Be a Critical Thinker

Quick Win

Even lighthearted entertainment offers a chance to practice your analytical skills.

Try This Today

• Zoom out. When you finish watching a show, reflect on it as broadly as possible. What were the key ideas? What was the purpose? Consider why certain details may have been included or omitted. Did the overall tone of the program suggest bias rather than a balanced viewpoint? If you’re puzzled or intrigued by something, avail yourself of the library or internet to find out more.
• Zoom in. Think more specifically about the information: What lessons can you take from it? What was your favorite or least favorite part? Determine if the messages in the show align with your values.
• Talk about it. Discuss what you watched with someone else to gain additional insight into the work. Research suggests that social engagement can support brain health while meeting our basic psychological need for connection.

Why

Making the effort to foster critical thinking skills and be socially engaged can improve your overall quality of life as you age, according to a study published in Educational Gerontology in 2018 based on observation and interviews done with adults over age 55, some of whom were enrolled in a continuing education program. According to AARP’s Global Council on Brain Health 2017 report “Engage Your Brain,” doing mentally challenging activities provides “benefits for adults’ brain health.”