You can become more intelligent by osmosis – i.e. simply by absorbing knowledge from the stimuli around you. However, sometimes the stimuli is lacking, mundane or simply the same day by day by day: you go the same places, meet the same people, do the same things. If you want to become more intelligent you can actively do so – try these things:
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1. Read a Lot
One of the best things you can do to improve your intelligence is to be well read. Reading lots of literature, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, or even the daily newspapers, will not only provide you more information on certain topics, it will also help to improve and expand your vocabulary. Knowledge is king, and the more you read, the more you will know!
2. Indulge Your Curiosity
Being curious is a natural human instinct, and allowing your mind to wonder and look for answers to the questions it is asking is a great way of developing a wider intelligence. Try to make a more conscious effort to be curious about things. It will help to broaden your horizons and it can be really satisfying gaining an understanding of something that you previously did not know about.
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3. Learn a Language
If you are looking for an activity that will improve your intelligence and also give you meaningful life skills, then there is nothing better than trying to learn a new language. Learning a language can improve your memory and encourage your brain to make connections at a far faster and greater rate. Emotional intelligence is also something than can be improved, as you are suddenly opened up to having understanding and empathy for a whole new population of people.
4. Keep Clever Company
It is no surprise that if you surround yourself with intelligent people and intelligent conversation, so too will your own intelligence benefit. Taking some time out from talking about the Kardashians and instead having a discussion about more serious current affairs or even politics can really boost your brainpower. It’s good to get out of your conversation comfort zone every now and then.
5. Brain Exercise
Brain exercise has become something of a hot topic in the last few years, and there are plenty of activities that you can do to make sure your intelligence juices are flowing nicely. This can be anything from completing a Sudoku or crossword puzzle in the paper to buying one of the many ‘brain training’ computer games that are available. I like these options because you are having fun at the same time as feeding your brain!
6. Get Good & Regular Sleep
The brain, like any other part of the body, needs down time in order to be able to refresh and regenerate after a long day at work, so make sure that you are getting enough sleep every night. Between 7 and 8 hours is the optimum amount for letting your mind cool off and recover, and the more rested your brain is, the more intelligent you will be the next day.
7. Healthy Body = Healthy Mind
Feed your intelligence in the best way possible by putting into your body foods that you know are going to benefit you in the long run. There really is a correlation between healthy eating and healthy thinking, so look into products like green tea, fish, dark vegetables and eggs for providing you with the ammunition you need to really improve your own intelligence. And if you educate yourself about the food you eat, you learn all sorts of amazing stuff about biology, nutrition and health.
I like to think I am intelligent. I think I am lucky because I have a massive curiosity. It makes me want to question everything and understand everything – to the point of frustration! What do you think makes someone intelligent?
Comments
Alison: Number 6 actually has no scientific evidence of helping make you smarter except for maybe vocabulary for crosswords. I'm a psych major
Pl0x: How ironic that there are several grammatical errors in this article. The content is fine though. I agree that improving one's personality is as important as improving intelligence.
cocoberry: This is amazing! Thank you 😘
xsoumyax: Needed
Sharia: Alison - surely there's no scientific evidence for any of this. How do you measure "smarts" anyway? IQ doesn't actually mean you're intelligent in any practical sense. If anything makes you feel smarter, look smarter or makes you feel smarter, increases your intelligence. At least that's what I think. So all of these points are valid - empirical evidence or not.
Nancy: Outstanding read - thanks!
Kris: P10x...where are the grammatical errors? Having an English minor, I notice grammar and spelling errors, and frankly, for a change, I didn't notice any.
Kris: Sharia & Alison, you are both wrong. It doesn't take much research to find that there IS evidence that every single one of these points IS VALID. Do an Internet search on intelligence!
Sarah: Awesome post..
Brittany: Hey @Kris.... Don't you mean "ARE VALID" *****
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