16 Habits That Make You Smarter Every Day
What do you think smart people have in common?
A lot of people think of intelligence as something you’re simply
born with, as some people make being smart look effortless.
Intelligence, however, isn’t a set trait; it’s a changeable,
flexible ability to learn and stimulate your brain
that can improve over time.
The thing smart people have in common is they’re dedicated
to lifestyle habits that support and protect their mental health.
Habits shape who we are,
which is certainly true when you look at popular entrepreneurs
and academics who have risen to the top of their fields thanks
to their ability to think up solutions to daily problems.
Here are the habits they all have in common that are important to make you smarter every day.
1. Ask Questions
The German philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer once said,
“Knowledge can only be with those who have questions.”
Most people don’t ask questions because they feel like
they’ll look stupid, but they couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Learning requires asking questions and finding answers.
As kids, the depth of our curiosity has no boundaries,
and everything around us piques our interest.
Consequently, if you don’t understand anything
or are unsure about something, don’t be afraid to ask about it.
Even ask yourself questions and research the solutions on your own.
When you go home, instead of watching TV,
look online for material that will help you understand topics
you’re interested in but a little confused about.
Don’t neglect this easy but time-consuming practice;
it may considerably increase your intelligence.
2. Read Across Genres
The brain is a very powerful tool,
and reading is the mental exercise it needs to be in tip-top shape.
We have instant access to almost all the written books created
by humans thanks to smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and the internet.
However, we often waste time viewing amusing videos
on social media while mindlessly scrolling through a news feed.
It’s an undeniable way to unwind, but it’s not realistic
or healthy to use all of your free time doing this.
Reading can not only help you stay informed
and teach your brain to function well,
but it will also help you continuously learn new things.
- The best options are books, instructional periodicals, and lengthy articles.
- Maintain your own reading routine, even if it just involves reading a portion of a chapter each day. Your intellect will grow over time.
3. Hang Out With Smart People
Friends can teach you new skills and keep your mind active.
Our surroundings shape our values, beliefs,
and ways of thinking, and spending time with intellectuals
will constantly help to feed your brain.
With smart people, there is always something to discuss and learn.
You might still sometimes feel as though you don’t know enough,
but even that has its perks.
You are adjusting to your surroundings,
and your mind will compel you to put in the effort to improve
as a result of acknowledging your shortcomings.
Your friends don’t have to be smarter than you;
the important thing is they always have interesting things to discuss
and are pacesetters in whatever field they work.
Intellectuals already know how to feed their brains,
so spending time with them is highly beneficial for adopting
not only knowledge but also a learning style.
4. Take Time To Think
We are all easily distracted from one thing to another,
not properly understanding the true essence
of the information received.
The habit of taking pauses to reflect on what you’ve learned is highly
beneficial and is an important part of the learning process.
When you take time to think,
you get to consider all the factors that might directly
or indirectly have a connection to whatever you’re doing.
You get to plan three to five steps ahead
and will seldom be caught lacking.
The same goes for conversations; smart people listen more and talk less,
managing to get a lot done with fewer words.
5. Exercise Frequently
Don’t overlook exercise and its effects on our smartness.
The brain and body constantly cooperate,
and our overall energy and physical health have a direct impact
on the quality of our thoughts.
As you grow cognitively, keep in mind that you should
also grow physically since the two are intertwined.
Physical exercise also instills discipline,
which is advantageous for the efficient growth of positive habits
and new information.
Try as much as possible to make time for at least one form of exercise.
You can sign up for your local gym, go for a run,
or simply practice yoga or home workouts.
Just move your body more.
6. Prioritize Eating Healthy
You must be familiar with the prevailing notion that glucose
is the ideal fuel for the brain,
but a balanced diet rich in needed vitamins and minerals
is the best fuel you can get to power your thought engine.
The optimum diet for enhancing brain performance includes:
- Enough protein
- Moderate amounts of carbohydrates
- Enough healthy fats
Whole grains, lean meats, nuts, fish,
and dairy products should be on your dinner table.
It’s also a good idea to adopt the habit of eating just enough
to be satisfied and avoid junk food as much as you can,
as it will tire you out and can cause health complications in the long run.
7. Keeping A Diary
It’s been proven in group studies that a few minutes spent reflecting
on the events and thoughts of the day in writing increases brain power.
Nothing motivates and helps you become smarter quite
like personal experience and your own achievements.
Take a few minutes each evening to write down your
thoughts, events, and insights of the day.
With this, you’ll have the opportunity to analyze the ideas
that come to you and the questions that arise.
There is the added advantage that writing frequently makes
you smarter overall by expanding your language
and communication skills.
Since keeping a diary is a language practice activity,
learning new terms and expanding your vocabulary will raise your IQ.
8. Do Something New
Even if you think it won’t work, practice makes perfect.
Smart people are not unnecessarily scared of failure.
They understand the universal truth that without practice,
nothing can be truly learned, and so they’re up for the challenge.
It’s impossible to learn a new equation if you don’t attempt questions
on it, just as it’s impossible to learn to play the guitar
if you don’t try the chords yourself.
Sometimes, outstanding and spectacular successes are the result
of doing something that frightened us tremendously.
9. Apply And Share New Knowledge
If you don’t intend to use what you learn,
there’s no use in studying it.
Smart people always make use of their acquired knowledge,
not necessarily because it will help them succeed,
but because sharing their intellectual resources makes them more valuable.
If you have read a book, discuss it with people who have also read it.
The best technique to reinforce and comprehend subject
matter is to share new information and concepts.
You will learn more during such a discussion about the work itself,
as well as the lessons other people have discovered.
The act of sharing knowledge itself is what enriches your
understanding and helps you draw more informed conclusions.
10. Be Selective Of What You Put Your Effort Into
Smart people tend to have fewer friends,
but they make up for the lack of numbers with
deep and genuine friendships.
Those with whom you spend time reflect your personal identity
and needs, guiding you toward understanding yourself
and the world around you.
Beyond friendships, when you’re careful about
what you give your attention to,
you’ll be able to work optimally without unnecessary distractions.
Smart people find it easy to get their priorities in order.
It’s far easier to follow the next agenda on a mental checklist
than to juggle every plan you have at once.
11. Take Short Breaks At Work
In the era of total digitalization, our brains literally burn
out from the bombardment of information.
Being in touch with everything happening isn’t always a good thing.
That’s why even a short vacation is sometimes needed
to stay creative and stave off cognitive burnout.
After working for several hours, weeks, or months without pauses
and moments of mental calmness,
we begin to think superficially and automatically.
The same goes for reading; you will assimilate better
when you take breaks after a few hours.
In this free time, you can enjoy a short walk, meditate, exercise,
or do some chores around the house.
Give yourself a mental timeout.
12. Learn How To Be Organized
People who have a habit of making things orderly in their devices
and instant messages, both at home and at work, tend to be smart.
Disorganized objects, frequent message alerts,
and clutter on a desktop or in work folders all divert the mind
from tasks and lower productivity.
Your mind will function more effectively the less disorder there
is in the area where you live and work.
Develop the habit of putting things away right away.
Make multiple themed folders on your desktop
and avoid randomly saving individual files there.
13. Study Other People’s Behavior Patterns
Smart people tend to be understanding in their own way
and consider things like their colleagues’ motivations,
their perspective on a project, and the level of help they require.
Try to understand the situations of the people around you.
It will take strong intellectual effort, but in the long run,
you’ll have better social skills
and be able to make the right decisions,
especially when other people are involved.
14. Be Actively Observant
Though you can see everything around you,
do you really pay attention to it?
Many of us watch the world uncritically, focusing primarily
on the things that immediately affect us.
Instead, spend a few minutes every day examining
your surroundings critically.
Examine the normal, everyday interactions that take place
in your environment on global, interpersonal, and societal levels.
When you turn your attention outside of yourself
and actively pay attention to details,
you’ll be surprised by what you discover about your surroundings.
15. Sleep Whenever You Need To
According to studies, giving our bodies more downtime helps
our brains function better in terms of memory, attention, and focus.
It has also been found that those who normally stay up late
and get up early have worse attention levels
than peers who sleep for longer.
The brain processes information from the previous
day as you sleep.
Having enough rest strengthens memory and removes proteins
linked to plaque formation in Alzheimer’s disease.
Although there is no set length of time that everyone should sleep,
your main priority should be to rest whenever your body needs it.
16. Playing Games That Task The Mind
A particularly beneficial way to spend your time is by playing games
that force you to think creatively, utilize your imagination,
and solve constantly evolving problems.
They hone your mental faculties while bringing you
delight and happiness.
Research shows that those who frequently play one
or more games that task the thought process perform
better cognitively than those who do not.
Mental games like crosswords or Sudoku don’t have an age limit
and can be enjoyed by both adults and children.
