15 Street Smarts Skills We All Need

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s a chance that you’ve been shocked at the thinking and reasoning skills (or lack thereof) of some of our population, especially our youth today. It’s become pretty obvious that just because you have a formal education through a college degree, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a smart person when it comes to real-world situations. Yes, having book smarts is important, but executing those “smarts” by putting them into practice is even more so. Check out these street-smart skills we all need. 

I’ve known a number of people who I felt were more educated than I was, but they didn’t necessarily use common sense when it came to social intelligence or problem-solving skills. I’m hoping to highlight some skills you should strive for, particularly since most of us live in a more crowded urban environment than in years past.

In case you missed this post, The Best Survival-You Are Responsible For Your Family

Street Smarts Skills We All Need 

That’s where street smarts come in. Street smarts mean taking that information and using it in a practical way, and also being more aware of what’s going on around us. Here are 15 street smarts that we all need to have.  

1. Knowing Directions and Closeby Markers

Have you ever been in an accident and had no idea where you were and had a difficult time alerting dispatch of your location? Lots of people are terrible with directions and don’t even have the slightest notion of which way is North.

It’s not a good idea to jump behind the wheel or head out in a big city without recognizing surrounding markers or locations, or even what direction you may be heading for that matter. Keep a flashlight in your Everyday Carry Bag-What You Need or in your purse.

2. More Conscious of the Darker Side of Humanity

We’d like to think that all people are genuinely good, but let’s not fool ourselves. There are people who want to hurt and take advantage of us. I’m not telling you to sit at home and read about the sick and twisted things that people do, but you need to be aware that those kinds of people are out there and are looking for easy targets. 

3. Avoid Cyber Incidents

People are far too trusting about giving out their information or location to complete strangers on the internet. Don’t be one of them, and be more cautious about what you share. 

4. Drink Responsibly

When you decide to go out and have a drink, make sure that you do it with a number of friends, and have a designated driver. At the least, make the decision to stay where you are. Too many lives are destroyed because someone chose not to be responsible.  

5. More Knowledgeable When Making a Purchase

Have you ever made an unwise purchase because you didn’t do the research? Instead of getting ripped off as a consumer, spend more time getting to know that product and comparing it to other similar products. 

6. Use all 5 Senses

The majority of us were given 5 senses to experience the world around us, so it’s important that we remember to use all of them. Those senses can alert us to danger, along with helping us remember the things that we like and dislike. 

7. Avoid Looking Lost

Even if you don’t know where you are in a sketchy part of a big city, the worst thing you could do is have the look of being lost written all over your face. Another smart thing to consider is not traveling these areas alone. This makes you an easier target. 

8. Be Aware of Your Belongings

When you’re in a big city it becomes even more important to be aware of your belongings. Don’t carry a lot of cash and avoid wearing a backpack or purse that could easily be pickpocketed. 

9. Don’t Put Yourself in a Dangerous Situation

Partying late at night and then walking alone by yourself, or going home with a stranger is flirting with sure danger. Especially if you’ve had too much to drink. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations like these. Stay where you are and call a friend or parent to come and get you.   

10. Survival Skills

Could you survive on your own if a disaster were to strike? Here are just a few of the basic survival skills everyone needs to know. 

11. Better Communication Skills

Instead of always needing to be heard and getting the final word in, it’s vital that we stop and listen to other’s viewpoints as well. Stop and listen.  

12. Pay Attention to Detail

You never know when paying closer attention to detail will come in handy. When a situation arises, like a hit and run car accident or burglary, being able to identify a car model or what the suspect looked like becomes extremely important. 

13. Look Up From Your Phone

There’s so much that can be missed when we have our faces in our phones all the time. Especially when we’re out in public. Warning signs can be missed that could alert us to danger even before it happens. We miss out on relationships too. So keep your eyes looking ahead instead of down at a screen all the time. 

14. Looking at the Whole Picture

Let’s face it, most of us go through life with tunnel vision goggles on and bring only our own worldviews to most everyday situations. Even though our motives may be pure, there are times where they may be misguided. 

So it’s no wonder that it may take a lot more practice from the majority of us at taking a step back and looking at the whole picture and not necessarily at what we think is the right answer all the time. (This is painful to do, I know.) Doing so can save us from a lot of arguments and creating estranged relationships from our closest friends and family.  

15. Trusting Your Instincts 

Even more than we may realize, our brains take in a ton of information about what’s going on in the world around us. Instead of brushing off that information as mere coincidence or not important, practice paying closer attention to the data our brains have collected. More times than not, your instincts will lead us to the correct decision. Now, this is one of those street smarts we all need! 

Final Word

These are 15 practical street smarts that everyone should know. They will help you to make wiser decisions and help you be more observant about what’s going on around you. What are some other street smart skills we all need that you’d add to this list? Please be safe, we must be careful and aware of our surroundings. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Small Town Deposit photos_34944253_s-2019, Cell Phone Deposit photos_34744909_s-2019, Students In A Group Looking At PhonesDepositphotos_518668072_S By Oksixx

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