You’re at a friend’s place and the sink suddenly backs up. No one knows what to do, so everyone looks at it like it’s a UFO landing. Or you find your phone has died in the middle of nowhere, and it turns out you have no idea how to read a paper map — or maybe you’ve never even handled one.
Gen Z was raised on relentless tech, with instant answers at their fingertips through Google-related searches and apps that do almost everything for them. But, while convenience is hard to argue with, it’s also creating a silent crisis: a lot of us are forgetting (or never learning) the fundamental life skills that used to be second nature
According to a Yahoo Finance study, only 26 percent of Gen Z have written a check ever, and only 22 percent have balanced a checkbook. The digital age has provided this generation with an array of opportunities previously unavailable to others; however, it has also devalued fundamental, practical skills necessary for independent adulthood.
Financial literacy and money management
The world of money has also changed, but young adults have lost basic money skills. A survey cited by the New York Post found that 30% of Gen Z don’t budget monthly, meaning roughly one out of three have never done so
Banks tell us that Gen Z consumers often forget to track their accounts and end up with an overdraft; the fees for going a few dollars over average are around $35 per incident. This is a clear indication of the importance of increasing financial education so that the next generation can develop the necessary skills to manage their money effectively.
Face-to-face communication and social skills
Most members of Gen Z become nervous when speaking in person to strangers, and many would rather communicate by text if possible.
According to a poll conducted by Boterview, 67% of recruiters say Gen Zs don’t make eye contact in interviews. This is often based on the assumption that they feel non-face-to-face communication is less immediate.
Many Gen Z workers can be taught to adapt to the rigors of in-person professional environments, provided they receive proper training and exposure to these environments.
Cooking and meal preparation
Cooking good, cheap food among young people is a dying trend in this generation. According to research from OysterLink, 69% of Gen Z prefer food delivery to dining in and are the most delivery-centric generation. This preference reflects their desire for ease and time-saving.
High costs and loss of nutrient control can, in turn, contribute to marginal satisfaction in terms of value. Promoting fundamental cooking skills could empower young adults to choose healthier foods and reduce their expenditure.
Time management and planning skills
Gen Z has the most advanced scheduling apps, but struggles to manage their own time effectively. Such a breakdown in community is created by the forces surrounding young adults today.
Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki’s research highlights how many young people, including those in Gen Z, report feeling disconnected and experiencing difficulty with social interactions, both of which could contribute to poor time management and punctuality.
A study conducted by EdStellar reported that 50% of Gen Z employees are dealing with not having enough time to finish their work, implying roadblocks in task estimation and managing time efficiently
This suggests a potential need for enhanced training in time management to address the unique challenges and habits of today’s generation. By tackling these challenges, productivity can increase, and the mental burden of being in arrears can be reduced.
Critical thinking and problem-solving
In 2016, a study by SHEG showed that middle-school and high-school pupils were generally unable to distinguish between credible and unreliable sources. This research highlighted the challenges students encounter when evaluating the credibility of online information. The reliance on quick digital fixes has weakened basic independent problem-solving skills.
Being able to assess and validate information critically is increasingly essential in an era when misinformation can spread rapidly. Promoting media literacy education and imparting fact-checking tools is crucial for empowering people to navigate the digital world responsibly.
Navigation and spatial awareness skills
A study conducted by Erie Insurance found that 51% of 14-17-year-olds have never used a paper map, while 31% of Millennials say the same. This dependence in the digital era proves risky in emergencies and hinders greater spatial awareness.
Encouraging the learning of basic traditional navigation skills, such as map reading or using a compass, could be a way to address this reliance on technology. Facilitating educational modules that incorporate digital tools alongside traditional methods could promote a more balanced acquisition of spatial awareness and problem-solving skills.
Handwriting and penmanship
Digital communication via technology has made handwriting virtually extinct among the younger sectors of society. Cursive is illegible to Gen Z’ers, and some have difficulty in writing print neatly enough for others to read. This loss of skill has practical implications in legal documents, professional signatures, or any situation requiring handwritten communication.
Better handwriting can be achieved through continued practice and purposeful guidance that can be incorporated into educational programs. Bringing back structured handwriting classes might be a way to save this vital capability for future generations.
Attention and focus capabilities
Young adults have never had more fragmented attention spans than those wrought by digital bombardment. A Lost Focus leadership survey found that 64% of managers see that Gen Z workers have a lack of focus as a top issue, and 49% of them believe that this generation “lacks the motivation to work primarily due to digital distractions and decreased sustained attention capabilities.
This lack of concentration and motivation has raised concerns about productivity and long-term work efficiency. Promoting mindful routines and training them in time management can be part of addressing distractions and fostering better attention and engagement among Gen Z employees.
Patience and delayed gratification
The instant gratification culture has severely undermined patience and persistence among younger generations. Gen Z children and young adults appear to have a lower ability to delay gratification compared to previous generational cohorts. This impatience affects goal achievement, relationship building, and long-term success across multiple life domains.
According to RippleMatch’s 2023 data, only 14% of Gen Z candidates expect to stay with an employer for one year or less, and 12% of candidates stated they would leave their employer within one year or less. These generational demands for fast progression cost companies more time, money, and resources to focus on retention efforts and career development training.
Non-verbal cues and the art of body language
The age of digital communication has dulled the senses required to read the non-verbal warnings that are so essential to our relationships with other human beings. Gen Z is struggling to comprehend body language, facial expressions, and vocal tone in face-to-face interactions. This lack of social skills impacts professional, personal, and conflict management relationships.
These bumps underscore the need to build emotional quotient and active listening to be able to cross the communication chasm. Facilitating in-person interactions and creating socially friendly contexts may be strategies to compensate for these deficiencies.
Self-reliance and independent problem-solving
Even more worrying is that these digital natives, who have experienced instantaneous external support, are at risk of becoming self-reliant. McKinsey data found that while Gen Zers are more likely than other generations to report behavioral-health diagnoses, they are less likely to access treatment — in many cases, because of issues like stigma, cost, and perceived access.
Gen Z individuals turn to the internet or another person as soon as they encounter an unfamiliar problem, rather than attempting to work it out on their own. This reliance interferes with personal growth, confidence, and resilience.
Life coaches say that Gen Z clients need more guidance and validation than those of previous generations, expressing doubts over their ability to make decisions or navigate new problems without outside guidance.
Key takeaways
Decaying life skills for Gen-Z is both a problem and an opportunity for self and social development. A series of 11 essential skills — ranging from home maintenance to self-sufficiency — serves as the groundwork for a self-sufficient adult life and influences long-term success in personal, professional, and financial realms.
The digital world has opened up a wealth of opportunities for this generation, but the absence of life skills is putting them at risk of dealing with real-life situations.
Mitigating these gaps requires deliberate skill development, educational redesign, and a cultural understanding that technology should augment, not replace, basic human values. Those who can leverage both digital innovation and the fundamentals of life skills will have the complete toolkit needed to succeed in the more complex world ahead.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
I was in the grocery store the other day, and it hit me—I’m buying the exact same things I always do, but my bill just keeps getting higher. Like, I swear I just blinked, and suddenly eggs are a luxury item. What’s going on?
Inflation, supply-chain delays, and erratic weather conditions have modestly (or, let’s face it, dramatically) pushed the prices of staples ever higher. The USDA reports that food prices climbed an additional 2.9% year over year in May 2025—and that’s after the inflation storm of 2022–2023.
So, if you’ve got room in a pantry, freezer, or even a couple of extra shelves, now might be a good moment to stock up on these staple groceries—before the prices rise later.
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hot dogs of indeterminate age and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it ends up being part of a regular routine or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food info you need.
Let’s look at 6 gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat.
