Intelligence can be flexible and there are many everyday things that will help you boost it. In order to enhance your mental capacity you will need:
- To be trained in thinking processes
- To have plenty of information
- To focus on a problem or idea
Take Thomas Edison as an example – he thought of the light bulb because he was a trained logical thinker, he knew a lot about electrical engineering, and he focused on solving a problem.
There are a bunch of things that you could do every day to help your mind think smarter.
- Drink 2 glasses of water within 30 minutes of waking up
When you wake up, your body has not had any water for an average of 6 – 9 hours. Water is necessary for the filtration of waste products and fluid balance. Two big glasses of water will make up for the fluid deficit you had from sleeping. Studies on kids show that drinking more water increases their ability to complete mental tasks. It is very important not to leave your brain dehydrated, and start hydrating it from the moment you wake up.
- Read a book summary during breakfast
Of course, you should read books. But, if you don’t have the time, try at least reading a book summary at every breakfast, since it is far more suitable for something shorter. Reading news articles has little impact on your life/intelligence, so you can replace them with book summaries instead.
- Listen to stimulating podcasts/audio books during your commute
Even if you spend only 10 minutes on your bike/ride, load your phone up with intellectually stimulating audio. You could listen to TED talks (you can pre-download), summaries in audio form, audio books, audio lessons, podcast of your favorite authors, etc.
- Drink green tea when at work
Caffeine can make many people anxious, while green tea (especially Matcha tea) contains l-theanine which is an amino acid that causes an increase in alpha brain waves in the brain. This means that, unlike coffee, high quality green teas cause a relaxed focus without inducing tiredness. L-theanine is also available as a supplement to aid in relaxation and increase cardiovascular health.
- Take naps during the day
Napping refreshes the mind. It’s been shown that napping during learning increases learning speed. The mind has a rhythm that determines when it gets sleepy and when it needs sleep. Many people feel more sleepy than usual between noon and 4 PM, because this is a perfect time to have a nap, and will also increase your alertness and productivity for the rest of the day.
- Don’t eat sugar during the day
Actually, it’s best if you cut it altogether. However, if you can’t for whatever reason, just make sure not to consume it during times when you need to focus. Sugar highs are followed by lows which lower your mental capacities. What you should consume instead are fatty acids. Try switching the sweets you eat during lunch for something more substantial like fish or eggs.
- Cut down visits on social media / meme websites to only a couple of times a day
The brain adapts to the information you throw at it. If you spend a lot of time reading non-stimulating and fast switching information, your focus will get destroyed. Keep your brain functioning on a higher level by reading stimulating things. If you feel the need to procrastinate, make sure to do it for a short period of time, and not often.
- Play games instead of watching series or movies
Watching television is a passive activity during which your brain consumes information, but doesn’t process or interact with it. Replace this activity with gaming. According to a 2014 study and a research covered by Forbes, even a simple game like Super Mario has a visible impact on brain plasticity (flexibility). Actively engage your brain where you can, instead of letting it slumber passively.
- Read a book instead of watching TV
Unlike watching TV, reading a book is an active exercise for the brain. Reading a book requires your brain to actively construct mental images of what you are reading, while watching video entertainment is a passive consumption of information.
- Do some programming
Programming will help you learn to think logically and in patterns. Coding used to be hard to learn but now there are many free websites and free/paid platforms that make programming easy and fun to learn. Consider it the next level of puzzles. Furthermore, learning to code will increase your employability in the job market.
- Watch TED talks
You can watch TED talks while preparing dinner, and learn about new developments in Technology, Education and Design (ted.com). It’s like watching the news, except that you are watching the world’s most inspiring individuals talk about their work.
- Do simple exercises during the day
The body and the mind are strongly connected. Physical fitness will help the brain function well. And you don’t have to go to the gym every day to be physically fit. You can do some push-ups throughout the day and walk or skip up some stairs for a great impact. Try to do something physical every hour or so, even if it’s just getting up, stretching a little and tensing all your muscles as hard as you can for 5-10 seconds.
- Spend time with smart people
Habits are socially contagious. It is a scientific fact that obesity spreads through social networks (link to research). The thinking patterns and habits of those you spend time with will rub off on you. Spend time with smart people and benefit from them.
- Talk to people who disagree with you
Getting into friendly discussions with people who disagree with you on some topic will allow you to sharpen your arguments, or be convinced that you are wrong. In any case you win..
- Take a walk in nature
Walking in nature has a number of benefits: more oxygen produced by the plants, it has a calming impact on the brain, improved circulation from the walking, etc. Taking a walk in a park at lunch time can significantly help you enhance your work performance for the rest of the day.
- Carry a notepad
Leonardo Da Vinci always carried a notepad. He used it to write down ideas, sketches and questions that he had for later review. Having a little book on you and writing down interesting things can really help you train your curiosity and logical thinking.
- Take 10 minutes at the end of the day to plan tomorrow
Planning the next day on the previous night means that you will begin the day with a plan. This will allow you to work much more productively. Many people are busy during the day, but not actually productive. An important advice on being smart is knowing that smart work is better than hard work. Pick your battles in advance.
