You don't have to be as good as Leonardo DaVinci or Albert Einstein to think like a genius. There are many ways to increase creativity and hone critical thinking skills. Let the mind wander without judging it. Question whether conventional wisdom is correct and try to expand knowledge, instead of just memorizing. Form good habits, for example by writing down ideas and balancing rest and work. Make the most of your time to study. Keep your brain healthy by eating nutritious foods and getting an adequate night's sleep. Imagine that you've become a genius, instead of considering yourself less good.
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Method 1 of 3: Have a Creative Mindset
Step 1. Let the mind wander without judging your ideas
Take time to imagine each day by seeking inspiration, visualizing, or reflecting on life experiences. Don't judge or evaluate the thoughts that come to you even if they seem strange. You are free to imagine as you wish.
- For example, imagine that you see a city floating thousands of meters above sea level. Don't think this is impossible and stop imagining. Instead, imagine in detail the life of the people there, the technology that keeps cities afloat in the sky, and the means of transportation used to travel to and from Earth. Maybe you have a brilliant idea to write a novel or create a new technology!
- You can listen to music or white noise while imagining. Soothing sounds can boost creativity, as long as they're not too loud.
Step 2. Get in the habit of critical thinking and question conventional wisdom
Sometimes, traditional mindsets keep great ideas from coming. So come up with new ideas and apply methods that people overlook. Instead of taking information at face value, ask questions and be critical to make sure it's correct.
Receiving information without verifying it just because it is declared correct by an authority figure is not a good way of learning. If someone says something must be true, think of other possibilities
Step 3. Use diagrams and pictures to visualize the problem
Albert Einstein often used pictures and imagination to solve problems. When you have a complicated problem or your mind is confused, use visual tools to find the best solution.
Flow charts, fishbone diagrams, Venn diagrams, and mind maps are great visual tools for gathering information and understanding how information is related
Step 4. Develop creative skills, instead of just memorizing
Benjamin Bloom, a psychologist, created the scheme "Bloom's Taxonomy" which groups thinking abilities into 6 levels. According to the latest version, the lowest thinking ability is memorizing information and the highest is creating something new. These schemes remind you to use your mind to come up with new products, instead of just memorizing information.
For example, when you read a short story, you remember the details of the story, understand the plot, and imagine the motives for the actions of certain characters. To be more useful, determine your behavior that needs to change and reflect the moral message in the story. If you put your thinking skills to the best of your ability, you may be able to create your own work, such as a song or poem that tells the story in a different style
Method 2 of 3: Forming Good Habits
Step 1. Take time to relax so that the subconscious mind works
Set aside about hour to relax so that the conscious mind can rest, for example while playing solitaire, meditating, or doing other activities that don't require much thinking.
The subconscious mind can come up with innovative ideas if you let your conscious mind rest even if it's not intentional
Step 2. Be a productive person
You cannot produce anything useful if you remain silent. Instead, do productive activities every day so that you become a genius in your field of interest.
- If you want to become a professional musician, practice playing an instrument as often as possible. If you want to be a famous novelist, write a story every day. Thomas Edison said, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration."
- Apply the very useful 10,000 hour guideline. You have to practice regularly as often as possible in order to be good at something. However, people who practice regularly do not necessarily become proficient. If you have a natural talent, try to develop the talent as much as possible.
Step 3. Write down your ideas
Take time to write a journal every day. Prepare notes and ballpoint pens so you can immediately jot down spontaneous ideas for further development.
Usually, spontaneous ideas can't be formulated yet, but you don't forget them if you write them down right away. A few days later, you may want to discuss and think about it further. It could be that the idea is a source of inspiration for creating art, creating new inventions, or providing solutions to problems at work, school, or in personal life
Step 4. Build a network with many people
There is a myth that geniuses prefer to be alone. Unfortunately, you can't seek inspiration and generate innovation if you shut yourself down. Regular conversations with friends, family members, coworkers, and mentors can broaden your horizons and provide input for developing ideas.
Make new friends with different backgrounds. Open up a conversation with new friends while on the move at school or work. Volunteer or join a community to make new friends
Step 5. Get in the habit of walking regularly
In addition to playing sports, walking outdoors or using a treadmill enhances creative thinking skills. In addition, creative ideas continue to flow even after you've finished exercising.
Walking 30 minutes a day is useful for maintaining physical and mental health. If you're stuck or hopeless, take a 30-minute walk, then get back to work
Method 3 of 3: Improving Thinking Ability
Step 1. Find out your learning style
Some people are easier to understand lessons using the sense of sight, while others use the sense of hearing. While studying at school, at work, or at home, observe learning styles that make it easier for you to understand information.
- For example, you may have trouble remembering information that was explained orally or displayed on a slide. However, when a teacher teaches you how to do something, you understand better by practicing it right away, instead of listening to an explanation or watching him do it.
- Before your mentor or private tutor starts teaching, tell them how to convey information that will make it easier for you to understand the material being explained.
- When studying independently, choose a medium, such as a YouTube video or podcast that suits your learning style.
Step 2. Learn the knowledge of varied topics
This step helps you broaden your horizons about things. Take advantage of the various sources of information available on websites, such as documentaries or articles on how to do things. When studying knowledge in several disciplines, try to find out how they relate to each other.
- For example, you are watching a documentary about the formation of a tornado. You think that tornadoes look like galaxies so you want to study the physical laws that explain tornadoes and galaxies. Study the first topic as a basis for understanding the second topic and then try to find out how it relates.
- Choose sources of information that suit your learning style. If you find it easier to understand lessons using visual media, watch documentaries and study tutorials on Netflix or YouTube. If it's easier for you to understand the lesson through the listener's senses, play a podcast, such as StarTalk, TEDTalks, or Radiolab.
Step 3. Take the time to read as much as possible
Although you can use a variety of media for learning, don't underestimate written information. Reading is useful for improving the ability to imagine, concentrate, and think critically.
If you don't like reading thick novels, buy a collection of short stories. In addition, make it a habit to read newspapers, essays, poetry, or magazines (such as science, technology, or art magazines)
Step 4. Take care of your physical health
Thinking is an activity that drains a lot of energy. Therefore, make sure you adopt a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get a good night's sleep every day. You have trouble concentrating and coming up with new ideas if you don't take care of your physical health.
- Find out your daily nutritional needs, recipes, and other information through MyPlate:
- Take time to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, such as walking, running, or cycling.
