Learning by Doing: Why Practical Skills Matter More Than Ever
We’re constantly told that it’s easier, faster, and even more cost-effective to pay someone else to solve our problems. Need a car fixed? Take it to a mechanic. A broken household item? Replace it. A leaky tap? Call a plumber.
But what happens when help isn’t available? What if services shut down, costs become prohibitive, or waiting times stretch beyond what’s practical?
Relying solely on external systems makes us vulnerable. A resilient life isn’t about rejecting convenience, but about having the ability to take care of yourself and those around you when necessary. The more we shift from a passive consumer mindset to an active problem-solving one, the more adaptable and prepared we become.
This isn’t about becoming an expert in everything - it’s about learning enough to handle everyday challenges, solve small problems before they escalate, and build confidence in your ability to figure things out. More importantly, it’s about building communities of shared knowledge, where everyone contributes their skills to support each other, rather than expecting total self-sufficiency.
The Shift from Theory to Practice
Many of us assume that because we’ve seen a YouTube video or read a tutorial, we could do something if needed. But, from experience, that theory doesn’t always translate into practice.
A classic example is first aid: many people assume they know how to react in an emergency, but freezing up under pressure is common when you’ve never actually performed CPR or treated an injury. The same applies to changing a tyre, fixing a bike, or doing basic household repairs.
The key to real-world competence is experiential learning… actually doing the thing. Confidence follows competence, but competence only grows through hands-on experience. Learning through doing helps us:
✔️ Spot the nuances that aren’t obvious in theoretical explanations.
✔️ Build muscle memory, so tasks become automatic instead of stressful.
✔️ Overcome the fear of failing by developing a problem-solving mindset.
✔️ Find opportunities to share and learn from others, strengthening community ties.
The biggest hurdle is often just getting started. In fact, it’s taken me almost four decades to get going 🤦🏼♂️ So, over the past few months, I’ve been pushing myself to get more hands-on and develop some practical skills.
What I’ve Been Learning Lately
🔧 Bike Maintenance & Repairs
One of my first hands-on experiences was taking my eldest daughter’s bike to a donation-funded repair café. I had the chance to learn from a mechanic and was shown how to perform a full M-check, which I’d never even heard of but turns out is a simple but crucial process for ensuring a bike is safe and roadworthy.
That experience gave me the confidence to start maintaining the rest of our bikes. Recently, I changed an inner tube for the first time at 39 years old 😆 a task that had always seemed intimidating but was actually very manageable.
💡 Takeaway: Small wins add up. Once I’d done it once, it became a skill I owned, not something I’d always have to rely on someone else for. More importantly, now I can pass on this knowledge to my family and neighbours, contributing to our local resilience.
🛠 Basic DIY & Repairs
I also took the time to tackle a few small home projects, including installing a tarp over the bike shed to protect it from dampness and weather damage. This meant learning how to properly drill into wood, use the right fixings, and ensure the tarp was tensioned correctly.
It wasn’t a ground-breaking project, but the principle was important: rather than putting it off or outsourcing it, I took the time to figure it out myself. The sense of self-reliance that comes from fixing something with your own hands is hard to overstate.
💡 Takeaway: Every small fix you handle yourself is one less dependency on external services. Plus, over time, these small projects build into a much broader confidence in problem-solving. Better still, when friends and neighbours see what you’re doing, it invites skill-sharing and collective learning.
🏥 First Aid & Preparedness
Another major skill I’m developing is first aid. I recently booked a British Red Cross online first aid workshop… not because I need a certificate, but because I want the knowledge. These are run regularly, and are even free to attend! (Check out the details here)
A basic understanding of bleeding control, CPR, wound dressing, and emergency response can make a life-or-death difference. But these are perishable skills - meaning if you don’t practice them, you forget them.
💡 Takeaway: First aid is one of the most overlooked but essential skills. If you only ever learn one practical skill, let it be first aid. And better yet, bring a friend or family member along so your collective knowledge grows.
Why These Skills Matter for Resilience
1️⃣ Self-Reliance in Everyday Life – Not having to wait for, or pay for, solutions means more autonomy and adaptability.
2️⃣ Community Resilience – Being able to help others makes you a more valuable part of any network or mutual aid group.
3️⃣ Breaking the Consumer Mindset – Moving from ‘replace’ to ‘repair’ saves money, reduces waste, and makes you more resourceful.
But remember it’s not about doing everything alone… it’s about fostering a culture where people trade skills and support one another.
Many of us feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of things we could learn, but starting small and building momentum makes all the difference. Every skill learned makes the next one easier, especially when shared within a community.
How to Start Building Practical Skills
Here are some simple steps to start learning through doing:
✔️ Pick One Small Skill This Month – It could be as simple as changing a bike tyre, fixing a leaky tap, or cooking from scratch.
✔️ Find a Mentor or Community Resource – Repair cafés, community skill-sharing groups, and YouTube mechanics are a goldmine.
✔️ Get Hands-On ASAP – Watching videos is useful, but nothing beats actually doing the thing.
✔️ Embrace Small Failures – Mistakes are part of learning. You don’t get better without them.
✔️ Track Your Progress & Teach Others – The best way to solidify your learning is to share it with someone else.
Closing Thoughts
We’ve been conditioned to believe we need experts for everything. And in some cases, we do - there are times when professional knowledge is essential. But in many situations, the difference between needing help and handling it yourself is simply whether or not you’ve ever tried.
Hands-on knowledge is empowering. The more we do, the less dependent we become. The first time I changed a bike inner tube, I fumbled through it (yes, that’s embarrassing) - but now, I know how to do it. The first time I used a drill properly, I second-guessed myself - but now, I can confidently handle basic projects. And when others see this, they’re more likely to step in and share their own expertise.
Resilience isn’t just about having a stockpile of supplies, it’s about knowing how to use what you have and fostering a culture of shared skills. It’s about being adaptable, capable, and willing to learn by doing… together.
🔒 For Paid Subscribers: The Practical Skills Challenge
For those supporting this work, I’m sharing:
📌 A Simple 30-Day Skills Challenge – A structured plan to help you pick up and practice essential skills.
📌 The Practical Skills Checklist – A list of hands-on skills that improve self-reliance and resilience.
📌 Resources & Learning Links – A curated selection of guides, videos, and books for DIY learning.
➡️ Subscribe for access and start building your resilience today!
And if you’re interested in amplifying your resilience with some one-to-one coaching, drop me an email.
Below this paywall 👇🏼 you’ll find the subscriber-only downloadable resources…