Cognitive Flexibility

Cognitive flexibility has traditionally been defined as the ability to shift between mental states, actions, or tasks. When people try to solve a problem, they can choose an obvious path or recall a similar challenge from their past or a story/piece of advice someone else told them. Cognitive flexibility allows us to connect similarities between previous experiences or knowledge gained from others to develop a solution. Can you strategize a new solution if the first approach to problem-solving hasn’t worked? Having cognitive flexibility means one can adjust to changing demands or priorities. For example, when a planned out week of activities is interfered with due to an unexpected event – how do you adjust your plan to deal with the event and accomplish the essential activities you planned?