Nowadays, thinking logically has become an essential ability for a modern person. It could be applied in a wide range of situations that vary from those people encounter at work and through daily life. In the every sphere of the life, a person faces a set of options and needs to choose the best one or eliminate the worst one. With the intuition being of a little help here, one ought to rely solely on the logic to work out the solution of how to be a logical thinker.
Logical thinking is not an inherited ability but rather a skill that can be, and should be, developed. Therefore, methods that may help one become a logical thinker include the following:
- Using logical exercises.
- Acquiring logical thinking patterns.
- Improving lifestyle habits.
To begin with, logical exercises are twofold parts in a sense that they aim at training memory and stimulating critical thinking in a person. Therefore, they provide a base for further developments of the logic. The memory can be trained by creating memory maps and training progressive memorization. Memory maps is a fun way to teach a brain to form logical memory chains. It is possible to draw a memory map of a route from home to school or university. Besides, progressive memorization encompasses remembering some pieces of information every day. It may be the grocery list or a household checklist. The trick is to progressively memorize more and more information and, importantly, to keep it playful. Additionally, one may utilize various games, such as sudoku or crossword puzzles, which stimulate one to think strategically and, consequently, logically.
Then, if one wants to adhere to logical thinking, the theoretical pillars of logic must be explored. Inductive and deductive reasoning are the two well-known types of logical thinking. Inductive reasoning starts with a number of cases and draws a general conclusion from them. The deductive reasoning, on the other hand, relies on making a conclusion based on the generalizations, or premises. The illustration of the latter may be the following: “Humans can walk, therefore, Arnold (an arbitrary name) can walk”. However, one should be conscious of the fallacies, logical mistakes, that emerge if the line of reasoning ceased to be rational. For instance, the statement, “If Arnold can walk, humans can walk” is a logical fallacy because there are a number of people who cannot walk. In short, being aware of types of logical reasoning will benefit one’s critical thinking. Yet, one should converse original logical statements with caution so that the flaws in logic do not appear.
Lastly, the often overlooked trick to acquire logical thinking is having healthy lifestyle habits. The way of life has an enormous effect on physical, psychological, and, last but not least, mental well-being. At first, exercising is a great brain refresher. It allows a brain to rewire and “clean the garbage” by focusing on the physical activity rather than a mental one. Sleeping is not less important than exercising. Getting late into bed or pulling an all-nighter tremendously hampers the brain function because while humans sleep, brain renews itself. Therefore, no less than a 7- or 8-hour sleep is a must for a clear mind. Next, eating habits may support as well as undermine brain function, which is highly important for developing logical reasoning. It is a well-recognized fact that foods rich in fiber, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are the most beneficial for expanding brain capacity. The so-called ‘brain foods’ include fish, flaxseed, legumes, brown rice, almonds and walnuts, bananas, and avocados. Additionally, drinking no less than two liters of water is essential for healthy brain function. One will quickly spot the positive difference in how fast the brain works if the useful food is included into the diet.
On the whole, logical thinking is not determined by one’s biology but rather by one’s determination. Indeed, one is able to teach the brain to think logically. In order to do that, one can train the brain’s memory and use logical exercises, like sudoku or crossword. Besides, one should be aware of types of logical reasoning and logical fallacies, and utilize the knowledge in daily life. Lastly, enhancing lifestyle habits tremendously benefits brain functioning, which, inevitably, impacts one’s capacity to be a logical thinker.
