It is possible to have high reasoning skills in work, school, and relationships.There are ways to improve your reasoning skills.Work on altering your thought patterns, learn to recognize irrational thoughts, and engage in activities that encourage critical thought.
Step 1: Try new things.
Keeping trying new things is a great way to improve reasoning skills.The mind is the same as any other muscle.It requires physical activity and stimulation.Try out new hobbies and activities on a regular basis.Pick activities that are very different.If you already enjoy hiking, learn to crochet instead.Try to do crossword puzzles in your spare time if you're big into crafts and working with your hands.If possible, take classes.Taking a pottery class or poetry class at a local community center is a great way to challenge your brain and encourage you to try new things.
Step 2: Exercise.
There is an effect on memory and thinking from physical exercise.The parts of the brain responsible for thinking and reasoning are bigger in people who exercise.Exercise makes it easier to concentrate and learn because it reduces stress and anxiety.Regular physical activity can be incorporated into your day-to-day routine.This can improve critical thinking skills.Aerobic exercise is more helpful to mental stimulation than any other form of exercise, according to some research.
Step 3: There is a journal.
Critical thinking skills can be improved by daily journaling.Journaling encourages reflection and thought.It's an active endeavor to write.It forces you to think outside the box.A journal that details your day, your feelings, and anything you thought about throughout the day can make you a more aware person.This can lead to better reasoning skills.Journal every day.As you would brushing your teeth, showering, and eating dinner, schedule regular journaling time into your day-to-day life.Scheduling journal time after an activity will make it easier to remember to keep up with your journal.
Step 4: You can read fiction.
Reading improves critical thinking.You can be more comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity with fiction.This can lead to more thinking and creativity.The focus on character in fiction can make you more insightful about other perspectives.This can help you understand the cultures, belief systems, and skill sets of those around you.You may be able to empathise with those around you as you have a greater capacity for reasoning.Reading fiction reduces black and white thinking.People who read fiction over time may have more sophisticated thought patterns as they are able to navigate and accept ambiguity in a variety of situations.
Step 5: You can play games that require reasoning skills.
There are a lot of games that require you to reason.Reasoning skills are helped by games like chess and word games.There are board games that rely on more than just look.Decision making is a key part of strategy games.If you want to play games that require thought and attention, schedule a regular game night with friends.Critical thought is required for Clue and Risk.Scrabble and Boggle help you analyze information quickly.Reasoning skills are required for chess and checkers.Start a chess club.You can play games on your own.There are online card games that you can play alone.Purchase a cube and try to solve it.
Step 6: It is possible to create.
It is possible to improve reasoning skills by forcing yourself to create on a regular basis.If you force the mind to try new things, you can increase reasoning skills.Try to play an instrument.Take a picture.Write a poem.Write a short song.
Step 7: The purpose behind your actions is what you should pay attention to.
There is a purpose behind every decision you make.The demands of day-to-day life can cause people to lose track of their goals.You should be aware of the inherent purposes throughout the day.There are bigger goals at work or school.Where do you want to be in five years?Two years?One year?What are your current actions doing to serve this goal?Do your actions make sense?You can improve your reasoning skills by answering these questions.Make sure your actions are serving a purpose.People get caught up in the idea that something has to be done in a certain way or that they have to follow a particular path.Actions become unreasonable.When taking a certain action, try to keep the end in mind.
Step 8: Make a list of your biases.
Whether they are aware of them or not, everyone has biases.Try to identify your biases if you want to improve your reasoning skills.People tend to only consider a situation from one point of view.When dealing with an issue at work, school, or home ask yourself a few questions before taking action.What do you think about the situation?Why do I think this is true?What assumptions might I be making about the thoughts and ideas of others?It's important to be aware of your biases.If you have biases that obstruct your judgement, this can help.Asking a close friend about your gaps in thinking may be helpful.Ask a friend, "What are some ways I sometimes behave irrationally?"Ask for openness and honesty.
Step 9: Take into account the implications of your options.
There are consequences when you make a choice.One way to improve reasoning skills is to stop and think about the consequences on a conscious level.Use your imagination.Imagine a variety of possible outcomes before making a decision.What do you think about these outcomes?What is the worst case scenario?What is the best case scenario?What is likely to happen?Why?Do not ignore the opinions of others affected by your decision.Through a variety of angles, this can help you explore your decision.
Step 10: Don't watch for over-generalizations.
Many people generalize.This is not good for rational thinking.Try not to make over-generalizations in your day-to-day life.Over-generalizations see an event as proof that things have always been or always will be.If you do bad on a test, you may think, "I'm stupid and always fail at school."In making this statement, you are glossing over other academic success you have had in the past.A form of generalizing is all-or-nothing thinking.There are only one or two categories for things: good or bad, success or failure.The shades of gray are missing.You may see yourself as a failure if you get a mixed review of your performance at work.You are likely a competent worker with some areas that need improvement.Too much focus is placed on the bad aspects of a situation is a thought pattern that filters out positive.You can focus on the negative if 20 good things happen in a day followed by 1 bad thing.If you make a single mistake during a musical performance, but play perfectly, that's a good example.You could be tempted to make the performance a disaster.You are the only one who noticed the wrong note.
Step 11: Do not make assumptions.
People make assumptions about things.Unreasonable thinking can result from this.Be aware of any assumptions you make.People can engage in mind-reading.You make assumptions about what others think of you.It's not possible to know what another person is thinking without asking.You might think "I bet everyone thought I was an idiot in that meeting or that co-worker thinks I talk too much."Try to remember that you aren't as good at reading people's opinions as you think, if you notice yourself engaging in such thoughts.Fortune telling is when you think you know what will happen in the future.A defeatist attitude is what this can be."I'll never be able to stick to a diet and lose weight, I know I'm going to sound like an idiot during my presentation tomorrow."You can't know what will happen tomorrow or in the coming weeks.
Step 12: Don't think catastrophically.
Peopletrophize situations when they are upset or stressed.If you need to pay for car repairs one month, you might think you'll be bankrupt forever.You might decide you aren't destined for love if you get rejected.One misfortune is not indicative of things to come.
Step 13: Pay attention to how you read.
People subconsciously read situations in a way that is irrational.In day-to-day life, watch how you think.It's a tendency to put a name on a situation."This person made a bad choice" is an example.You can put people and situations into categories based on solitary instances.Don't categorize and avoid the temptation to judge.Personalization involves taking situations and other people's reactions personally.You may think a co-worker is mad at you if she doesn't stop to chat in the break room.She may be busy.Don't take situations personally.You hold yourself to an ideal.You may see someone else's success as proof of your shortcoming.Everyone is different and moves at a different pace.