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''Thinking in 3D'' practicing — Description
Although I didn't intend this to be a tutorial, I think this explains how I view things pretty well.

Proportions and symmetry in space
Be it a cube or more complex object, I always look for proportions and symmetry, especially the latter. In order to do this, I need middle lines and points. Why? They are easiest to find because, well, they are always in the middle of two reference points/lines. That said, I can check whether the shape is symmetric and it's proportions are in place.

Plane sense
I don't really construct perspective with cumbersome guidelines, unless the subject is very complicated. I try to visualize in which directions individual planes are facing in order to understand the shape. I do this by reading the visual cues of the drawing. For example, by drawing crosses on the planes makes it much easier to understand the orientation of the plane.

Resolution
I don't usually draw human figure with rectangular shapes, but I still think perspective with cubes. It's just that I just skip the blocking phase and use smooth shapes instead. Basically, arcs just have many straight lines, so visualizing smooth planes is just about visualizing the rough blocky form in mind and drawing it smooth.

Contours and sections
Since I draw smooth shapes, contours work the best when I analyse the surface. I use contours pretty much the same way I would use middle lines, though I tend to add few extra arcs to mimic sharp edges of rectangular shapes. Thinking section cuts is great for analyzing the volume of the shapes. I usually do these with arms and legs, mostly for figuring their orientation in space.

Simplification
Complex shapes are much easier to draw if they are first simplified. With the torso for example, I would think a shape that corresponds the general feel of the torso. By knowing what directions the planes ought to face, it's easier to analyse what's wrong with the drawing.