For example, suppose you start thinking about a cloud city that hovers hundreds of feet in the air. Don’t just judge it as impossible and stop thinking about it. Imagine details like how the people there live, how the city manages to stay in the sky, and how people get to the city from the ground. You might come up with a great idea for a novel or even a new technology! You can also put on some music while you let your mind wander. As long as it’s not too loud, ambient noise can help encourage creativity. [2] X Research source
Blindly accepting something just because an authority figure says it’s true isn’t a good way to learn. When someone tells you something is absolutely true all of the time, try to imagine exceptions to the rule. Critical thinking isn’t about compliance. Instead, it’s about asking yourself “what do I actually think about this,” and analyzing the quality of thinking that other people are doing. [4] X Expert Source Jai FlickerAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
Flowcharts, thought bubbles, venn diagrams, and mind maps are great visual tools. They can help you organize information and spot connections between concepts that you might not have noticed.
Suppose you read a short story. You remember a detail about the story, understand the plot, and speculate why a character did something. To dig deeper, you consider how you would do something differently and evaluate the story’s moral. At the deepest level of thinking, you use what you’ve learned to produce something of your own, like a song or poem that tells the story in a different way. [8] X Research source
Even though you’re not aware of it, giving your conscious mind a break can give your subconscious some room to make innovative connections. [10] X Research source
If you want to be an exceptional musician, practice your instrument as much as possible. If you want to be a great novelist, try to write a story every day. As Thomas Edison said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. ”[12] X Research source Consider the well-known 10,000 hour rule. In order to master something, you need lots of regular, deliberate practice. It doesn’t mean anyone can do anything if they practice long enough. Rather, if you have a natural ability, you need to work hard at honing your talent. [13] X Research source
Even if a random thought isn’t totally formed, writing it down will help you keep it in mind instead of just forgetting about it. Given some time, you might mull it over and bring it into focus. Eventually, it could turn into an inspiration for a work of art, an invention, or a solution to a problem at work, school, or in your personal life.
Do your best to socialize with people outside of your comfort zone. Try starting a conversation with someone at work or school whom you don’t know very well. You could also volunteer or join a new club or activity to meet new people.
A daily 30 minute walk is great for your physical and mental health. If you’ve hit a wall and have a mental block, try going for a 30 minute walk, then go back to your work.
For instance, you might find that information “goes in one ear and out the other” when you can’t read along or see visual aids. When someone teaches you how to do something, you might find it easier to learn by doing that task instead of hearing about it. When someone tries to teach you something, let them know how to present information in a way you can digest. When learning on your own, go for media, such as YouTube videos or podcasts, that fit your learning style.
You can find your daily nutrition requirements, recipe tips, and other resources on MyPlate: https://www. fns. usda. gov/tn/myplate. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Try walking, running, or riding your bike.
For example, suppose you watch a documentary about how hurricanes form. You might think to yourself that a hurricane looks like a galaxy and wonder about how the laws of physics shape things like hurricanes and galaxies. Look for connections and let one topic lead you to another. Remember to tailor educational resources to your learning style. If you’re a visual learner, documentaries and guides on Netflix and YouTube could be great options. If your ears are great at soaking up information, listen to podcasts, like StarTalk, TEDTalks, or Radiolab.
If you’re not interested in reading a long novel, pick up a book of short stories. Try reading the newspaper, essays, poetry, or magazines (such as science, technology, or arts publications).
