Improve Your Problem-Solving in 15 Minutes a Day, Dads
This is a contributed post.
You’ve got a lot to do every day, dad, from your job to your kids and partner. You also need to take time for yourself, too. Finding time for everything involves maintaining a balance. You work hard to try to keep that balance, and some days are easier than others. On any given day, you might have work deadlines, answer school emails, and help your kids feel better when they’re emotional.
You often need to make quick decisions with limited time and energy. You’re problem-solving multiple times a day, especially given that plans can change so quickly. Making faster, more confident decisions can prevent mental fatigue and help you keep moving forward. Thankfully, problem-solving is a skill you can work on improving, in as little as 15 minutes a day, dad.
Games for Better Strategic Thinking
Can playing games be helpful? Yes. This answer may surprise you, especially if you’re used to thinking of gaming as something only for entertainment purposes. Along with being fun, strategy games can challenge your brain in new ways. Classic games like Backgammon online require probability thinking, planning, and decision-making. You have to think several moves ahead, at least if you want to win the competition. Essentially, you’re exercising your mind so that real-life decisions are easier to make. The game sessions can be fast, too, so it only takes a small part of your day. Plus, the distraction can also be a great mental break in the middle of a stressful day.
Do Simple Mental Challenges
Riddles and logic puzzles are examples of quick mental challenges you can do at any time of the day. They require your brain to slow down, something that can otherwise be hard to do as a busy parent. You’ll have to focus and think intentionally, something that’s often required when there’s a problem at work or home, or when you have to make a decision on the fly. Try solving a logic puzzle or focusing on a riddle. It’s not that they’re difficult, but instead that they require you to focus and analyze problems. This activity can be done almost anywhere, like waiting for the kids to finish practice.
Exercise and Problem-Solving
Physical activity can challenge the mind, too. Staying fit is important for any dad; it gives you more energy and helps clear your mind. That means removing negative thoughts and staying focused. It’s easier said than done when the kids are fighting amongst themselves! Going for a short walk, run, or stretching gets your body moving, which increases your heart rate and your brain gets more oxygen. That makes it easier to organize thoughts, see situations more clearly, and solve problems. It could be as simple as taking a 10-15-minute walk around the neighborhood or doing a few push-ups.
Try to Learn Something New Every Day
As you already know very well, you’re juggling a lot of things and have many responsibilities. So, when I tell you that learning something new is a good idea, you’re likely feeling even more weight on your shoulders. Thankfully, this valuable activity doesn’t take long, and the rewards of doing so are well worth it. Small daily learning habits are an easy way to stay mentally sharp without adding any stress. It doesn’t have to be taking a course or reading a long book. Even briefly learning a new skill or idea forces your brain to adapt, which improves problem-solving. Why? Because it trains you to approach challenges from different viewpoints instead of using the same patterns. Perhaps you’ll read a short article today or watch a “how it works” video.
Reflecting on Your Decisions
Looking back on decisions, both recent ones and those a long time ago, can help you become better at problem-solving, too. Rather than spending all day thinking about what you feel that you did wrong, take a few minutes to step back and reflect on how you solved something. In just 3-5 minutes, you can think about one challenge you faced. It could be something small, like how you handled a tough conversation at work, or something bigger, like the way you taught your child about responsibility. Ask yourself questions to improve how you handle challenges today, such as “What decision did I make?” and “What worked, and what didn’t?”
Journaling Can Help You, Too
You might get insights into your decision-making behaviors that you didn’t expect while journaling. The following exercise can help. Simply write down some issues you’re having and ways to possibly solve them. Don’t judge the ideas; instead, write them down as they come to mind. Take up to ten minutes for this activity any day when you feel it will help you brainstorm solutions. Writing down the problems on paper can organize your thoughts and spark ideas for how to fix them, while free writing the solutions encourages you to get creative. You’re strengthening your problem-solving skills with this simple activity, and you don’t have to set aside a big block of time in the day to do it.
Conclusion: Better Problem-Solving Starts Today
Sleep is also important for making smart decisions! So, don’t be tempted to skimp on sleep because of recent problems, dad. You will find it harder to think clearly when you’re tired, which only hurts your problem-solving abilities. A short nap during the day could improve your memory, as could going to bed around the same time each night.
When it comes to your busiest days, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed and wonder how you can fit in any mental exercises. Thankfully, just 15 minutes a day is all it takes to significantly improve problem-solving. Doing a mix of the activities described above, such as playing games, physical activity, and reflecting on decisions, can make a positive difference.
These small daily activities can make you mentally stronger and better able to take on future challenges. That helps you and your family enjoy a better quality of life, so it’s definitely worth the short time it takes. You don’t need hours in the day; just a short period of time counts.
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