Critical Thinking for Tired People

Because you don’t have to be a philosopher to pause and ask, “Wait… why do I believe this?”

Let’s be honest: most people aren’t avoiding critical thinking because they’re lazy or stupid. They’re avoiding it because they’re tired.
Tired of arguing.
Tired of being wrong.
Tired of the firehose of news, opinions, outrage, algorithms, and “hot takes.”
Tired of feeling like they’re the only one actually questioning things.

And let’s face it: thinking critically doesn’t always feel good. It requires that you pause, get uncomfortable, and maybe even change your mind. That’s exhausting in a world that rewards snap judgments and default reactions.

But here’s the truth: critical thinking isn’t an academic luxury—it’s a survival skill.
And it can start with one, simple, tired-person-friendly question:
“Why do I believe this?”

I used to tell my students:

“I don’t care what you believe.
I care that you understand why you believe it.”

It sounds simple, but that question breaks the trance. It nudges us out of autopilot. It asks us to take responsibility—not just for our opinions, but for the process that formed them. That’s where power lives.

So here’s a radical idea:
In a world hell-bent on making us reactive, slowing down to think is a revolutionary act.
You don’t have to argue. You don’t have to have a debate. You just have to ask yourself, honestly,
“Is this belief mine… or was it handed to me?”
“Do I really know this… or do I just feel it’s true?”
“Where did this idea come from—and does it still serve me?”

This isn’t about being right. It’s about being awake.

And yeah, it’s hard when you’re tired. But think of it this way:
You brush your teeth even when you’re tired, right?
You lock your front door?
You check your bank account?

You do those things to protect yourself.

Critical thinking is how you protect your mind.

And these days? That might be the most important protection we have.