Ian Bronson
Simple life tasks aren’t always as simple as they once were, especially for a generation raised with smart devices and one-tap solutions. Where older generations learned by doing, Gen Z has to learn by searching. So, to see which basics have become blind spots, check out these 20 you might not have mastered.
How To Read An Analog Clock
It’s just a circle with hands, but somehow, those hands can confuse. That’s because many people only ever read the time on their phones. But knowing how to read a clock without a screen is helpful when the power is out, or you’re in a waiting room with no Wi-Fi.
How To Hang A Picture Frame Straight
You hold the frame, take a step back, and it still looks slightly off. The wall feels uneven. This task seems easy at first glance, but one small miscalculation ruins the whole effect. Measuring helps, yet the frame still tilts like it has a mind of its own.
How To Write A Check
Ever held a check and had no clue which line gets your name? If yes, you’re not alone. Although apps make checks feel ancient, some landlords or employers still require one. It also comes in handy when Venmo isn’t an option and cash feels too awkward.
How To Iron Clothes Properly
Ironing gets skipped not because it’s hard, but because it feels like a guessing game. Too hot, and the fabric’s toast. Too cool, and the wrinkles laugh at you. Even starting with the sleeves doesn’t help much when just figuring out the settings feels like step one of twenty.
How To Fold A Fitted Sheet
They say there’s a way to fold one neatly, but it feels like wizardry. The stretchy corners always bunch up wrong. That’s why most people just roll it up like a burrito. Still, mastering this is important so your closet looks less haunted.
How To Address An Envelope Correctly
Writing an address sounds easy until a letter comes back marked undeliverable. The sender’s info belongs in the top left, and the recipient’s in the center. Mess that up, and the whole thing risks vanishing. Mailing something may seem outdated, though the format still holds real-world weight in places that still run on paper.
How To Read A Paper Map
Phones handle directions most of the time, so maps feel like a relic. Then, the battery dies mid-trip, and everything changes. A paper map sits quietly in the glovebox, waiting to be useful. Reading it takes patience, a little logic, and the ability to tell east from west without being told.
How To Parallel Park
The curb always appears farther away than it actually is. That’s why so many people end up way too far or bump into it trying. This basic skill is essential in busy cities, where it’s often your only chance at finding a parking spot. Plus, it feels amazing when you nail it on the first try.
How To Cook Without A Recipe Or App
When you’ve got random groceries and no Wi-Fi, what do you make? That’s where cooking by feel comes in. It’s about tasting as you go and using what’s on hand. You don’t always need instructions to make something good.
How To Patch A Hole Or Sew A Button
Clothes rip. Buttons vanish. And no, the answer isn’t always “Buy a new one.” Knowing a few stitches can save your favorite shirt or jeans. It’s the kind of skill that not all Gen Zers have, and they only realize it when something rips five minutes before they need to leave the house.
How To Start A Fire Without A Lighter
Starting a fire without a lighter isn’t just a survival trick—it’s a lost art. Rubbing sticks together sounds like something out of a cartoon, but it actually works with patience and technique. For many, this skill feels ancient, frustrating, and totally out of reach.
How To Read Cursive Handwriting
To some folks, cursive looks like a secret code from another century. That’s because not every school teaches it now. But reading it matters when grandma writes you a note or when a job form shows up in squiggly letters that aren’t typed or digital.
How To Change A Flat Tire
It only takes one flat tire to throw plans completely off course. Sure, roadside help exists, but figuring out how to jack up the car and swap that rubber yourself? Feels like rocket science to some. It’s not strength—it’s steps. Still feels impossible, though.
How To Make A Monthly Budget
Basic math isn’t the problem—figuring out where the money goes is. Budgeting should be simple: track what comes in, what goes out, and what’s left. But for many in Gen Z, turning that into daily choices feels like trying to decode a language no one taught them.
How To Plan Meals For The Week
Although meal planning promises less waste and more home-cooked wins, for some people, it feels like planning a seven-day food mission without a map. You think you’ve got it down, then Thursday hits, and it’s cereal again. Somehow, it’s both overwhelming and forgettable at the same time.
How To Use A Scanner Or Fax Machine
Fax machines are the final boss of outdated tech. You walk in thinking it’ll be simple—then suddenly, you’re trapped in a menu maze with beeps and unclear prompts. Gen Z never had to master this, which makes the whole thing feel like a strange office ritual from another century.
How To Build Furniture Without Help
The box promises “easy assembly,” but somewhere around Step 4, things fall apart—literally. For Gen Z, building furniture without help means balancing pieces, guessing which screw is which, and refusing to admit this would be way easier with a second set of hands.
How To Do Basic First Aid
Basic first aid sounds simple: clean a wound, apply pressure, stay calm. But without practice or confidence, it quickly becomes a source of hesitation. Many in Gen Z struggle with this life skill, not because it’s difficult, but because it’s rarely taught thoroughly or memorably.
How To Call And Make An Appointment
Making a simple phone call can feel far more stressful than it should. Saying the right thing, speaking clearly, and not freezing up midway isn’t always easy. For a generation raised on messaging apps, scheduling an appointment over the phone feels awkward.
How To Clean An Oven
There’s no avoiding it. Cleaning ovens can get messy. Still, figuring out “how” feels unnecessarily hard. Some try the self-cleaning route; others go in with gloves and baking soda. Either way, it’s one of those tasks that’s way harder than it looks.
