What do you do if your critical thinking and problem solving skills need a boost?

While I try not to focus too much on "What could I've done differently?" sometimes wondering about what I'd wish I'd known before is helpful to decide on what I want to learn. The first time someone asked me about my approach to troubleshooting, I remember my mind being completely blank and feeling a little bit embarrassed that I didn't have an answer. Introspective is often awkward, we don't like negative feedback even if it comes from ourselves, but the first step to finding your path is admitting you're lost.

I'm a very analytical person, having a name, a unit of measure and a method is something I care about deeply. I've read two books that helped me better understand myself "Atomic Habits, by James Clear" and "Think Again, by Adam Grant". Atomic Habits helps me when I want to include something new in my routine (or rather eliminate something) and I try to apply its principles to give me ideas of how I can apply these steps (Read this book, is amazing!) Think again gave me this idea of trying to question myself about my ides, not in a negative way, nor looking to sabotage myself, just keep asking myself a "what if..." I guess, the more you read about different perspectives, the more alternatives you can generate for yourself.

I've developed a thing for tracking my finances and it became a habit to make sure to know where I'm standing. As the wannabe statistician that I am I started plotting some of the things that got my attention and noticed I was able to improve some things. This applies to everything. Tracking is the cornerstone of keeping things in control, you can not, nor should you try to control what you can't measure. The only way to know how you're doing is to be actively aware of what you're doing.

Read widely. Expand your knowledge base by reading a variety of materials. Wide perspectives and ideas can enhance your critical thinking skills. Develop a curious mindset and ask questions to deepen your understanding of topics or situations. Collaborate with colleagues, reflect on past experiences or challenges, and identify effective strategies, and consider how to apply them in future situations.

When focusing on yourself most people say "don't be too harsh" and I agree, but also, don't be too soft. For both personal and professional goals, it has helped me to use the SMART methodology when setting my objectives. If I want to learn something, I better set it to be: - specific: what do I want to learn? - measurable: how will I know when I do better? - attainable: how realistic is what I want right now? - relevant: what's the actual impact of learning this? - time based: when do I want to have this done? So, don't be too harsh on yourself, but only you can keep yourself in track, so don't be too soft either: set goals, set methods, set dates and go for it!