Being a woman can be difficult, to say the least. You’re expected to be everything to everyone all the time – tough yet nurturing, sexy yet not too sexy, strong but also vulnerable… it can get to be a bit much.While there’s nothing wrong in asking for help when you need it, there’s also plenty of stuff women can do all on their own without anyone else, thank you very much. It’s okay to not be the master of everything, but there are a few things every woman can benefit from knowing how to do.
- Change a tire. While calling AAA to come to your rescue when you find yourself stranded on the side of the road is fine for more serious problems, when it comes to flats, you can handle it. Learn how to operate a jack and put on on that spare in the trunk so you can drive yourself to the nearest garage.
- Unclog a drain. When your shower drain pays the price for your luxurious mane, there’s only one thing to do: Draino. In more complicated clogs, you may have to get creative with pulling out the gunk, but you shouldn’t need the plumber on speed dial for basic repairs.
- Cook a meal from scratch. It’s all fine and well to spend your college days living on ramen and off-brand mac & cheese, but it’s time to grow up and start putting together nutritious meals that don’t come from a box. Your body will thank you.
- Assemble furniture. No one’s saying you need to be an Ikea expert, but putting together “Some Assembly Required” pieces shouldn’t send you into a meltdown. Get that Allen key and get building!
- Say no. Do you find yourself saying yes to things far more often than you’d like? There’s a simple solution: say no. Learn to stop agreeing to things that aren’t, well, agreeable – you’ll be a lot happier in life. And if people get mad? As my mother used to tell me, “They’ll get glad again.”
- Prepare your own taxes. Unless your financial situation is super complicated with a lot of variables, there’s no excuse not to take control of your own finances and complete that 1040 all on your own. It’s pretty self-explanatory, and you’ll feel accomplished knowing you didn’t shell out to H&R Block this year.
- Sew a button. If you love cute clothes at bargain prices (looking at you, Forever 21), chances are you’ll deal with some rips, tears and missing buttons. Knowing how to repair them quickly and easily will prolong their wear time and your wardrobe.
- Iron clothes. While sewing and ironing might seem like stereotypical housewife duties, they’re actually skills that come in handy and will ensure you don’t walk around looking like a hobo. Taking a few minutes to iron the wrinkles out of your clothes is quick, easy and will make all the difference.
- Enjoy your own company. It probably goes without saying that you shouldn’t need to be in a relationship to feel complete. Learn to enjoy time by yourself, because at the end of the day, you’re all you’ve got – and you’re awesome.
- Negotiate a raise. Women might typically get paid less on the dollar than men, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a savvy businesswoman and demand what you’re worth. Negotiating tactics come in handy in many areas of life, and career is a big one.
- Take a compliment. It’s so easy to brush off the nice things people say to you, either because you don’t believe them or because you feel saying a simple “Hey, thanks!” is going to make you look conceited. Learn to accept a compliment both aloud and within yourself – it’s a big boost to self-esteem.
- Read a credit report. You’re entitled to receive your credit report free of charge once a year, so take advantage of that and go through it with a fine-tooth comb. Keeping your credit in top shape is essential if you ever want to buy a house or get a loan.
- Ask for what you want in the bedroom. Life is too short to be having bad sex, and if you’re with a man who isn’t up for taking requests, you’re likely not with the right one. Tell him what feels good so that you can enjoy the experience as much as he does.
- Paint a room, hang a painting, etc. It’s easy to pick up the phone and dial a handyman any time little things need doing around the house, but it’s also not that hard to learn how to do those things yourself. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of knowing you created the space you’re living in without anyone’s help.
- Get the right size bra. We’ve all been there – the dreaded double boob, droopy cups, cut-off circulation… it’s hard to find the right size bra, but not impossible. Get measured by a proper fitter one day and find out what size you REALLY are – your boobs will thank you.