Our parents are always nagging us to study more and harder when we were young, and even as we get older, they can still be at it, asking us to learn new skills and do something useful with our lives.

But what do we say to that?

Here are some other common excuses reasons that you’ve used at least once in your life.

1. “I don’t need those skills.”

This is as common a refrain as it gets. But think harder and you will realise you need skills (basic or otherwise) for almost everything in your life.

Managing personal finances? Better and cheaper with Excel. Servicing your vehicle? You should know some basic mechanical skills. Patching up a hole on your favourite shirt? You will need to know more than how to thread a needle.

Heck even ordering cai png calls for better speaking and negotiation skills - to get that extra serving of meat and vegetables.

2. “No time lah.”

Correction. This is more like “I don’t have enough time to do the things I like to do such as sleeping and watching TV after a looooong day at work/school.”

By all means, go do what you like, we know that’s recipe for a happier life. But a better management of time will definitely make you lead a happier and more fulfilling life.

And some applicable skills don’t take forever to learn – just a few hours – like this one. But to master these skills, of course must practise and practise.

3. “No money leh.”

We know the squeeze: prices go up and our salaries can’t seem to keep up.

But wait! If you’re 25 and older, there’s the $500 SkillsFuture credit. Actually, it’s a lot more than the $500 credit. We suggest you read this article to learn more about the SkillsFuture movement.

Not very legit, this excuse.

4. “I’m too old to learn new things lah.”

There’s nothing funnier than telling your parents that you are too old.

But if you are sick of them laughing at this lame excuse, perhaps you can tell that to uncle Johnnie Chia, who graduated from Temasek Polytechnic last year with a Diploma in Digital Advertising at the age of 70.

The adjunct marketing lecturer from Nanyang Polytechnic has three bachelor’s degrees, one master’s degree and several diplomas.

He told Today newspaper: “I’ve been doing this for years. I believe that if you keep exercising your brain, it should be effortless, like exercising your body.”

Truer words have never been spoken. And yep, you are still the butt of jokes.

5. “Had enough of school.”

Let’s do the math: two years in kindergarten, six years in primary school, four/five years in secondary school, two to six years to acquire a pre-tertiary or tertiary education = 20 years tops.

Given Singapore’s life expectancy (80.4 for males, 84.9 for females), the time spent in school is not even close to a third of our life expectancy.

Still think you’re done learning to prepare you for life?

6. “I’m not smart enough.”

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Now, consider your parents’ feelings.

Done?

Picking up new skills =/= boring theories.

You could consider picking up turntabling skills, learning a new language or even maintaining the aircon yourself – that will undoubtedly save money and earn your parents’ respect.

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Don’t know where to start? Why not check out some of these courses as a start.

Top image via Getty

This SkillsFuture sponsored post fuels Mothership’s writers so that we have no excuse to give excuses for not picking up a new skill. Excuse us while we do.