Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Someone Asked, “What Is The Most Basic Thing You Are Terrible At?,” And 33 People Delivered
Most people have a certain skill that, even though very basic and mastered by most people around them, still doesn’t come easy for them.
Among the examples are activities and processes as basic as proper breathing or folding fitted sheets, while the reasons behind it may vary from a person’s innate qualities, lacking patience, good teachers, or practice to simply not caring enough about it.
And these people are listing these kinds of basic skills they aren’t very good at, answering one Redditor’s question: ”What is the most basic thing you are terrible at?”
Do you have something to add? Please, share your thoughts in the comments below!
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
Remembering somebody's name.
If a person comes up and says, "Hi, I'm Jim Peterson," I will have forgotten it by the time I've said "Hey. I'm NoxWild."
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
I know the names of all of the dogs living in my neighborhood. I cannot, for the life of me, remember their owner’s names. I have the lady in the house next door entered in my phone as “Milo’s Mom” XD
#3
My attempts at folding fitted sheets are a chaotic masterpiece. It's like wrestling an octopus into submission every time. Does anyone feel me?
JB 1 year ago
Fitted sheets are a nightmare to fold! I just roll them into a rough cylinder and call it good.
Lord of the laserprinter. 1 year ago
I just scrunch them up and stuff them in the wardrobe
Load More Replies...
Tamra 1 year ago (edited)
I tried to say that out loud. Husband asked me why I'm mumbling about s******g on a sheet.
Load More Replies...
UpQuarkDownQuark (he/him) 1 year ago
It’s easy: https://youtu.be/GuqKmIXbZdE?si=2kp343r6iSBwGKvl
Featherytoad 1 year ago
I've tried. I have queen sheets and my arms just aren't long enough. I gave up and now I just ball up the fitted sheet and put it in my chest at the end of the bed.
Load More Replies...
Steve Hall 1 year ago
I just roll them up and shove them into a drawer. The sheet inspector is not welcome in my house.
OneHappyPuppy 1 year ago
Fold like a regular but stuff the corners into each other. Hey, I don't do it perfectly but at least it's not a stuffed ball in my closet...
Laura Williams 1 year ago
I just roll them in a ball. Don't care if my sheets are wrinkley and nobody sees them anyway.
Jon Steensen 1 year ago
yeah you have to take the education to become a nurse in order to be able to do it neatly. However, I thing the trick is to put it down on large surface and fold it in quaters in both directions, such that all the edges ends up in the middle of the package. Once that is done you can make neat folds in the rest.... or you can just put all of them on the bed, and then tear one of each time the outermost gets dirty and needs replacement.
Magnifico Giganticus (it) 1 year ago
It was such a relief when I finally abandoned this standard. Honestly, who gives a rat's a*s?
Say No to Downvoting 1 year ago
Oh man, that is one thing that I know most people suck at but one of the few things I am AMAZING at! Two things I contribute to society: damn good brownies and folding a fitted sheet.
Just-4-2day 1 year ago
fold the top sheet and wad up the fitted sheet and stuff the whole lot into a pillowcase
Lori Rommel 1 year ago
I did it right ... once. On the plus side, it happened in a laundromat, so I held it aloft and made an impromptu announcement. "Hey, everybody! This is a fitted sheet!"
Rainstorm 1 year ago
I'm lucky enough to have a mom who knows how to fold fitted sheets and taught me how to do it. It's my favorite skill I have I love it
Scott Rackley 1 year ago (edited)
I got taught by a head housekeeper for the hotel I was night auditor at. Older Hispanic lady, made me do it till I had it down pat after I asked. edit: She also taught me how to do hospital corners real nice.
Load More Replies...
Michael Largey 1 year ago
I have a theory about folding fitted sheets - it can’t be done. I can provide a very convincing demonstration.
BarkingSquirell 1 year ago
Particularly for this reason, I strip my bed and wash them when the bed isn't in use. I have a hard enough time getting them over the mattress as it is!
LovingKnuckle 1 year ago
Gave up years ago. Having a folded fitted sheet is not important to me in anyway.
madeleine f 1 year ago
Life is too short to worry about perfect sheets. As long as they are clean I'm happy.
detective miller's hat 1 year ago
I use them as a sort of "basket" for the flat sheet and the number of pillowcases on my bed. That way when I change my sheets, I just grab the bundle in the fitted sheet and I have everything I need.
Robert Trebor 1 year ago
I wash my sheets in individual mesh bags, because even the flat sheets seem to take up the challenge of bundling up other laundry and keeping it damp. But fitted sheets are monsters.
WFH Forever 1 year ago
Wool balls in the dryer. Fights static cling and keeps sheets from rolling themselves up.
Load More Replies...
SlothyK8 1 year ago
I learned from a YouTube video years ago. It took a while to perfect, but I have and I'm proud of the way my linen closet looks. I guess it really all depends on how willing you are. I'm kind of a perfectionist, so this was my jam. Your experience/patience may differ. :)
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I keep my jam in the fridge, not the linen closet. But then, I'm useless at folding.
Load More Replies... #4
Sleeping. It takes so long to fall asleep. And I wake up wide awake multiple times a night. Nightmares constantly. I’ve tried all the things. Dark, light, silence, noise (tv, fan, white noise). I’m exhausted. I have a sleep study on April 29th. Cross your fingers they can help me cause your girl is sleepy.
WindySwede 1 year ago
Taking complete blood samples, to see if any is of. Deficiency, hormones or 'just' pescy thyroid gland.. and wonder how many sleep better at the sleep study, than at home?
#5
Comforting sad people. I'll literally just stand there and be like, "you .. .you want some water?"
#6
Small talk. I turn every casual conversation into an awkward dance of random facts and nervous laughter lol
#7
Sense of direction. I navigate around well due to memorization. I have no feeling of which way to go. I can get lost after using the restaurant bathroom easy.
Jeremy James 1 year ago
This is why I love living on the coast. If you get lost, just walk toward the ocean. When you get there, your choices are Right or Left.
#8
Handwriting. It doesn’t seem to matter how hard I try it always looks like a drunk spider has stood in ink and wandered across the page.
Edit: Not a Dr so please ignore any medical advice I give out
Ephemeral Mochi 1 year ago
my mom remarked that my chinese handwriting is better than my english handwriting 😆
#9
Parallel parking. It's like my car has a force field that repels itself from the curb I swear
#10
1. Socializing
2. Making new friends
3. Making small talk
4. Dancing
That last one sucks because I come from the DANCINGEST family. Every goddamn wedding it's a line of people trying to get me on the dance floor. Don't get me started on bachelorette weekends and the hours of clubbing they inevitably entail. People think I'm shy but I'm not, if I could dance I WOULD dance. I just have zero rhythm. I look like an injured cow having an epileptic fit when I try. So I don't subject myself, or others, to a public performance. I shouldn't be criticized for this. I should be THANKED.
#13
Breathing.
My lungs have collapsed twice to fatal levels. Spontaneous Pneumothorax.
I had to have surgery to permanently glue my left lung to the skin of my back.
I still occasionally feel them have "mini collapses" once or twice a year. But Anything less than 25% or so (I am not a doctor) can fix itself.
This makes strenuous activity, like going for a jog, a bit difficult. If I feel that familiar pain, everything stops for that day.
#15
I'm Filipino, I'm supposed to sing like an angel.
I'm part of the 10% of the population who cannot sing to save their life.
Pandasizing World Peace 1 year ago
Cannot come close to carrying a tune, just awful noises come from my vocal chords. If I forget myself and break into a TV show song, my compassionate cat runs up to my face in a panic, i'm sure, thinking I am suffering some horrific ailment. At church, I have learned to either sit in the front row so I'm singing into a wide open space, or I silently lip sync the words.
#16
Eating just one chip.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I'm good at eating just one bag of chips. Of course, it's a family-sized bag....
#17
Holding a conversation.
RamiRudolph 1 year ago
I'm bad at holding a conversion , but I'm even worse at starting one. I just never know what to say. Maybe I'm not made to talk.
#18
Making pancakes. I can cook otherwise, I can bake, but for whatever reason, I can’t make pancakes.
Jeremy James 1 year ago
The last time I made pancakes, it put my partner in the hospital. There was nothing wrong with the pancakes themselves; they were delicious. That was just the day we found out that he has type II diabetes now.
#19
Self-care.
Lydsylou (she/her) 1 year ago
I have a shower and might occasionally splash my face with some water but that's my limit. I own literally no skin care or makeup products. Shampoo, conditioner and body wash are the extent of my self care
#20
Throwing.
I can throw a ball, but not far or fast. Never been able to. I'm in good shape, I got a good build, but don't count on me to be QB in your football game or pitcher on a baseball team. Something about my arm I just can't get it very fast.
Ace 1 year ago
I used to play cricket for our local village team, twice awarded "fielder of the year", but everybody (on our team) knew that I could not throw the ball from the boundary. My reactions were sharp and I could run it down quickly, but there always needed to be someone half-way to the stumps to relay it back. But it's a brave batsman who takes another run when the ball is in the fielder's hands.
#21
Well, as my mom will tell you, in kindergarten I failed at skipping. They even put a note on my report card. So don't ask me to skip for you, I can't do it.
LizzieBoredom 1 year ago
They put a note in your report card about skipping at school, or skipping school?
#22
Studying
Pandasizing World Peace 1 year ago
I just don't have the attention span. Or a retention span either.
#23
Sewing
StumblingThroughLife 1 year ago
My knitting efforts are often labelled 'religious' ... as in (very, VERY) holey - although I can finger knit like a pro. :D
#24
Any DIY. I grew up with a father that could do anything and really well, electrics, plumbing, plastering, carpentry, mechanics, you name it. I can drill a hole in a wall, and that's about it.
Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
I can drill a hole...just not necessarily where I'm supposed to drill it.
#25
Cooking, like I'll literally mess up the most basic stuff. I even managed to burn instant noodles once lol
#26
Driving. 29, never learned.
Happy to be a wallflower 1 year ago
I mean, if you live in a place with good public transportation it doesn't matter
#27
Cutting anything in half,no matter how even it seems it will be, it ends up stupid.
#30
Swimming
Tucker Cahooter 1 year ago
Me too, embarrassing from a nation where 85% of us live close to the ocean and which thrives on winning swimming medals at the Olympics. I'm the sort of person who would even drown in the Dead Sea
#31
Peeling a hard boiled egg.
LizzieBoredom 1 year ago
Hold it under cold water (Please refer to Seinfeld episode about shrinkage).
#33
Reading an analog clock.
I am 30.
I am a teacher.
Edit to clarify: I know how it works. I can tell the time but I can't look at it and tell instantly. I have to go through a whole process, the same as when you're learning this. So it goes like this in my mind: okay, the big clock hand is at 6 so it's half, then look at the small one..
I taught myself how to read and write when I was 4 and have an iq of 124 but my brain won't let me tell how to read a clock instantly.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I couldn't either, until I took Spanish. Learning it in a different language sidestepped the crossed wires in my brain. After awhile, I was able to do it in English without having to translate first. A shame OP won't see this.
What do you think ?
OneHappyPuppy 1 year ago
I can't take a compliment. Like, I've no idea what to say or do except to give an awkward laugh and say thanks
Giraffy Window 1 year ago (edited)
I used to be uncomfortable accepting compliments until I decided to offer a harmless twinge of awkward back to balance the feelings. If they compliment me about a personality trait I smile brightly and say "Thanks!" Without trying to reciprocate (which is what used to make it TORTURE, because it felt forced and left me feeling insincere. I enjoy complimenting people when I'm not made to scramble for one) if they compliment a possession or a feature of mine, I respond "Thanks! I like it too!" It's lovely when they happily accept the response, and gratifying when they get that oh so slight look of having been put off tilt.
Load More Replies...
Ephemeral Mochi 1 year ago
1. staying awake during the day, 2. falling asleep at night. hell of a combo
Olli Hawk 1 year ago
Not sure if this counts but I just wanna be a part of the conversation- I take guitar lessons and my instructor tells me that I have some of the strongest strumming she’s seen in a student, I’m great at memorizing the songs and chords, but I suck at chord changes. I always have to pause and line up my fingers perfectly with the frets or else I feel like I’m not doing it right
Bec 1 year ago (edited)
Tying my shoes. I had a kind lady help me once at work (probably in my 20s, telling me to bring the second lace under rather than over, but it's tough to change habits. A recent pair of running shoes had laces that were kind of slick and I would have to stop multiple times to retie on a 2 mile walk. I bought a set of bungee stay set type laces and I LOVE them! I'm in my 40s.
kansasmagic 1 year ago
I have been told many times that I tie my shoes wrong. But my shoes stay on so I must be doing something right.
Load More Replies...
Justin Tyme 1 year ago (edited)
Tying Shoes. I was never good at it, so I wore loafers or velcro-closure shoes. There were some kinds of laced shoes I wanted, so I started making elastic shoelaces. I use upholstery thread to sew them secure so they will never need to be retied.
DeoManus Argentem 1 year ago
Little kids. I never know what to do with them - I don't sniff their hair like Joe Biden, or anything weird, but when holding them I tend to pet the hair on their head like I'm holding a pet, and throw a ball or toy for them to fetch or something if they're wandering around.
Annik Perrot 1 year ago
Even in my young and (somewhat) agile days, I never could learn to climb a rope. Not even a knotted one.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
That's not something I've ever had to attempt. I thought the stereotypical 'gym class' in US shows where they have to do it was an exaggeration!
Load More Replies...
Olli Hawk 1 year ago
Oh I have a better one- I suck at changing environments. Like I always go out of my way to take the same path home (example; id I stop at a gas station, I’ll spend more time going back to where the turn was so that I can have the exact same drive home that I always do), I feel uncomfortable eating food if it’s prepared a different way than usual, today I literally awkwardly asked someone to move out of “my seat” cause I felt uncomfortable sitting in a different seat, the other day I deadass started crying because I had to pick up my Prozac and it messed up my regular routine 😭 someone the other week suggested it might be sensory issues or autism and I can’t believe I pretty much went my whole life never considering that I might just be getting sensory overload
Pandapoo 1 year ago
Sheldon, is that you? Seriously, you should seek help though. Wishing you the best.
Load More Replies...
Steve Kenney 1 year ago
Some of this is people believing that they can't so any time they try they've already convinced themselves it won't turn out well so it doesn't. Some of it is people just not caring enough to try to do it because it's not important to them. If these skills are important to you then you may need longer to learn them or a different way of learning, not everyone learns the same way.
AJay 1 year ago
I am really bad at tying my shoelaces, or any type of knot. I am not a young child but I still have to go slowly and make two loops like how you are first taught. I also struggle with hand writing, understanding clocks, touchscreens and using a trackpad on a compute. I am an adult, I should be able to do these things and it really annoys me.
Pittsburgh rare 1 year ago
I can't make white rice. I can otherwise cook way more complicated things. But not while rice (actually, sny kind of rice). Will have to purchase one of those specific cookers.
OneHappyPuppy 1 year ago
I can't take a compliment. Like, I've no idea what to say or do except to give an awkward laugh and say thanks
Giraffy Window 1 year ago (edited)
I used to be uncomfortable accepting compliments until I decided to offer a harmless twinge of awkward back to balance the feelings. If they compliment me about a personality trait I smile brightly and say "Thanks!" Without trying to reciprocate (which is what used to make it TORTURE, because it felt forced and left me feeling insincere. I enjoy complimenting people when I'm not made to scramble for one) if they compliment a possession or a feature of mine, I respond "Thanks! I like it too!" It's lovely when they happily accept the response, and gratifying when they get that oh so slight look of having been put off tilt.
Load More Replies... Ephemeral Mochi 1 year ago
1. staying awake during the day, 2. falling asleep at night. hell of a combo
Olli Hawk 1 year ago
Not sure if this counts but I just wanna be a part of the conversation- I take guitar lessons and my instructor tells me that I have some of the strongest strumming she’s seen in a student, I’m great at memorizing the songs and chords, but I suck at chord changes. I always have to pause and line up my fingers perfectly with the frets or else I feel like I’m not doing it right
Bec 1 year ago (edited)
Tying my shoes. I had a kind lady help me once at work (probably in my 20s, telling me to bring the second lace under rather than over, but it's tough to change habits. A recent pair of running shoes had laces that were kind of slick and I would have to stop multiple times to retie on a 2 mile walk. I bought a set of bungee stay set type laces and I LOVE them! I'm in my 40s.
kansasmagic 1 year ago
I have been told many times that I tie my shoes wrong. But my shoes stay on so I must be doing something right.
Load More Replies... Justin Tyme 1 year ago (edited)
Tying Shoes. I was never good at it, so I wore loafers or velcro-closure shoes. There were some kinds of laced shoes I wanted, so I started making elastic shoelaces. I use upholstery thread to sew them secure so they will never need to be retied.
DeoManus Argentem 1 year ago
Little kids. I never know what to do with them - I don't sniff their hair like Joe Biden, or anything weird, but when holding them I tend to pet the hair on their head like I'm holding a pet, and throw a ball or toy for them to fetch or something if they're wandering around.
Annik Perrot 1 year ago
Even in my young and (somewhat) agile days, I never could learn to climb a rope. Not even a knotted one.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
That's not something I've ever had to attempt. I thought the stereotypical 'gym class' in US shows where they have to do it was an exaggeration!
Load More Replies... Olli Hawk 1 year ago
Oh I have a better one- I suck at changing environments. Like I always go out of my way to take the same path home (example; id I stop at a gas station, I’ll spend more time going back to where the turn was so that I can have the exact same drive home that I always do), I feel uncomfortable eating food if it’s prepared a different way than usual, today I literally awkwardly asked someone to move out of “my seat” cause I felt uncomfortable sitting in a different seat, the other day I deadass started crying because I had to pick up my Prozac and it messed up my regular routine 😭 someone the other week suggested it might be sensory issues or autism and I can’t believe I pretty much went my whole life never considering that I might just be getting sensory overload
Pandapoo 1 year ago
Sheldon, is that you? Seriously, you should seek help though. Wishing you the best.
Load More Replies... Steve Kenney 1 year ago
Some of this is people believing that they can't so any time they try they've already convinced themselves it won't turn out well so it doesn't. Some of it is people just not caring enough to try to do it because it's not important to them. If these skills are important to you then you may need longer to learn them or a different way of learning, not everyone learns the same way.
AJay 1 year ago
I am really bad at tying my shoelaces, or any type of knot. I am not a young child but I still have to go slowly and make two loops like how you are first taught. I also struggle with hand writing, understanding clocks, touchscreens and using a trackpad on a compute. I am an adult, I should be able to do these things and it really annoys me.
Pittsburgh rare 1 year ago
I can't make white rice. I can otherwise cook way more complicated things. But not while rice (actually, sny kind of rice). Will have to purchase one of those specific cookers.
Related on Bored Panda
