Ways to improve long term critical thinking/planning?

[slackerinabox]

So I've had this problem and, maybe it's the New Year, would love to hear what the hive mind thinks. It may be a learning disability (I've been diagnosed, but a diagnosis to use is a crutch is pretty useless) or it may just be bad parenting (my father's a fantastic strategic thinker but I was raised by babysitters) or maybe I'm just an idiot, but I operate very much on in the "spectacular now," meaning I'm working and planning reacting to what my day brings. Not only does it mean that I suck at checkers, but it makes my job (in sales, which I love) unnecessarily difficult - instead of building a stable business plan I'm focusing on "crushing deals" and am always driven by a panic like reactionary state. it works in bursts, but leads to instability and extreme highs and lows (and stress!). I know the most successful people have 5, 10, 50 year .. plans, but how to get there? I think a lot of my problems from improved but still difficult finances to my waistline can be traced to this lack of discipline and the lack of a plan, but where to start?

thank you for sharing your experiences!

 

[highland145]

1st, change your user name or step outside....

2nd, which may not help with your planning but you mentioned the stressful job, track down a Johnson Oconnor or similar place for aptitude testing. They test to figure out how your brain works. You might love sales but you may not geared for it. You might want to be an engineer but your brain may not work that way. A career in your wheelhouse is one of the goals. And testing 10 years later should yield the same results because that's the way you're wired.

Read some of the reviews. "No wonder I hate my job of 20 years."

https://www.jocrf.org/sites/jocrf.org/files/assets/Understanding_Your_Aptitudes.pdf

One of my kid's highest scores was observation...so the twerp knows his room is a pigsty. He just doesn't care.

Edit: One of the tests determines your foresight/planning.

 

[Fritzo]

So I've had this problem and, maybe it's the New Year, would love to hear what the hive mind thinks. It may be a learning disability (I've been diagnosed, but a diagnosis to use is a crutch is pretty useless) or it may just be bad parenting (my father's a fantastic strategic thinker but I was raised by babysitters) or maybe I'm just an idiot, but I operate very much on in the "spectacular now," meaning I'm working and planning reacting to what my day brings. Not only does it mean that I suck at checkers, but it makes my job (in sales, which I love) unnecessarily difficult - instead of building a stable business plan I'm focusing on "crushing deals" and am always driven by a panic like reactionary state. it works in bursts, but leads to instability and extreme highs and lows (and stress!). I know the most successful people have 5, 10, 50 year .. plans, but how to get there? I think a lot of my problems from improved but still difficult finances to my waistline can be traced to this lack of discipline and the lack of a plan, but where to start?

thank you for sharing your experiences!

You can train yourself to do this with one simple step: For every action, think two steps ahead.

For example, some people will think "I'm hungry! I'm going to eat a Whopper from Burger King!"

Two steps ahead: "I'm going to eat a Whopper...but I never feel good after eating something that big. Maybe I'll get a grilled chicken sandwich from Chic-fil-a instead."

This is a simplistic example, but critical thinking involves considering the extended results of any decision. If you force yourself to do this, you'll eventually do it naturally. This manner of thinking leads to longer term planning and goals...and in a sense you'll be able to see the future. If you know what's coming, you can prepare for it and you'll be more comfortable.

 

[sdifox]

You can train yourself to do this with one simple step: For every action, think two steps ahead.

For example, some people will think "I'm hungry! I'm going to eat a Whopper from Burger King!"

Two steps ahead: "I'm going to eat a Whopper...but I never feel good after eating something that big. Maybe I'll get a grilled chicken sandwich from Chic-fil-a instead."

This is a simplistic example, but critical thinking involves considering the extended results of any decision. If you force yourself to do this, you'll eventually do it naturally. This manner of thinking leads to longer term planning and goals...and in a sense you'll be able to see the future. If you know what's coming, you can prepare for it and you'll be more comfortable.

Wtfbbq necro

 

[Fritzo]

Wtfbbq necro

Every post is a necro now, so I just learned to play along!

 

[zinfamous]

I find that large amounts of alcohol helps.

 

[olds]