The brain is a flexible muscle.
And there are plenty of things you can do to give it a boost every day.
To get smarter, your brain needs 3 things:
1. be accustomed to thinking logically
2. have as much information as possible
3. have the ability to focus on a problem or idea.
For example, Thomas Edison was able to invent the light bulb because:
1. He had been trained to think logically.
2. He had great knowledge in electrical engineering.
3. It focused on one specific problem to solve.
Here are 15 simple things to do every day to help your mind think smarter:
When we sleep, our body works without drinking water for a long time (6-9 h).
However, water is essential for the body to filter toxins and balance body fluids.
By drinking 2 glasses of water within 30 minutes of waking up, you quickly compensate for fluid loss caused by a night's sleep.
Researchers at the University of Wales have found that drinking more water significantly improves performance on intellectual tasks.
Therefore, remember to hydrate your brain from the start of the day.
Reading has several benefits for the brain.
On the other hand, reading a book before breakfast is not given to everyone.
And reading the latest news from a newspaper isn't really going to affect your life and intelligence.
Instead, try this extremely simple technique:read the summary of a book before breakfast.
Just choose a book whose plot you want to know. Then type his name into Google to read a summary.
This trick will allow you to increase your general culture every morning, in the space of a few minutes!
To learn more about the benefits of reading, click here to discover our article.
Whatever your mode of transport (on foot, by bike, car, public transport, etc.), make the most of this down time by listening to an audio book that stimulates you intellectually.
These days, there are several sites with tons of podcasts and audiobooks. A good trick to become cultured!
You will truly be spoiled for choice! I use Audible and I'm very happy with it.
To learn more about how to download audiobooks for free, click here to find our article.
When you drink coffee, you get anxious — because of the caffeine.
On the other hand, green tea (and in particular, matcha tea) does not contain caffeine, but theanine-L .
This amino acid increases the alpha rhythm of the brain. It is precisely this rhythm that manifests itself when one is relaxed and awake.
This means that unlike coffee which induces anxiety, quality green teas induce a state of focus and calm without feeling sleepy.
This is why theanine-L is used as a treatment to relax and have good cardiovascular function.
When we take a nap, it's as if our brain is renewing itself.
Research in the field of sleep is formal. They indicate that you learn faster when you take naps during learning periods.
Our brain follows a regular sleep-wake rhythm. It is this rhythm that determines when you feel tired or when you really need to sleep.
We know that most people feel tired between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. . It's also the perfect time to take a nap.
Naps increase your focus and productivity for the rest of the day. Also, some people benefit greatly from a nap after work, around 6:00 p.m.
To discover: How long should a nap last for it to be truly effective?
Besides, it is better not to consume sugar at all.
Can't abstain from eating foods that contain sugar? So, at least try not to consume it during the moments that require your concentration.
The state of excitement associated with sugar consumption (and the "fall" that follows) is harmful to the proper functioning of your brain.
In contrast, fatty acids are particularly beneficial to brain health.
So instead of eating a sweet treat during your lunch break, try eating fish or eggs instead.
The brain is flexible:it adapts easily to the information with which we choose to feed it.
If you feed it the unstimulating and extremely varied information of social media, your brain will adapt to it.
On the other hand, your ability to concentrate will be greatly reduced.
To keep your brain functioning at its highest level, it needs to be fed with interesting and stimulating information.
Can't stop checking Facebook during work hours?
So at least try to set yourself a time limit — and stick to it!
For more great reasons to stop checking Facebook, check out our article here.
Watching TV is a totally passive activity.
Your brain stores information from the movie or TV show you're watching — but there's no interaction between the brain and the TV.
The solution ? Replace or complete this activity with a video game.
A study from Humboldt University in Berlin found that even a simple game like Super Mario Bros has a positive influence on brain plasticity (flexibility, in other words).
These results are confirmed by a study from the University of Ghent, Belgium. It indicates that video games significantly increase the cognitive abilities of the brain.
The idea is to stimulate and engage your brain when you can.
And while watching TV, all you're doing is putting your brain into a passive state.
Just like video games, reading a book is a dynamic exercise for the brain.
Here's why:when you watch a movie or a series, the brain registers the information passively.
But when you read a book, it forces your brain to actively construct mental images from the text. Indispensable to become intelligent quickly!
Body and mind have a close connection. Physical activities help the brain work better.
But that doesn't mean you have to go to the gym every day. (But we're not holding you back!)
Try to do simple physical activities during the day:do push-ups, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or jump the stairs in pairs.
The idea is simple:try to do a little physical activity every hour.
It's a lot less difficult than it looks.
For example, you can simply stand up, stretch and contract your muscles as hard as you can for 5 or 10 seconds.
There's a good reason behind this advice:habits (whether good or bad) are contagious!
For example, did you know that a study from Harvard University indicates that obesity is transmitted through social networks?
The habits, the ways of thinking of those you spend time with are naturally transmitted to you.
Take advantage of this mechanism. Spending time with people smarter than you can benefit your own intelligence.
Engage in (friendly!) discussions with people you rarely agree with. It can be any topic.
A debate with this kind of person will allow you to:
- formulate your arguments correctly
- and maybe even convince you that you're wrong.
In both cases, you are a winner, because you learn to think well!
By presenting good arguments, you convince the other person through reason and logic.
And if you admit you're wrong, you eliminate the false reasoning you were defending before.
Nature walks have several benefits:
- There is more oxygen, which is highly beneficial to the brain.
- The mind naturally relaxes when you are surrounded by plants.
- Walking increases blood circulation.
If you have a park near your place of work, take the opportunity to take a walk during your lunch break.
This will help you work smarter the rest of the day.
Great minds, like Leonardo da Vinci, always have a notepad with them.
They use it to write down an idea or question that they can refer to later.
Having a little notebook with you and writing interesting thoughts in it is extremely beneficial. It trains your curiosity and develops your sense of logic. A simple trick to develop your intelligence!
At the end of the day, take 10 minutes to plan your next day.
By planning your day the night before, you'll start your new day with a goal.
This will allow you to be even more productive.
Because, the truth is, most people have busy days — but they aren't productive!
An essential step in becoming smarter is to understand that working hard does not necessarily mean working smart!
The solution ? Take the time the day before to choose the battles of the next day.
Here you are, you have discovered 15 things to become smarter :-)
Do you know any other little tricks or tips to increase intelligence? Share them with us in the comments. We can't wait to read you!
