Is it possible to increase iq. How to increase your IQ. Working exercises for the brain. Videos and tips
To understand how to increase the level of intelligence (IQ) of an adult and a teenager, let’s first understand what it is. Everyone has heard of iq and knows that the name hides a person’s intelligence quotient, which is associated with education or literacy.
The term came from England and implies the work of thought, mental alertness, and intellectual art. Tests have been developed to determine a person's iq. Age and gender are taken into account. The test does not show intellectual abilities. The purpose of the test is to determine the ability to solve problems related to a number of areas. If a judge passes the test in the legal field, the results are impressive.
If we delve deeper into the process of researching the issue, since the 30s of the last century, scientists have been trying to find patterns in the development of mental abilities, correlating the weight and volume of the brain. They studied the reaction associated with nervous processes, determined the level of intelligence, connecting it with the level of social status, age or gender. Today, scientists have found that the level of iq is influenced by heredity and can be increased through exercises and tests. The level of intelligence is not influenced by ability, but by persistence, patience, perseverance and motivation. These qualities are needed by doctors, archaeologists, and DJs.
It has been proven that in critical and difficult life situations it is easier for a person with a high iq to cope with difficulties, but individual qualities remain decisive:
- ambition;
- determination;
- temperament.
Gradually the tests became more complicated. If initially they consisted of lexical exercises, today there are tests for solving logical problems using geometric shapes, memorization exercises or manipulation of letters in the proposed words.
What is IQ?
IQ is determined and quantified through tests and is a measure of a person's ability to think.
Half of people show an average iq from 90 to 110, a quarter - over 110, and a score below 70 points indicates mental retardation.
Video report How to become smarter
To successfully pass tests at home you need psychological characteristics:
- ability to concentrate;
- highlight the main thing and cut off the unimportant;
- good memory;
- rich vocabulary;
- imagination;
- the ability to mentally manipulate in space with the proposed objects;
- mastery of operations with numbers;
- perseverance.
There was an opinion that iq remains unchanged from early childhood. Recent research has shown that the brain is neuroplastic and creates neurons even in old age, just needs training. It's not difficult to train your brain. A 30-minute walk in the fresh air 5 times a week stimulates the production of protein, which helps produce neurons during learning.
A mobile and elastic brain remembers and absorbs more information. Japanese scientists say: the more you give your brain a rest, including sound and healthy sleep, the faster a person comes up with innovative ideas.
Anatoly Wasserman talks about the development of intelligence
Brain exercises to increase IQ
For training it is better to use:
- learning foreign languages;
- composing words;
- physical exercise;
- the acquisition of knowledge;
- computer games.
Step-by-step exercises
- A proven strategy and a challenge to learn a foreign language. Knowing two languages encourages the prefrontal cortex to work more actively, improves memory and problem-solving skills, and delays the onset of senile dementia by 5.
- The next working exercise for the brain is composing words. In Soviet times, the game "Scrabble" was popular. There is a modern interpretation of the game called “scrabble”. The game will be for those who want to increase their iq, best friend. Composing words from a limited number of letters contributes to the development of literate speech and the expansion of vocabulary. It is also recommended to solve crossword puzzles, the effect is similar.
- Moderate physical activity will help increase your intelligence level by 50%. If laziness has taken hold and you don’t want to do anything, you should pull yourself together and go on a treadmill or walk down the street at a brisk pace. Cardio training has a positive effect on cognitive abilities and helps you lose weight.
- Gaining knowledge is training the brain like muscles. Instead of watching TV with endless series and negative information, turn on an educational film about underwater world or a program from the “obvious incredible” cycle. If you go on the road, read science fiction rather than jokes. Don’t get hung up on one thing, the information should be varied. Scientists say that the more emotional the perception of information, the better long-term memory develops.
- Play video games. I foresee numerous objections. Video games contribute to the development of intelligence. The simplest example is military shooters. They improve coordination of movements and increase the perception of visual signals. Games are a source of information material on a specific topic.
To effectively increase your IQ, learn to focus on several sources of information: listen to the radio and read a book. This skill will not come immediately; you may even experience headaches from severe overexertion and fatigue. Over time, you will easily learn to do several things at the same time.
Solve logic problems and tests, crosswords and sudoku. They will help train your brain. If you encounter difficulties while solving a crossword puzzle or other logical problem, look at the answer, remember it, draw conclusions and easily solve a similar problem next time.
Broaden your horizons, read books, magazines, watch and listen to educational programs and news. Learn to analyze situations, imagine possible and impossible solutions. This way you can develop imaginative thinking and train your brain to think analytically.
Doctors recommend eating right. Nutritionists advise eating small portions of food, 4 - 5 times a day. This will maintain a constant flow of blood to the brain. If you eat 2 meals a day and the food is consumed in large portions, the resulting energy is spent on digestion, and little remains to nourish the brain.
Give up bad habits. If you are planning to increase your IQ, think about how to quit smoking if the problem exists. Tobacco smoke prevents oxygen from reaching the brain and impairs its function. Quitting smoking is not easy, it will require enormous willpower, but the result will exceed expectations and you will come to a healthy lifestyle.
From the history of the study of intelligence
In 1816, Bessel stated that intelligence could be measured by the reaction to a flash of light. It was only in 1884 that a series of tests for visitors to the London Exhibition appeared. The tests were developed by a scientist from England, Galston. He assured that representatives of some families are biologically and intellectually superior to others, and women are inferior to men in intelligence.
Imagine the surprise when it turned out that the great scientists were no different from ordinary people, and women gave better results than men. A year later Cattell developed psychological tests which were called “mental”, where the speed of the reflex, the time of perception of stimuli, and the pain threshold were taken into account.
These studies made it possible to develop tests where the indicator of effectiveness was the time spent by the subject on solving problems. The faster the subject completed the task, the more points he scored. Scientists have come to the conclusion that a person with high intelligence has:
- common sense;
- reflection;
- initiative;
- the ability to adapt to certain life circumstances.
This point of view was expressed in 1939 by Wechsler, who developed an intelligence scale for adults. Today, psychologists share the same point of view about an individual's ability to adjust and adapt to the world around him.
Despite genetic determination, intellectual abilities require proper development, as well as maintenance of appropriate mental activity throughout life.
The latter makes it possible to delay old age, avoid weakening of memory, and prevent many diseases and senile dementia.
The essence of the work of the human brain (as well as different groups muscles, body systems) is that regular training sessions, the correct mode of alternating activity and rest, good mood, allow you to maintain and develop functions, no matter what initial data a person has.
Therefore, there are excellent ways to develop both outstanding and impaired children's intelligence literally from the first days of a baby's life!
German scientists have collected 10 of the simplest and most effective activities for developing and strengthening intelligence, which are effective for children of all ages and even adults.
Show correct example(and not “read morals”), and most importantly, be sure to praise him for every achievement, celebrate and encourage successes, including the most insignificant ones.
2. Play educational games with your child
Necessarily including fine finger motor skills (including lacing, tying knots, peeling small berries, garlic, etc.). Such efficiency is directly related to the development of intelligence, stimulates its development, and makes it possible to cure a number of anomalies and diseases (including cerebral palsy).
The basic argument is that a diverse set of educational games can effectively increase the coordination of motor movements of the fingers with visual perception. Scientific experiments have reliably proven an increase in mental perception abilities through such exercises in an experimental group.
3. Learn!
Education is excellent for strengthening the intellect and memory, especially if the abilities and inclinations allow one to be considered a good student.
With each portion of the acquisition of new knowledge and skills (counting, reading, writing, presentation of what has been learned, etc.), groups of neurons are activated, stimulating the development of an increasingly larger scale of scientific and other knowledge.
Due to this peculiarity of intelligence, from early childhood it is very useful to conduct educational activities with a child, read to him (and ask him to retell the information), solve simple mathematical problems, etc.
Group classes should not be neglected; painting clubs, groups for the development of logical thinking, learning foreign languages, technology, and any others are suitable.
4. Nutrition for intelligence development
This a large number of seafood in a child's diet. Caviar and fatty fish are very rich in the most important for the brain - Omega 3 (polyunsaturated fatty acids). The most important substances are found in dairy products and flax seeds, walnuts and some others.
Omega 3 (being a structural substance for brain tissue and the retina of the eye) improves neuronal metabolism by 40% and is responsible for the formation of cell membranes. Polyunsaturated fatty acids ensure optimal brain function not only in childhood, but at any age.
In the course of research on the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on generations of animals, it was experimentally proven that there is an irreversible impairment in the learning abilities of young animals due to a lack of Omega 3 in the diet of mothers.
5. Drink mate, coffee, green, black tea (according to age).
Tonics, taurine and caffeine contained in various varieties sharpen intellectual abilities. For those who are too early or cannot take strong stimulants, you should choose the right diet (it should give the body a lot of energy, but not overload digestion).
Milk and orange juice are a pretty good alternative to tonic drinks. It is important not to consume too much energy drinks, caffeine and analogues.
You should avoid transgenic fats (margarine, cooking oil), artificial sweeteners - they are all very harmful, they clog blood vessels and destroy cell membranes. Fatty and artificial foods spoil not only your figure and health, but also your intellect.
6. Using the developmental potential of entertainment.
To improve brain activity, it is much more useful to use games for erudition and intelligence, watching educational educational films than primitive computer games with shooting and fighting and television.
The right choice (not what television offers, but a thoughtful selection on the Internet) successfully shapes culture, allowing the correct speech and manner of communication to be internalized on an unconscious level.
In the Russian version, for example, it is invaluable to captivate a child with historical “video lessons” of Gumilyov and Kapitsa, scientific periodicals, and educational documentaries about wildlife and space.
7. Save your child (and yourself) from stress and overwork.
Stress is the worst thing that can happen. If a child is under prolonged stress, his intellectual abilities and health will inevitably decline.
The changes that have occurred may be irreversible. Therefore, you should be attentive to his condition and complaints, the appearance of unusual reactions (too quiet or excited) - all of the above can serve as a symptom of insurmountable stress associated with the criminal behavior of kindergarten teachers, teachers, and peers.
– Sometimes, in order to save it, you need to take him out of the nursery, kindergarten or change school. Otherwise, you can get obvious degradation instead of early socialization, development of independence, the ability to survive in a team and realize leadership qualities.
No less tragic influence is exerted by domestic violence when a child is beaten or scolded for bad grades or low results, while his actual abilities do not allow him to show his best. All that is needed here is encouragement to study, the creation of a calm, cozy environment for studying, praise for any efforts and achievements, together with adults, going through the material until successful mastery.
Stress is acceptable only in small doses and not artificial. In the right proportion, it can sharpen mental abilities as the body uses up reserve resources. Severe or constant stress has the opposite effect. To be effective, a child must act with joy, realize the important happiness of games, communication with friends, favorite activities and hobbies.
Striving to raise a genius, parents often either overburden their child with training, sections, clubs, leaving no time for childhood and even restoration of health.
Or I direct the child’s activities and education not into the sphere of his personal interests, subordinating them to his will, depriving him of fulfillment in what he was born for, depriving him of personal will and initiative.
Due to the last group of reasons, a child may even lose the will to live. In both described cases, stress can lead to persistent depression, nervous breakdowns, and chronic diseases (like diabetes).
8. Dynamic load when reading.
According to the principle “if you drive more quietly, you know more”, a special case of “stressful” obtaining information works. Everyone knows how bad various express methods with increased load, such as “English in 3 weeks,” have a bad effect on the psyche and health.
Research clearly shows that a comfortable mode of assimilation of information is important for the brain (not fast, not slow, perceived by the student as optimal).
It is also important to maintain this mode when reading. Those who read by the speed method, too quickly or too much, find themselves in a deliberately losing position (compared to leisurely readers) in the actual assimilation of the material. The pursuit of the amount of information consumption is not appropriate; you should not push a small student.
9. Fresh air and physical activity.
Children need a walk in the air; walking stimulates cerebral circulation, improves its long-term optimal functioning through the functioning of blood vessels.
Allow them to go out after school if the child asks, but don’t force them out. Find out what types of outdoor activities he prefers.
Perhaps he is not comfortable walking in the yard or wandering the streets (feeling of danger, poor social environment, lack of interesting entertainment), but it is nice to walk with his parents in the evening through quiet neighborhoods, admiring the shop windows, or go with you to the playground. Give him the opportunity to be active the way he wants. Go to the forest and take a walk, visit the pool, walk the dog.
10. Afternoon siesta (short break for sleep).
Scientists have proven that a 15-30-minute afternoon nap improves performance. This technique has been used by famous scientists and military personnel to stay alert and focused until the end of a long work day.
This type of sleep is beneficial for everyone, regardless of age, especially during heavy workloads at school and university. In addition to significantly improving productivity, taking a short nap improves memory.
The topic of increasing the intellectual level. The most popular answer, with 1.6 thousand votes, was given by Steve Denton, a holder of a degree in theoretical physics. The editors of the CPU selected the key practical advice from this post.
The brain needs intellectual challenges
By solving complex problems, such as learning a new language, a field of mathematics, or mastering an unfamiliar musical instrument, the brain becomes more plastic and flexible. According to Denton, one of the win-win options is to study various areas of mathematics - this science opens up wide opportunities for brain development. Mathematics allows you to train logical, numerical and visual abstract thinking, while improving concentration skills and “mental endurance”.
Steve Denton
You should associate with well-educated people
Meeting and talking with highly intelligent people can improve the functioning of your own brain. During such conversations, you can learn a lot of new things, in addition, understanding the way smart people think is very useful.
Computer games can be used to train intelligence
There are different games - shooters and sports simulators allow you to have a good time and train your reaction, but in terms of developing intelligence, they are not particularly useful. Denton recommends choosing games that involve solving complex problems and making multiple decisions. The physicist himself is a fan of the EVE game - in his opinion, it is the most complex and versatile of all computer games (the game system operates on the most powerful gaming supercomputer called Tranquility).
You need to read at least one serious book a week
Brain training using special software
Denton advises using special software for brain development, with the only caveat - you must use only services that have proven their effectiveness. Most of these projects in reality do not allow achieving the results that their creators promise - most often with their help you can only learn to play a certain game well, which does not translate into improving a person’s general cognitive abilities. However, the Dual N-Back project was able to prove its effectiveness. Another positive point is that it can be downloaded completely free of charge.
A healthy lifestyle is important
Exercising has a positive effect on brain function, healthy and not too short sleep also increases productivity (however, “oversleeping” can be even more harmful than not getting enough sleep). It is important to approach alcohol consumption wisely - in small quantities it helps you relax and communicate more freely - as mentioned above, communicating with other people is good for the brain. But overuse alcoholic drinks(like smoking) causes obvious harm to the body. In addition, for the brain to function most effectively, it needs proper nutrition. Get the required quantity nutrients the body can only with a balanced diet - a person should eat fruits, vegetables, fish and meat.
It is necessary to get rid of limiting ideas about your own intellectual level
Many people are actually smarter than they think they are. Often such a modest attitude towards their mental abilities does not allow them to achieve more in life. This phenomenon is called the “Dunning-Kruger effect” - according to it, people with below average intelligence often overestimate their intelligence, while those with above average intelligence often underestimate their abilities. You can get rid of this attitude towards yourself with the help of a simple logical refutation of myths about your own insolvency.
Is it possible to develop intelligence? Neuroscientists have long answered this question in the affirmative. Your brain is plastic and can physically change depending on what you do. And even the smartest person has something to strive for. So don't waste your time! We've collected tips and exercises from our books to help you become even smarter.
1. Solve logic puzzles
You will find fascinating tasks for training logical thinking in the book by popular blogger Dmitry Chernyshev “What to do in the evening with your family at the dacha without the Internet.” Here are a few of them:
Answer:
This is a type of credit card. Notches about the borrowed goods were made simultaneously on both sticks. One was kept by the buyer, the other by the seller. This excluded fraud. When the debt was repaid, the sticks were destroyed.
Answer:
This is Morrison's shelter to protect people during bombing. Not everyone had basements in which to hide. For poor households, the device was free. 500,000 of these shelters were built by the end of 1941 and another 100,000 in 1943, when the Germans began using V-1 rockets. The shelter justified itself. According to statistics, in 44 houses equipped with such shelters that were heavily bombed, only three out of 136 residents died. Another 13 people were seriously injured and 16 were slightly injured.
Answer:
Look again at the condition of the task: there was no task to “continue the sequence.” If 1 = 5, then 5 = 1.
2. Train your memory
Until now, you have been trying to guess the number by choosing the average. This is an ideal strategy for a game in which the number was chosen at random. But in our case, the number was not chosen in random order. We deliberately chose a number that will be difficult for you to find. The main lesson of game theory is that you need to put yourself in the shoes of the other player. We put ourselves in your shoes and assumed that you would first name the number 50, then 25, then 37 and 42.
What would be your final guess? Is this number 49? Congratulations! Yourself, not you. You've fallen into the trap again! We guessed the number 48. In fact, all these discussions about the average number from the interval were aimed precisely at misleading you. We wanted you to choose the number 49.
The point of our game is not to show you how cunning we are, but to clearly illustrate what exactly makes any situation a game: you must take into account the goals and strategies of other players.
5. Do math
Lomonosov believed that mathematics puts the mind in order. And indeed it is. One of the ways to develop intelligence is to make friends with the world of numbers, graphs and formulas. If you want to try this method, the book Beauty Squared will help you, where the most complex concepts are described in a simple and engaging way. A short excerpt from there:
“In 1611, the astronomer Johannes Kepler decided to find himself a wife. The process did not start very well: he rejected the first three candidates. Kepler would have taken a fourth wife if he had not seen the fifth, who seemed “modest, thrifty and capable of loving adopted children.” But the scientist behaved so indecisively that he met with several more women who did not interest him. Then he finally married the fifth candidate.
According to the mathematical theory of “optimal stopping,” in order to make a choice, it is necessary to consider and reject 36.8 percent of possible options. And then stop at the first one, which turns out to be better than all the rejected ones.
Kepler had 11 dates. But he could meet with four women, and then propose to the first of the remaining candidates who he liked more than those whom he had already seen. In other words, he would immediately choose the fifth woman and save himself from six unsuccessful meetings. The theory of “optimal stopping” is also applicable in other areas: medicine, energy, zoology, economics, etc.”
6. Learn to play a musical instrument
Psychologist, author of the book “We Are the Music” Victoria Williamson says that the Mozart effect is just a myth. Listening to classical music will not improve your IQ. But if you take up music yourself, you will help your brain work better. This is confirmed by the following experiment:
“Glenn Schellenberg has conducted a number of detailed analyzes of the relationship between music lessons and IQ in children. In 2004, he randomly assigned 144 six-year-old children from Toronto to four groups: the first group received keyboard lessons, the second group received singing lessons, the third group received acting classes, and the fourth was a control group that received no additional activities. To be fair, after the study, children in the control group were offered the same activities as the others.
The training lasted 36 weeks in a designated school. All children took IQ tests during the summer holidays before these classes began and at the end of the study. Comparable age and socioeconomic status criteria were used.
After a year, a large majority of the children performed better on the IQ test, which makes sense since they were a year older. However, in the two music groups, the increase in IQ was greater than in the acting and control groups.”
7. Practice mindfulness meditation
Meditation not only helps reduce stress levels, but also helps develop memory, creativity, reaction, attention and self-control. More about this method in the book “Mindfulness”. Advice from it:
“Have you noticed that the older you get, the faster time passes? The reason is that with age we acquire habits, certain patterns of behavior and live on “automatic”: the autopilot guides us when we have breakfast, brush our teeth, go to work, sit down in the same chair every time... As a result, life passes past, and we feel unhappy.
Try a simple experiment. Buy some chocolate. Break off a small piece from it. Look at it as if you were seeing it for the first time. Pay attention to all the breaks, texture, smell, color. Put this piece in your mouth, but don't swallow it right away, let it slowly melt on your tongue. Try the whole bouquet of flavors. Then slowly swallow the chocolate, try to feel how it flows down the esophagus, notice the movements of the palate and tongue.
Agree, the sensations are not at all the same as if you simply ate a candy bar without thinking. Try this exercise with different foods, and then with your usual activities: be mindful at work, while walking, getting ready for bed, and so on.”
8. Learn to think outside the box
A creative approach will help you find a solution even in a situation that seems hopeless to most. book author"Rice Storm"I am sure that anyone can train creativity. First, try using Leonardo da Vinci's method:
“Leonardo da Vinci’s way of developing ideas was to close his eyes, completely relax, and scribble random lines and scribbles on a piece of paper. Then he opened his eyes and looked for images and nuances, objects and phenomena in the drawing. Many of his inventions were born from such sketches.
Here is an action plan on how you can use Leonardo da Vinci's method in your work:
Write the problem down on a piece of paper and think about it for a few minutes.
Relax. Give your intuition the opportunity to create images that reflect the current situation. You don't need to know what the drawing will look like before you draw it.
Give shape to your task by defining its boundaries. They can be of any size and take the shape you want.
Practice drawing unconsciously. Let the lines and scribbles dictate how you draw and arrange them.
If the result does not satisfy you, take another sheet of paper and make another drawing, and then another - as many as needed.
Explore your drawing. Write down the first word that comes to mind regarding each image, each squiggle, line, or structure.
Link all the words together by writing a short note. Now see how what you wrote relates to your task. Have new ideas emerged?
Be attentive to the questions that arise in your mind. For example: “What is this?”, “Where did this come from?” If you feel the need to find answers to specific questions, then you are on the right path leading to solving the problem.”
9. Learn foreign languages
According to researchers, it promotes brain development and helps maintain mental clarity even in mature age. In the guide of the polyglot Susanna Zaraiskaya you will find 90 effective advice how to learn new foreign languages easily and fun. Here are three recommendations from the book:
- Listen to songs in the language you're learning while you drive, clean your home, cook, take care of flowers, or do other things. You will become immersed in the rhythms of the language even when listening passively. The main thing is to do this regularly.
- The nonprofit Planet Read uses Bollywood music videos in its literacy program in India, subtitled in the same language. The subtitle format is the same as in karaoke, that is, the word currently being heard is highlighted. Easy access to such videos doubles the number of first-graders who master reading. And all due to the fact that viewers naturally synchronize audio and video. The way India fights illiteracy will allow you to compare what you hear with what you see.
- Who said that drama is incompatible with the table of irregular verbs? Soap operas can be a really fun way to learn a new language. The storylines are simple, and the acting is so expressive that even if you don't know all the words, you'll still be aware of what's going on just by following the characters' emotions.
10. Make up stories
This is another way to become more creative and develop flexible thinking. Don't know where to start? In the notebook “642 ideas of what to write about” you will find many tips. Your job is to continue the stories and turn them into complete stories. Here are some tasks from the book:
- You meet a girl who can close her eyes and see the entire Universe. Tell about her.
- Try to fit the whole life of a person into one sentence.
- Take an article from a recent newspaper. Write down ten words or phrases that caught your eye. Using these words, write a poem that begins: “What if...”
- Your cat dreams of world domination. She figured out how to switch bodies with you.
- Write a story that begins like this: “The weird thing started when Fred bought a house for his miniature pigs...”
- Explain to a gold miner from 1849 how email works.
- An unknown force threw you inside the computer. You need to get out.
- Choose any object on your desk (pen, pencil, eraser, etc.) and write a note of gratitude to it.
11. Get enough sleep!
Your ability to learn depends on the quality of your sleep. Interesting fact from the book “The Brain in Sleep”:
“Scientists have discovered that different stages of sleep are designed for various types training. For example, slow-wave sleep is important for mastering tasks involving factual memory, such as memorizing dates for a history exam. But dream-rich REM sleep is necessary for mastering what is associated with procedural memory - how something is done, including the development of new behavioral strategies.
Psychology professor Carlisle Smith says: “We spent a month cutting out blocks from which we built a maze for mice, and then for ten days we recorded their brain activity around the clock. Those mice that showed greater intelligence in running a maze also demonstrated greater brain activity in the REM sleep phase. I myself have never doubted that sleep and learning are connected, but now enough data has accumulated for others to become interested in this issue.”
12. Don't neglect physical education
Sport has a positive effect on our intellectual abilities. Here's what evolutionary biologist John Medina says about this in his book Brain Rules:
“All sorts of tests have shown that physical activity throughout life leads to amazing improvements in cognitive processes, in contrast to a sedentary lifestyle. Adherents of physical education outperformed lazy people and couch potatoes in terms of long-term memory, logic, attention, problem-solving ability, and even the so-called fluid intelligence.”
More books about the development of intelligence- .
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It is impossible to become smarter overnight. Being smart is a way of life, a constant search and overcoming oneself. This is a rather difficult, but at the same time pleasant path. And you can choose how to start it.
1. Exercise regularly
This improves blood flow and saturates the brain with oxygen, and good physical state promotes good mental health. Choose a program that is comfortable for your age and physical abilities. The main thing here is regularity.
2. Make sure you get enough sleep
Numerous studies have shown that lack of sleep reduces concentration, short-term and long-term memory, problem-solving speed, visual and hearing acuity, and slows down reactions. Especially for maintaining good mental health, the right combination of deep and REM sleep is important. Here again, physical exercises from Lifehacker will help you.
3. Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Your brain needs a certain amount of nutrients to function optimally. Diversify your usual menu to get enough vitamins, amino acids and carbohydrates. You don't have to buy nutritional supplements for this! We wrote earlier.
4. If you smoke, stop!
5. Reduce your alcohol intake
Drinking alcohol in small quantities, especially when combined with socializing, may be beneficial for some brain functions. But excessive consumption can lead to acute and chronic impairment of its activity and cause irreversible cognitive impairment.
6. Learn new things regularly
Learn something new, for example foreign languages, playing musical instruments. Learn something you've been wanting to try for a long time! This promotes brain plasticity and flexibility. Studying math is an excellent exercise in logic and abstract thinking, and also improves concentration, mental endurance and is guaranteed to raise your IQ by several points. Use to learn something new.
7. Maintain friendships with smart and educated people
Make regular meetings with them and discuss a wide range of issues - complex intellectual discussions will give you new ideas and perspectives. You will understand how smart people think and express themselves and what you might need to change about yourself.
If you are the most clever man in the room, then you are not in the room where you should be.
Alexander Zhurba, businessman and venture investor
8. Read at least one serious book a week and diversify your reading
This will improve your vocabulary and verbal intelligence, as well as enhance your knowledge and speaking repertoire. There must be reading!
9. Play challenging computer games
Shooters and racing games, at best, develop reaction speed, but do not provide you with mental stimulation. Choose a game that involves complex rules, strategy, and requires certain mental skills. Such are, for example, the puzzle games Braid and Portal.
In multiplayer online games, perhaps Eve-online has the highest barrier to entry.
10. Let go of limiting beliefs about your own intelligence.
Many truly qualified people tend to underestimate their abilities and suffer from a lack of self-confidence. Often the opinions of parents, overly critical (or even incompetent) teachers matter more than the stubborn facts of your success. Believe in yourself and start living a full life!