Many people reference the idea that critical thinking is
an important skill to develop, but it’s not too often you hear exactly how it
affects your life and relationships. Critical thinking isn’t some vague,
far-off, unattainable talent some people are simply born with. It’s a skill you
can hone through practice and mindfulness, and it will shape both the simple,
everyday moments of your life and the substantial, complex parts as well. The
benefits of practicing critical thinking are apparent in different ways
depending on your career or personality, but the impact is overwhelmingly
present nonetheless.
Learn to Think Quickly Under Pressure
Regardless of the hobbies, jobs, or social situations
you find yourself partaking in, you will undoubtedly be put under a certain
amount of pressure. The stress will manifest itself in different ways depending
on the scenario, but it elicits the same feelings of anxiety that can potentially
reduce your quality of performance. As an athlete, you’re responsible for
gaining momentum against your opponent and leading your team to victory; at a
job, you have deadlines to meet and a standard of quality of work you must
maintain. The benefit of practicing critical thinking is developing the ability
to thrive under pressure, whether from an authority figure or a time
restriction. Critical thinking will allow you to process events clearly in the
midst of stress and tension, which is a feat not many have accomplished.
Experience
Relational Benefits
Whether you’re exploring a romantic relationship,
building a friendship, or improving familial ties, you’re going to be doing a
great deal of critical thinking and problem-solving. These skills determine how
you handle conflict between you and the people in your life because you’ll be
able to analyze the issue at hand and understand the best way to remedy it.
Arguments and disputes are unavoidable parts of interpersonal relations and
communication, but they’re how we grow as humans both independently and
together. Practicing this skillset will give you the confidence to face
conflicts head-on and not shy away from tension. Critical thinking will also
allow you to viewromantic relationships more intelligently. By doing so, you
can get to know your (potential) significant other better, as well as assess
the compatibility between the two of you.
Enhance Valuable Workplace Skills
Many jobs require you to bring a certain amount of
creativity and other critical thinking skills to the table in order to stand
out in whatever position you hold. Both corporate and entry-level employees
must be able to benefit their superiors, and the best way to do so is by
performing your duties efficiently and introducing innovative ideas to the
company. Practicing critical thinking will give you the skills to excel in time
management, organization, and forward thinking. This, along with the ability to
curate unique strategies and ideas, will set you apart from other employees and
garner respect from coworkers and management alike. Critical thinking is your
ticket to confidence, flexibility, and success in the workplace, making upward
mobility more realistic for you no matter what your job title is.
Keep a Fresh Perspective
You will periodically stumble into phases of life
where you have to make decisions affecting your present and future self. These
decisions have the potential to be the most stressful and frustrating decisions
to make. Therefore, it takes a great deal of critical thinking in order to
choose the right path for you and to be empowered in the decision you make.
When big trials or opportunities arise that could change the course of your
future, critical thinking will allow you to evaluate every possible solution
and outcome. By investing in this skill, you will also be able to set long-term
goals for yourself, as well as create and maintain a vision for your future.
Though the plans we make hardly ever work out the way we expect them to,
critical thinking allows you to be flexible with wherever life takes you and
move forward in confidence despite any setbacks.
Practice Constructive Self-Betterment
Yes, this piece of advice may sound cliché and
therefore off-putting. However, self-improvement is imperative to maturation
and quality of life. Inward-directed critical thinking is how this type of
improvement can be achieved. It’s easy to conduct a critical analysis of
someone else’s life, status, or mannerisms, or to direct your assessment toward
concrete, external subjects. However, once you are able to utilize critical
thinking to evaluate your own motivations, goals, and habits, you can take
steps to determine what you should do to improve your lifestyle and,
ultimately, be happier.
Practicing critical thinking will encourage you to
examine yourself so you can improve areas of your life and establish routines
to create healthier physical and mental habits. A tip for beginners is to be
mindful of the thought patterns you have throughout the day, and especially
when you’re alone. Notice the way you speak or think about yourself and others,
reflect on your instinctive motivations about those thoughts, and go into the
next day focused on improving them.
Where to Practice Critical Thinking
It’s evident that practicing critical thinking can
open innumerable doors for you and can create an opportunity for growth. Now
the question is, how exactly does one practice this skill? There are many fun
ways to put your critical thinking to the test, such as playing a sport or
trying an improv class. Or, to start yourself off small, you can download apps
such as Elevate and Lumosity to help you exercise your brain and lay the
groundwork for more critical thinking practices.
There is one activity in particular that exercises and
improves all facets of critical thinking – and that is an escape room. When
you’re forced to work with other people under the pressure of a timer to solve
an array of puzzles and challenges, this is the perfect environment to hone
your critical thinking skills. If you want to reap the benefits of practicing
critical thinking, visit EscapeWorks
Denver and put yourself to the test! Make sure to check out
the available
escape rooms and book your visit today!
