5 ways to become a better problem solver

What if the key to problem-solving wasn't trying harder, but thinking differently? These science-supported strategies show how to retrain your brain

Umm-ing and ah-ing, sitting on the fence, dragging your feet. The English language offers us a plethora of ways to talk about indecisiveness, but what are the actual solutions for improving our ability to solve problems?

For self-development coach Latasha Baynham, the issue starts with the questions we ask ourselves. Rather than defaulting to, “How can I fix this as fast as possible?”, she suggests trying this: “What outcome am I trying to achieve?”

A shift from urgency to intention can fundamentally reshape how you approach future problems. It moves you from reactive mode straight into strategic thinking.

The good news is that problem-solving isn’t an inborn talent; it’s a core skill that can be sharpened, with the right tools, at any age. Whether at work, home, or somewhere in between, stronger problem-solving strategies can lead to better outcomes.

1. Try to make things worse

When you’re stuck on a problem, trying ‘reverse brainstorming’ can help you to tackle those looping thoughts that leave you running through the same solutions again and again. “Rather than looking for the perfect solution, intentionally turn the problem on its head,” says Latasha, in a suggestion that can really shake things up. Instead of wondering, “how would I fix the situation?”, try asking yourself, “what could I do that would make this situation even worse?”

It sounds counterintuitive, but giving yourself permission to think about ineffective solutions can reduce pressure and interrupt panic-mode responses.

Take household clutter, for an example. Perhaps you want to solve the problem of a cluttered living room. When you spend a few minutes thinking about how to make this worse, you will likely identify a list of behaviours, such as leaving laundry unfolded, letting paperwork pile up, and buying things you don’t really need. It’s through this process that you’ll learn to identify many of the behaviours that are already causing your problem.

Once you’ve identified these behaviours, think about the changes needed for each to organise the chaos: having a designated laundry day, a folder for important papers, or a spending ban on non-essentials might be your first step. By reframing challenges as patterns of behaviour, you are able to spot where action is needed most.

2. Forget about it

When we’re fixated on a problem, it can be tempting to ignore everything else in our lives in favour of focusing on finding a solution. But doing the opposite, and stepping away from the problem, could be the very thing that finally gives you that lightbulb moment.

This is because when we’re at rest, or doing things like daydreaming, doing the dishes, or going on a walk, our brains are free to ‘wander’. According to research from 2025, published in the journal Biology, this aids reflection on past experiences, encourages creative imagination, and can promote the association of seemingly disconnected concepts, leading to insights and innovative solutions.

3. Ask your future self

Do you often find yourself chasing short-term relief for a problem that keeps cropping up again and again? As an exercise, Latasha says it can be helpful to imagine that you are connecting with a future version of yourself to tap into the knowledge they have from their perspective. Try to complete this sentence: In three months from now, I’ll be glad that I handled this by choosing to...

“This technique is called ‘future pacing’, and it helps us identify what our future selves would thank us for doing today,” explains Latasha.

As well as offering potential solutions, imagining yourself months ahead also creates distance from immediate threats, allowing you to turn down the intensity of any urgency or panic you have around the problems you’re facing.

4. Explore all combinations

‘Morphological analysis’ is a simple way to spark fresh ideas. Instead of tackling a problem as one single item, you experiment with various combinations. For example, if you’re planning a family day out, split it into elements like location (park, museum, home), participants (kids, adults, pets), and timing (morning, afternoon, evening).

Then, mix and match the options. For example, a morning park hike with everyone, or an evening picnic in a museum garden. From this, new combinations create new possibilities. The same works for creative projects if you break it down into format (blog, video), audience (beginners, clients), tone (educational, conversational), and setting (indoors, outdoors). Rearranging these elements can reignite momentum and lead your brain to original solutions.

5. Progress over perfection

Perhaps you’re looking for a way to feel less anxious when you use social media, but it’s also the way you stay in touch with friends. Could the next small step be something like turning off notifications for a few hours each evening, or unfollowing accounts that leave you feeling tense or inadequate? The aim isn’t to find a catch-all solution, but to gently reduce the intensity of the problem at hand