know it’s easy to get swept up in the latest news cycle or distracted by social media. And as understandable as those tendencies are amidst our current, unprecedented circumstances, unfortunately employers are far more likely to view your scrolling as a detriment,...

Monday Mood Booster: Clarity
Welcome back! Amidst our turbulent times, it can be easy to get distracted and overwhelmed. You very likely (and understandably) have a lot of thoughts running through your mind right now. This week’s focus will help you pare those thoughts down, allowing you to find...

Feel Good Friday: Readjust
Happy Friday! Congratulations--you’ve made it through what we know was a weird week for many of you as you readjusted to professional environments with a bit less uncertainty. We know, too, that even that sort of change is still a change, and that it may feel...

Actively Adjusting Your Workplace Performance
Amidst our current, turbulent circumstances, it’s important to remember that not every change that comes your way is outside of your control. You can create change, too! Make sure that you’re not only reacting and readjusting to situations that you encounter. Instead,...

Wednesday Wellness: Readjust
Welcome to the week’s midpoint! You’ve made it through the first half of this week, readjusting to your work routines and adjusting as necessary to any new changes that your professional environment has thrown your way. Congratulations! But we know that the week isn’t...

How To Adjust To A New Workplace
Continuing our theme this week of adapting to change within your professional environment and beyond, today’s focus will be on concrete ways to adjust and readjust as needed. Making on-the-fly changes is a skill that is especially appreciated in situations where you...