Developing critical thinking is like training a muscle (your brain muscles!) – the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. Strong critical thinking skills help you make better decisions, solve problems efficiently, and understand issues from multiple perspectives.



In fact, critical thinking is so valuable that about three out of four employers say they want colleges to place more emphasis on teaching these skills.



We have talked with so many students aiming to sharpen their minds and that is such great ambition and self-awareness as we strive to keep bettering ourselves. But we know that someone looking to make more rational daily choices will also find tremendous value in crafting a more efficient critical thinking process for themselves. The world is confusing so we know the following critical thinking exercises can help.



These activities are simple, practical, and you can do many of them on your own or with a friend. Give them a try, and watch your mental agility and reasoning improve!



This article is for people already familiar with critical thinking as a concept, if you wish to understand what critical thinking is, here is an in-depth article.



7 Easy And Researched Backed Critical Thinking Exercises



1. The Five “Why’s”



Ask “Why?” five times in a row whenever you encounter a problem or statement. This classic exercise, known as the Five Whys, helps you dig deeper into the root cause of an issue. For example, if you find yourself rushing through an assignment, ask: “Why am I rushing?” Perhaps the answer is “Because I left it late.” Why was it late? “I underestimated how long it would take.” Why did that happen? “I didn’t break the task down,” and so on.



By the time you ask why five times (or as many times as it takes), you’ll uncover underlying causes rather than just surface symptoms. This trains you to go beyond the obvious and think more analytically about any situation.



2. Think from Different Perspectives



A great exercise to broaden your thinking is to reframe an issue from multiple viewpoints. Take a current event or a debate topic and try to consider it from the perspective of different stakeholders. For instance, if the issue is a new school policy, imagine how a student sees it, how a teacher sees it, and how a parent sees it.



What concerns or goals does each person have? This practice of perspective-taking expands your understanding and empathy. It challenges your brain to hold sometimes opposing viewpoints and consider their merits. By doing so, you’ll become more adept at understanding complex issues without jumping to one-sided conclusions – a key hallmark of critical thinking.



Are you familiar with the 90/100 rule? It suggests that on the internet, about 90% of people primarily consume content, while the rest interact and create it. On VersyTalks, we’ve found that this pattern is similar, but with a notable difference: around 25% of users eventually become creators themselves. Many start as consumers and gradually begin contributing content. As a result, the debates on VersyTalks are rich with diverse perspectives, helping you broaden your views, build empathy, and gain confidence through a more comprehensive understanding of the world.



3. “Devil’s Advocate” Debates



Playing Devil’s Advocate is an exercise where you intentionally argue against your own beliefs. Pick a topic you feel strongly about, and then try arguing the opposite side. You can do this solo by writing down arguments or, better yet, with a friend who takes the usual side while you take the opposite. This exercise forces you to examine the assumptions behind your stance and to recognize the valid points on the other side. It’s a bit uncomfortable – which is exactly why it’s so effective.



By challenging your own viewpoints, you reduce bias while escaping echo chambers and become a more flexible thinker. Plus, you might discover weaknesses in your original argument that you can now address or at least understand. This kind of role-reversal thinking is excellent preparation for real debates or discussions where encountering opposing views is inevitable.



We have many debates on social media, technology and ethics to get you started! Enjoy!



4. Mind Mapping for Ideas



Sometimes our thoughts are jumbled, and it’s hard to analyze a situation logically. Mind mapping is a visual exercise that can help. Start with a central idea or problem written in the middle of a page. Then, draw branches outward to subtopics, facts, or arguments related to it.



For example, if you’re trying to critically analyze the question “Should homework be optional for student well-being?”, write that in the center. Around it, you might branch out into “student well-being,” “learning outcomes,” “responsibility,” “free time,” etc., and under each, jot down what you know or think about those aspects. The mind map grows into a web of connected ideas.



This exercise helps you see the “big picture” and how various elements of an issue connect. It often reveals gaps in your knowledge (which you can then research) and prevents you from tunnel-vision on just one aspect of a complex issue. Having tunnel vision is the worst thing you can do for yourself, especially as you enter higher standard fields.



5. Daily Conclusion or “So What?” Challenge



This is a quick exercise you can integrate into everyday life. Whenever you read an article or watch a video, ask yourself: “So what’s the point?” Summarize the core message or conclusion in your own words. If someone presents an argument (in person or in media), mentally break it down: What is their conclusion, and what reasons or evidence did they give?



By regularly doing this “conclusion hunting”, you train your brain to actively process information rather than passively consume it. You’ll start to automatically extract key points and evaluate whether the supporting evidence is strong or if there are gaps. This habit not only improves critical thinking but also makes you a more engaged learner in general.



6. Engage in a Structured Online Debate

One of the most interactive ways in the modern era to sharpen critical thinking is to engage in a structured debate. Debating pushes you to think on your feet, respond to counterarguments, and articulate your reasoning clearly. You don’t need a formal debate club to do this – you can practice online. For example, platforms like VersyTalks offer daily debate topics where you can argue your stance on anything from ethics to pop culture.



By participating in online written debates (or even observing others’ debates), you exercise your ability to form logical arguments and spot weaknesses in opposing views. It’s like a workout for your brain: as you compile evidence, prioritize your points, and defend your position, you’ll find your critical thinking skills growing stronger. Debating is the most efficient and rewarding way to improve critical thinking, it is simply superb.



Bonus – it’s actually pretty fun, and you might learn something new from people with different perspectives.



7. Reflect and Journal Your Decisions



Critical thinking isn’t only about analyzing external issues; it’s also about examining your own decisions. Keep a decision journal for a week. Each day, write down one decision you made – big or small – and then analyze it. Why did you choose as you did? What was your thought process? Later, revisit these entries to see the outcomes of your decisions. Were your expectations correct? Did you overlook something?



This exercise of reflection turns your everyday experiences into lessons. Over time, you’ll notice patterns in your thinking – perhaps you realize that when pressed for time you accept the first solution, or that you tend to favor information that confirms what you already believe (a common bias). By identifying these patterns, you can work to improve them. This self-reflective exercise is powerful: it not only improves your critical thinking but also leads to better self-awareness and continuous personal growth.





What Results Should You Expect?



Within 3-6 months of practicing these exercises consistently, you will boost your critical thinking skills drastically. Just like physical exercise, mental exercise takes commitment – but the payoff is worth it. After incorporating an average of 3.5 to 7 hours a week, you’ll start noticing that you approach problems more systematically and with greater open-mindedness.



You’ll ask better questions and be more skeptical of information that lacks evidence. In a world overflowing with data, unforeseen policies, geopolitical shifts and opinions, having a sharp critical thinking toolkit is like having a compass that always points you to sound reasoning.



Feel free to adapt these exercises to your life. Mix and match them, make a game out of them, or involve friends and family (critical thinking challenges can spark great dinner table conversations!). And remember, critical thinking grows in communities – the more you engage with others in thoughtful discussion or debate, the more you learn. So don’t shy away from opportunities to discuss, question, and debate topics that interest you.