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Are There Things You Can Do to Become More Intelligent?

4 Ways and 15 Tips to Boost Your Intelligence

By Emma RandyPublished 2 years ago 8 min read
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Are There Things You Can Do to Become More Intelligent?
Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

You have to work at it every day to become smarter, but it doesn't have to be a boring or tedious activity. It can be exciting and fun to learn new things. Whether you prefer to learn online, read books, do exercises or challenge your mind with puzzles and games, there are many ways to become smarter and you don't have to limit yourself to one.

First way : to become smarter online

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1. Use your time on the Internet to learn.

The Internet is a wonderful tool that you can use beyond social media posts and cat videos. Whenever you take a break from using the Internet, instead of checking your notifications, read an article about a topic you're interested in or a story about something you've never heard of.

Some websites like Wikipedia or Google allow you to randomly choose a site or article.

2. Take free online courses.

There are many free online courses that you can take about a particular subject. Some sites like HarvardX and Coursera offer many courses for free with a syllabus, handouts, and even videos of classes with professors. Search the internet for free courses and find a topic that interests you or explore a new one.

Some online courses might even count toward points for a degree at a certified university.

Tip: You can get certificates for taking the course or take exams to show that you have taken the course and have knowledge of the subject.

3. Watch videos of TED talks on a variety of topics.

TED (which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge and ideas. It organizes conferences where experts on a certain topic give a presentation to an audience that is recorded and can be viewed at any time for free. Go to TED.com and watch a presentation about a topic that interests you or even a topic you don't know anything about.

Each presentation lasts between ten and fifteen minutes.

There are also presentations about poetry, literature, history, or scientific topics that you can watch.

4. Sign up for a daily vocabulary newsletter.

Some sites like lemotdujour.com offer daily email newsletters that you can sign up for to learn a new word. Start the day by learning a new word or learning more about a word you already know, including its etymology, synonyms and other interesting facts. Go to the website and sign up for the email newsletter.

You could also try wordforafri.me or unmotparjour.fr and subscribe to their newsletter.

There are also phone or tablet apps that offer you a new word a day.

Second way: Playing games or solving puzzles

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1. Do crossword puzzles to improve your memory.

Crossword puzzles can improve your verbal skills and boost your word memory. Plus, they're a lot of fun and can help reduce stress and improve your mood. Daily newspapers include crossword puzzles you can try your hand at and you can also find free ones online.

Download a crossword app to your smartphone to do them wherever you go.

Scrabble is also a great game to play with another person to challenge your vocabulary and add a touch of competition. Download an app on your smartphone to play against your friends or strangers at any time.

2. Download a brain training app.

There are several popular brain training apps such as Lumosity, CogniFit Brain Fitness, and Brain Fitness Pro that contain games and challenges designed to improve your memory, problem-solving skills, and cognitive functioning. You need to exercise your mind and keep it active to keep it healthy, just like your body.

Brain training apps help you improve your brain's processing speed and prevent the build-up of brain plaque associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Some apps are free, but others will require you to pay at the time of download or pay a monthly subscription.

3. Play with a Rubik's cube to improve your concentration.

The Rubik's cube is a classic puzzle that requires a lot of concentration. The benefits of the Rubik's cube include improved hand-eye coordination, increased short-term memory, and if you can finish it, a lot of fun. You can buy one in most department stores, it usually costs very little.

You can also order one online from a store or Amazon.

Tip: If you're looking for a bigger challenge, try a different version of the Rubik's cube, such as ones with more squares or different shapes like triangles or hexagons.

4. Challenge yourself by playing chess.

Chess was invented in the 6th century and continues to be a popular game that involves strategy, memory and spatial skills. Chess stimulates the growth of dendrites, extensions on nerve cells in the brain that transmit information between cells. This increases the speed of communication between these cells and allows you to think faster and easier.

  • You can buy a basic game in a supermarket, usually at a fairly low price.
  • You can also play it online or on your smartphone.

Third way: Improve the functioning of your brain

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1. Get into the habit of exercising to form new neurons.

When you exercise, you increase your levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that enhances the growth of new neurons, specialized brain cells that transmit nerve impulses. Regular exercise increases blood flow and oxygen levels and improves brain function.

  • The more neurons you have and the healthier they are, the faster you can think and the better your memory will work.
  • Make it a habit to exercise regularly. For example, you could set a goal to work out on certain days of the week or to spend some time exercising after work or class.

2. Do aerobics to produce irisin.

This substance is thought to activate genes involved in learning and memory. Aerobic exercise uses large muscle groups such as your back, legs and arms, which increases your heart and lung rate and produces more irisin that is linked to the growth of your new neurons.

Consider participating in aerobics classes at a gym.

You can also buy DVDs or take online classes to do aerobics at home.

Warning: avoid over-exercising as this can lead to cognitive loss, inability to concentrate and memory loss. If this is your first time exercising, you should start slowly and make your exercises more difficult little by little.

3. Challenge your brain by changing exercises.

It can be easy to fall into a routine if you do the same exercises over and over again, which can lead to boredom or discouragement when you feel like you're not making any progress. When you try new exercises, you will improve your focus and cognition as you use different parts of your brain to achieve a new challenge or physical skill.

  • If you take classes at a gym, try a different class.
  • For example, if you do weight training often, switch to running exercises.

4. Try yoga for better problem solving.

Regular yoga practice can improve your ability to use logic, identify patterns and solve problems. Meditation during yoga slows down the brain's activity, allowing it to reorganize and rest. When you give your brain a chance to rest while it's active, you prepare it to absorb new information and approach problems from a different perspective.

  • Join a yoga class for a guided practice.
  • Yoga also engages your muscles, which will increase your blood flow and cognitive functioning.
  • Headspace is a popular app you can download to do guided meditation.

Tip: You don't need to do meditation for hours, studies have shown that 20 minutes a day is enough to reap the benefits of this practice.

Fourth way : Read to get smarter

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1. Read every day to improve your cognitive functioning.

The mental stimulation caused by reading will improve your thinking and memory skills. Reading also improves your brain's flexibility, an important part of memory, by stimulating your entire mind and keeping every part of your brain active.

You don't need to read an entire book every day. At least 15 to 20 minutes of continuous reading will give you the mental benefits you need to become more intelligent.

Listen to audiobooks if you find it more convenient.

2. Read more fiction to become emotionally more intelligent.

Reading fiction will help you improve your empathy for others and see the world from their point of view, as novels and short stories encourage you to understand the motivations and perspectives of many characters. The ability to understand others requires a high level of emotional intelligence, and reading fiction is an easy way to improve yours.

Fiction also improves your cognitive flexibility by mentally setting you up in different situations and environments, allowing you to imagine how you would respond.

3. Read the news every day to stay informed.

Reading the news keeps you informed, and a regular mix of local, national, and international news will help you become smarter and more savvy. Whether it's traditional print newspapers or apps on your smartphone or tablet, try to read at least the headlines every day.

Don't neglect local news; it's just as important to stay informed about what's going on in your community as it is to know what's going on in the rest of the world.

Radio is also a convenient way to absorb the news of the day.

Tip: Sign up for daily newscasts like Le Monde to get a summary of the most important events.

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About the Creator

Emma Randy

Sharing the best self-improvement tips and personal growth ideas that will help you build a fulfilling life.

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