How to use the checklist
- Print it, or open the online checklist, which saves your ticks in this browser.
- Tick every skill you can already do without looking anything up. Be honest; the point is to find what is left.
- Circle two skills to learn this week, one practical and one from money, people or health.
- Read each guide, do the task once for real, take the quick self-check, and tick it.
- Print a fresh category page when a section fills up, and keep going.
If you want quick wins, 6 of the skills take under ten minutes. If you want a focus, the bundles group skills for a first apartment, a first car, a new baby or the years before 30.
A worked example: the Sunday tick-through
Most people tick more than they expect on the first pass. Picture someone in their mid-twenties going through the list with a pen on a Sunday afternoon: they can already parallel park, cook rice and eggs, make small talk and write a work email, but have never changed a tire, found the water shutoff, read their pay stub properly or taken a CPR class. That short list of gaps is the plan. Two skills a week clears it in a couple of months, and the first aid ones go on the calendar as a certified class.
Printing one category at a time
Each category also has a one-page printable checklist that fills in the date you marked each skill learned in this browser. They are handy on a fridge, in a toolbox or in a glovebox.
- Printable Car and Road checklist (16 skills), or read the Car and Road guides
- Printable The Toolbox checklist (9 skills), or read the The Toolbox guides
- Printable Home Fixes checklist (16 skills), or read the Home Fixes guides
- Printable Yard, Garage and Seasons checklist (9 skills), or read the Yard, Garage and Seasons guides
- Printable Clothes, Fit and Grooming checklist (14 skills), or read the Clothes, Fit and Grooming guides
- Printable Kitchen checklist (17 skills), or read the Kitchen guides
- Printable Money and Paperwork checklist (14 skills), or read the Money and Paperwork guides
- Printable First Aid and Emergencies checklist (14 skills), or read the First Aid and Emergencies guides
- Printable Health and Body Upkeep checklist (10 skills), or read the Health and Body Upkeep guides
- Printable Outdoors checklist (11 skills), or read the Outdoors guides
- Printable People and Etiquette checklist (19 skills), or read the People and Etiquette guides
- Printable Work and Career checklist (9 skills), or read the Work and Career guides
- Printable Dad and Family checklist (10 skills), or read the Dad and Family guides
- Printable Friends and Headspace checklist (9 skills), or read the Friends and Headspace guides
- Printable Renting and Moving checklist (16 skills), or read the Renting and Moving guides
- Printable Tech and Digital Safety checklist (16 skills), or read the Tech and Digital Safety guides
- Printable Fitness Form Basics checklist (15 skills), or read the Fitness Form Basics guides
What makes a good life skills checklist
A useful checklist is specific enough to act on, short enough to finish, and honest about risk. Each line here is one task you can learn in an hour or less, not a vague goal. Riskier skills are tightly scoped and point you to a professional or a class, and some popular list items are left out because a text guide cannot teach them safely. The categories follow real life rather than stereotypes: there is as much here about money, health and friendships as about cars and tools.
Common mistakes
- Ticking skills you have read about but never done.
- Trying to learn a whole category in one weekend.
- Skipping the unglamorous ones, such as testing smoke alarms or finding the water shutoff.
- Treating a first aid page as a substitute for a certified class.
The full checklist
Car and Road
- Change a flat tire: flat ground, loosen nuts first, jack point, star pattern.
- Jump start a car: red dead, red good, black good, black bare metal; remove in reverse.
- Check tire pressure and tread: cold tires, door sticker number, wear bars, spare too.
- Dashboard lights: red means stop, amber means book a check, flashing check engine means today.
- Check engine oil: level ground, wipe, dip again, read between the marks.
- Check coolant, brake and washer fluid: engine cold, read the lines, never open a hot cap.
- Replace wiper blades: right length, towel on the glass, click on, lower gently.
- Replace a car bulb: right type from the manual, twist out, never touch the glass, test.
- Read a check engine code: scanner in the port, write the code down, do not clear it.
- Drive a stick shift: clutch down to start, stop and shift; find the bite point.
- Parallel park: rear bumpers level, wheel to the curb, straighten at 45, swing the front in.
- Trailer: ball matches coupler, pin in, chains crossed, lights tested, hand at the bottom.
- Car emergency kit: cables or jump pack, triangles, light, gauge, first aid, water, warm layer.
- After a minor accident: check injuries, hazards on, exchange details, photos, call insurer.
- Inspect a used car: history report, cold start, daylight walk-around, test drive, own mechanic.
- Winter car: battery test, tires, winter washer fluid, blades, coolant, scraper kit.
The Toolbox
- Starter toolkit: tape, hammer, driver bits, wrench, pliers, knife, level, drill, glasses.
- Use a drill: right bit, clutch low for screws, pilot holes, scan for wires first.
- Find a stud: calibrate, mark both edges, screw in the center, check 16 inches along.
- Wall anchors: stud first, plastic for light, threaded for medium, toggles for heavy.
- Read a tape measure: halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths; mark with a V; measure twice.
- Socket and torque wrench: exact fit, direction switch, stop at the click, store at lowest.
- Sharpen a knife: steady 15 to 20 degrees, raise a burr, both sides, finish fine.
- Circular saw: clamp and support, blade a quarter inch deep, guard working, stand aside.
- Protection: impact glasses, ear protection, fitted mask, no gloves near spinning tools.
Home Fixes
- Unclog a toilet: stop flushing, flange plunger, gentle first push, then firm; auger next.
- Unclog a sink: stopper and hair strip, block the overflow, plunge, clean the trap.
- Running toilet: lower the float if water spills over the tube, else swap the flapper.
- Dripping faucet: valves off, plug the drain, photo each part, match the cartridge.
- Main water shutoff: find it, test it, tag it, write its location on your card.
- Reset a breaker: unplug, full off then on; GFCI press reset; trips again means electrician.
- Patch drywall: compound for nail holes, mesh for small, new piece for big; thin coats.
- Mount a TV or mirror: rated mount, two studs, pilot holes, level, a helper to lift.
- Recaulk a tub: all old caulk out, clean and dry, tape, tub full, one bead, smooth once.
- Paint a room: prep and tape, ceiling first, cut in, roll a W, keep a wet edge, two coats.
- Change the furnace or AC filter: system off, same size, arrow toward the furnace, date it.
- Test smoke and CO alarms monthly; batteries yearly; replace by the date on the back.
- Flat-pack: count parts, sort fittings, read it all, build loose, square, then tighten, anchor.
- Smell gas: leave now, touch no switches, call 911 or the gas utility from outside.
- Clean the lint screen every load and the whole dryer vent once a year; metal duct only.
- Freeze nights: heat on, cabinets open, faucets dripping, pipes insulated, know the shutoff.
Yard, Garage and Seasons
- Mow a lawn: clear the yard, cut a third at most, dry grass, sharp blade, engine off to clear.
- Mower care: plug wire off for the blade, fresh fuel, oil, filter; stabilize for winter.
- Ladder: firm level ground, four up one out, three feet over the edge, three points of contact.
- Clean gutters: single story only, bucket on the ladder, move it often, flush the downspout.
- Shovel snow: warm up, push not lift, small scoops, no twisting, stop at chest pain.
- Winterize outdoor faucets: hoses off, inside valve closed, outside faucet open, cover it.
- Pressure washer: widest nozzle first, two to three feet away, never at skin, gas outdoors.
- Bike flat: wheel off, levers, find the hole and the cause, patch or new tube, no pinches.
- Storm prep: secure the yard, clear drains, charge up, fill water, go-bag by the door.
Clothes, Fit and Grooming
- Four-in-hand: wide end long on the right, cross, wrap, across, up and down through.
- Half-Windsor: cross, under, through the loop, across, up and down through the band.
- Bow tie: size it, long end over and up, short end into a bow, second bow through the back.
- Iron a shirt: label heat, damp, collar, cuffs, sleeves, yoke, body; hang it at once.
- Suit fit: shoulders first, no X pull, covers the seat, a half inch of cuff, clean break.
- Polish shoes: laces out, brush, damp wipe, thin polish in circles, haze, buff.
- Sew a button: doubled thread, start at the back, sew over a pin, wrap a shank, knot.
- Stains: blot, cold for blood, dish soap for grease, enzyme soak for sweat, no dryer until gone.
- Laundry: read labels, sort, cold for most, measured detergent, low heat, clean the lint screen.
- Shave: warm water, lather, with the grain, light pressure, sharp blade, cool rinse.
- Beard trim: dry and combed, start a guard long, neckline two fingers up, natural cheek line.
- Barber: photos, inches off the top, fade or taper, guard number, neckline, speak up early.
- Dress codes: black tie means tuxedo, cocktail means dark suit, business casual means no tie.
- Know your sizes: neck plus a finger, sleeve from center back, waist where worn, inseam.
Kitchen
- Five dinners: sheet-pan chicken, tomato pasta, stir-fry, tacos, chili.
- Dice an onion: halve through the root, claw grip, lengthwise cuts, then across.
- Eggs: scramble low and slow, fry covered, boil 7 or 11 minutes, poach at a bare simmer.
- Rice: rinse, one to one and a half, boil, cover, lowest heat 15 to 18 minutes, rest 10.
- Steak: dry and salted, very hot pan, turn often, thermometer, pull early, rest, slice across.
- Grill: ten feet from the house, lid open to light, two zones, cool side for flare-ups.
- Roast chicken: dry, salted, 425 degrees, thigh at 165, rest 15 minutes, no rinsing.
- Food safety: poultry 165, ground meat 160, whole cuts 145; fridge within two hours.
- Pan sauce: pour off fat, soften shallot, stock and scrape, reduce by half, cold butter off heat.
- Grocery budget: check the pantry, plan shared meals, list by aisle, unit prices, eat first.
- Meal prep: one grain, one protein, two vegetables, cool shallow, four days, freeze the rest.
- Host a dinner: known main, one make-ahead, one bought, timeline backward, ask about allergies.
- Pantry: two starches, canned protein, sauce makers, oil, vinegar, seasonings, frozen veg.
- Dinner party menu: familiar main, oven side, cold salad, make-ahead dessert, a timeline.
- Crowd cooking: dishes that scale, a pound per adult, several pans, fridge within two hours.
- Cookout: short menu, prep indoors, raw meat cooler, two-zone grill, thermometer, clean platter.
- Carve: rest the bird, legs off at the joint, breast off whole, slice across the grain.
Money and Paperwork
- Read a pay stub: hours and rate, gross, taxes, deductions, net, year-to-date.
- Budget: take-home pay, needs, wants, savings; a bills account and a spending account.
- Emergency fund: one month's rent first, then three months of bills; separate, automatic.
- Credit score: pay on time, balances low, keep old accounts, apply rarely, check reports.
- 401k match: contribute enough to get it all, know the vesting date, never cash out early.
- Tax return: every W-2 and 1099, file by mid-April, extension is not more time to pay.
- Lease: who owes the rent, deposit terms, break and renewal, utilities, renters insurance, photos.
- Insurance terms: premium, deductible, copay, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximum.
- Open enrollment: list next year's care, compare total yearly cost, check networks, deadline.
- Lower a bill: list charges, cancel unused, name a lower offer to retention, note the end date.
- Pay off debt: list it all, pay minimums, extra to one target, roll it over, no new debt.
- Car price: pre-approval, email quotes, out-the-door total, trade-in separate, walk away.
- Spot a scam: urgency, odd payment method, asks for a code; hang up and call back yourself.
- Keep one document box: five sections, originals fireproofed, scans encrypted, one person told.
First Aid and Emergencies
- Hands-only CPR: call 911, get an AED, center of chest, two inches, 100 to 120 a minute.
- Choking: can they cough? If not, 911, five back blows, five abdominal thrusts, repeat.
- Heavy bleeding: call 911, press hard and steady, never lift to look, add layers.
- Minor burn: cool running water 20 minutes, rings off, loose cover, no ice or butter.
- AED: switch on, bare dry chest, pads as pictured, all clear, shock, restart compressions.
- Stroke FAST: face, arm, speech, time to call 911; note when it started.
- Heart attack: chest pressure over a few minutes, spreading pain, sweat; call 911, do not drive.
- Fire extinguisher: 911 first, exit behind you, Pull, Aim low, Squeeze, Sweep; leave if not out.
- Grease fire: burner off, metal lid on, leave it covered, never water, spread means 911.
- Sprained ankle: rest, iced in a towel 20 minutes, snug wrap, raise it; can't walk means X-ray.
- Heat: exhaustion means shade and sips; confusion or fainting means 911 and cool fast.
- Calling 911: location first, what happened, how many hurt, follow instructions, stay on.
- Go-bag: three days of water and food, medication list, document copies, cash, light, charger.
- Stock a first aid kit at home and in the car, numbers card in the lid, restock after use.
Health and Body Upkeep
- Checkups: blood pressure from 18, one-time infection tests, cholesterol, colon at 45, ask.
- Testicular self-check: monthly after a shower, roll gently, any change means a doctor.
- Home blood pressure: right cuff, rest five minutes, arm at heart level, two readings, log.
- Doctor visit: symptom notes, medicine list, family history, top three questions, repeat the plan.
- Lift with good form: brace, neutral back, bar over midfoot, knees over toes, start light.
- Start strength training: learn squat, hinge, push, pull and carry; stop when form changes.
- Sleep: same wake time, seven to nine hours, dark cool room, morning light, no late caffeine.
- Drink sensibly: know a standard drink, set a limit, eat, water between, never drive.
- Depression signs: anger, withdrawal, drinking, low mood two weeks; see a doctor; 988.
- Skin: SPF 30 broad-spectrum, reapply every two hours, monthly mole check, show changes.
Outdoors
- Campfire: allowed, ring, tinder, kindling, wood; out means drown, stir, feel, cold.
- Knots: bowline, clove hitch, trucker's hitch, taut-line hitch, square knot.
- Map and compass: edge to destination, dial lines to north, needle in the arrow, walk it.
- Tent: practice at home, raised flat ground, sheet tucked in, stakes angled, fly taut.
- Camp water: clear flowing source, settle cloudy water, boil a minute or filter or treat.
- Leave no trace: plan, durable ground, pack it out, leave it, small fires, wildlife, others.
- Lost hiking: stop, sit, think, stay put, stay warm, three whistle blasts, call or text 911.
- Lightning: thunder means go inside, hard-topped car or building, wait 30 minutes after.
- Hypothermia: shiver, fumble, stumble; out of the wet, dry layers, insulate, 911 if confused.
- Tie down a load: two rated straps, solid anchors, bow and stern lines, twist, recheck.
- Day hike bag: water, extra snacks, layers, headlamp, paper map, first aid, whistle, route told.
People and Etiquette
- Handshake: web to web, firm, two pumps, eye contact, your name; introduce with one fact.
- Toast: who you are, one story, what you admire, raise a glass; under five minutes, practiced.
- Small talk: start from the setting, ask how or what, follow a detail, share, exit warmly.
- Sympathy card: sorry, their name, one memory, one specific offer, send within weeks.
- Thank-you note: name the thing, how you will use it, a line about them, within two weeks.
- Tipping: restaurants 18 to 20 percent pre-tax, delivery and rides 15 to 20, bar a dollar a drink.
- Table manners: napkin on lap, outside in, bread left, drink right, wait for the host.
- Apology: what I did, how it affected you, how I will fix it; no but, no if.
- Houseguest: set dates, small gift, house rules, tidy, help, own time, strip the bed, thank.
- Funeral: dark clothes, early, phone off, guest book, a short sorry, follow their lead.
- De-escalate: distance, open hands, low slow voice, acknowledge, offer a way out, leave.
- Table: forks left, knife right blade in, spoon outside the knife, glass above the knife.
- Overnight guests: dates agreed, clean bed and towels, charger, password card, a quick tour.
- Reply to every invitation by the date; invite with time, place, dress and a reply-by date.
- Wedding guest: reply on time, named guests only, follow the dress code, phone away, sit where placed.
- Groomsman: ask costs early, fitting on time, arrive early, help guests, phone away.
- Phone away at meals and meetings, step out for calls, earbuds in shared spaces.
- Agree the split before ordering, include tax and tip, pay back the same day.
- Drunk guest: no more alcohol, keys away, never alone, on their side, 911 for danger signs.
Work and Career
- Resume: one page, verb plus result bullets, numbers, tailored words, PDF, proofread.
- Interview prep: research, three stories, one-minute intro, three questions, thank-you email.
- Negotiate an offer: thanks, in writing, research, one justified number, then the package.
- Ask for a raise: wins list, right timing, pay data, specific number, a date if not now.
- Work email: clear subject, point first, short, one ask with a date, sleep on angry ones.
- Feedback: soon, private, behavior plus effect plus request; receive with thanks, decide later.
- Quit well: offer in writing, manager first, short letter, handover, check final pay.
- Public speaking: one message, three points, practice aloud five times, breathe, slow, pause.
- Network: people you know, ask for advice, three questions, thank within a day, keep in touch.
Dad and Family
- Diaper: supplies first, one hand on baby, clean one under, front to back, two-finger fit.
- Car seat: both manuals, back seat, rear-facing to the limit, under an inch of movement, check.
- Safe sleep: alone, on the back, in a crib; fitted sheet only; room-share, not bed-share.
- Bottle: clean hands and bottle, water first, exact level scoops, no microwave, wrist test.
- Crying baby: feed, change, temperature, burp; hold, sway, shush; at your limit, crib and a break.
- Childproof: kid's-eye sweep, anchor furniture, lock chemicals, stair gates, batteries away.
- Postpartum support: do the jobs, guard sleep, check in daily, signs past two weeks, call.
- Life insurance: who depends on you, how much and how long, term first, compare, beneficiaries.
- Teach bike riding: helmet fit, seat low, pedals off, glide, brakes, pedals on, hold shoulders.
- Hard talks with kids: ask first, short honest answers, real words, reassure, revisit.
Friends and Headspace
- Ask for help: one person, one specific thing, a time, easy to say no, return the favor.
- Listen: phone away, let them finish, reflect back, ask how or what, ask before fixing.
- Keep friends: a recurring plan, reach out first, short check-ins, show up, set the next date.
- Make friends: a weekly activity, keep showing up, say yes, suggest one plan, give it months.
- Cool down: spot the signs, timeout phrase, leave, slow breaths, move, return and talk calmly.
- Say no: pause, buy time, short clear no, optional alternative, repeat calmly if pushed.
- Support grief: show up, say their name, specific help, listen, remember the dates, check back.
- Check on a friend: reach out privately, listen, ask directly about suicide, 988, 911 if in danger.
- Breakup: feel it, pause contact, keep routine, watch drinking, see friends, 988 if hopeless.
Renting and Moving
- Set a rent ceiling, pick neighborhoods and score every viewing on the same card.
- On a tour: run taps, test windows, look for leaks and pests, check signal, ask about repairs.
- No deposit before an in-person viewing, a checked owner and a signed lease.
- Keep an application packet ready: ID, income proof, landlord contacts, references.
- Film and photograph the empty unit on move-in day and send a signed copy to the landlord.
- List what I own, then buy renters insurance with a deductible I can pay.
- Open utilities for the new place and close the old ones, with meter photos at both.
- Write a one-page roommate agreement: bills, chores, guests, quiet hours, moving out.
- Report repairs the lease way, with a photo, the room, the date and access times.
- Pack least-used rooms first, heavy items small, label two sides, keep a first night bag.
- Empty and strip furniture, plan the path, lift with a partner and turn with my feet.
- Load heavy first against the cab, long pieces on edge, tight tiers strapped to the rails.
- Three written estimates, check licenses and complaints, never sign a blank contract.
- File mail forwarding, then update work, bank, insurance, license, voter record and accounts.
- Empty the unit, clean top down, inside appliances too, photograph every clean room.
- Give written notice, clean and photograph, return keys, send a forwarding address.
Tech and Digital Safety
- Set up a password manager with a unique phrase, then swap email, bank and phone passwords first.
- Turn on two-step login, email first, and file the recovery codes on paper.
- Turn on automatic phone backup, check the last backup date, copy photos monthly.
- Keep three copies, on two kinds of storage, one off-site, and test a restore.
- Turn on automatic updates for phone, computer, browser and router; check monthly.
- Change the router admin password, strongest encryption, long network password, guest network.
- Test by the router, restart modem then router, try a cable, move the router, then call.
- Never log in from a message link: check the sender, go direct, report phishing.
- Never call a number in a virus pop-up and never give a caller remote access.
- Hacked account: reset directly, log out all sessions, add two-step, check recovery settings.
- Freeze credit at all three bureaus, file the federal report, dispute and log everything.
- Back up, sign out, unpair, factory reset, remove the SIM and memory card.
- On public networks: confirm the name, no banking, sharing off, forget it after.
- Shop from stores I can verify, pay by credit card, never gift cards or wires.
- Camera at eye level, light in front, headset on, quiet plain background, join early.
- Change default passwords, two-step on the app, updates on, smart devices on the guest network.
Fitness Form Basics
- Warm up five to ten minutes: easy cardio, joint circles, then light practice rounds.
- Push-up: straight plank, elbows back at forty-five, chest a fist from the floor.
- Plank: elbows under shoulders, one straight line, glutes tight, stop when the hips sag.
- Lunge: long step, back knee straight down, front knee over middle toes, chest up.
- Glute bridge: heels close, tuck the pelvis, press through heels to a straight line, pause.
- Dumbbell row: flat back on the bench, elbow to hip, squeeze the shoulder blade, lower slow.
- Overhead press: brace, ribs down, press straight up, head through, stop before leaning back.
- Bench only with safety arms or a spotter; thumbs wrapped, bar to mid-chest, rack early.
- Pull-up: shoulders down first, elbows to ribs, chin over, lower slowly; build with lowerings.
- Kettlebell swing: learn the hinge, hike back, snap the hips, loose arms, stop when the back rounds.
- Run tall, short quick steps under the hips, relaxed shoulders, conversation pace.
- Farmer's carry: hinge to lift, tall and braced, short steady steps, set down with a hinge.
- Start light and keep every rep clean; ask a coach before going heavier.
- Machine setup: joint in line with the pivot, pads snug, pin locked, start light, move slowly.
- Dull next-day ache is soreness; sharp, joint, swelling or chest pain means stop and get checked.
Sources
Last checked September 28, 2026. Everything here is in our own words. Where a professional who can see your situation, or current official guidance, says something different, follow them.
- The skill pages on this site. every line on the checklist links to its own guide with named sources and a last checked date.