Intelligence isn’t something that you’re born with; it’s a changeable, flexible ability to learn and stimulate your brain that can improve over time.
Smart people share certain lifestyle habits that support and protect their mental health. These habits help them grow intellectually, creatively, and emotionally.
In this article, we’ve gathered the 15 habits that smart people have in common and are important for making you smarter every day.
Ask Questions
Learning requires asking questions and finding answers.
Curiosity is a powerful tool that can help you learn new things and stimulate your brain.
Smart people aren’t afraid to ask questions, even if they seem stupid.
Asking questions is an effective way to learn and discover new ideas.
You can also ask yourself questions and research solutions on your own.
Read Across Genres
Reading is the mental exercise that keeps your brain in shape.
You have instant access to almost all the written books created by humans, thanks to smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and the internet.
Reading often can help you stay informed and teach your brain to function well. The best options are books, instructional periodicals, and lengthy articles and websites.
Maintain your own reading routine, even if it involves reading a portion of a chapter each day. Your intellect will grow over time.
Hang Out with Smart People
Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.
Friends can teach you new skills and keep your mind active.
Our surroundings shape our values, beliefs, and ways of thinking.
Spending time with intellectuals will constantly help to feed your brain because with smart people there’s always something to discuss and learn from them.
You don’t have to feel inferior to them; even acknowledging your shortcomings will compel you to put in the effort to improve.
Take Time to Think
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 have a connection to whatever you’re doing.
You get to plan three to five steps ahead and will seldom be caught lacking.
Smart people listen more and talk less, and they manage to get a lot done with fewer words.
Exercise Frequently
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, you should also grow physically since the two are intertwined.
Physical exercise instills discipline, which is advantageous for the efficient growth of positive habits and new information.
Make time for at least one form of exercise, whether you sign up for your local gym, get some running shoes for a few mile runs, or simply practice yoga or other home workouts.
Prioritize Eating Healthy
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, and enough healthy fats.
Therefore, whole grains, lean meats, nuts, fish, and dairy products should be on your dinner table.
It’s also a good idea to eat just enough to be satisfied and avoid junk food as much as you can, as it’ll tire you out and can cause some health complications in the long run.
Keeping a Diary
Keeping a diary can help you reflect on your experiences and emotions.
It’s been proven in group studies that a few minutes spent reflecting on the day’s events can lead to significant increases in intelligence.
Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you gain a deeper understanding of your experiences and help you think more critically.
Engage in creative hobbies
Engaging in creative hobbies like drawing, painting, playing music or writing can increase your intelligence.
The practice of creating new things allows the brain to make new connections and explore different perspectives.
Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly artistic, there are many simple creative activities you can try, like coloring books or knitting.
Learn a new language
Learning a new language is a great way to exercise your brain and improve your intelligence.
It can also help you to understand other cultures and make new connections with people from around the world.
There are many ways to learn a new language, from taking classes to using language learning apps like Duolingo.
Practice mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness can help you to stay focused and calm, which can improve your ability to think and make decisions.
Mindfulness can also reduce stress and anxiety, which can have negative effects on your mental health and cognitive abilities.
You can practice mindfulness by meditating, doing yoga or simply taking a few deep breaths and focusing on the present moment.
Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is crucial for your brain to function properly.
During sleep, your brain consolidates memories, processes information and repairs itself.
Lack of sleep can impair your cognitive abilities, reduce your attention span and make it difficult to learn and remember new information.
Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
Practice critical thinking
Critical thinking involves analyzing information and evaluating arguments to make informed decisions.
It can help you to solve problems, make better decisions and avoid being influenced by misinformation or bias.
You can practice critical thinking by questioning assumptions, seeking out evidence and considering different perspectives.
Stay informed
Staying informed about current events and new developments in your field of interest can help you to stay engaged and curious, and can also provide you with new ideas and perspectives to explore.
You can stay informed by reading news articles, listening to podcasts or attending events related to your interests.
Embrace failure
Smart people know that failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Embracing failure and using it as a learning experience can help you to develop resilience and improve your problem-solving skills.
Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things, even if you might fail.
Take breaks
Taking breaks is important for your brain to recharge and avoid burnout.
When you take breaks, your brain has time to process information and make connections, which can improve your ability to learn and remember new things.
Make sure to take breaks throughout the day, and take longer breaks when you need to recharge.
Conclusion
In conclusion, intelligence is not something you’re simply born with, it’s a flexible ability that can be improved over time through the right habits and lifestyle choices.
By incorporating these 15 habits into your daily routine, you can stimulate your brain and improve your mental health, leading to a smarter and more fulfilling life.
FAQ
Q: Can intelligence be improved over time?
A: Yes, intelligence is not fixed and can be improved over time with the right lifestyle habits and mental exercises.
Q: What are some habits that smart people share?
A: Smart people tend to ask questions, read across genres, hang out with smart people, take time to think, exercise frequently, prioritize eating healthy, keep a diary, engage in creative hobbies, learn a new language, practice mindfulness, get enough sleep, practice critical thinking, stay informed, practice self-reflection, and seek out challenges.
Q: How can exercising help improve intelligence?
A: Physical exercise instills discipline, which can be advantageous for the efficient growth of positive habits and new information.
Additionally, the brain and body constantly cooperate, and our overall energy and physical health have a direct impact on the quality of our thoughts.
Q: Can mindfulness really improve intelligence?
A: Yes, practicing mindfulness can help you to stay focused and calm, which can improve your ability to think and make decisions.
Mindfulness can also reduce stress and anxiety, which can have negative effects on your mental health and cognitive abilities.
Q: How can critical thinking help improve intelligence?
A: Critical thinking involves analyzing information and evaluating arguments to make informed decisions.
It can help you to solve problems, make better decisions and avoid being influenced by misinformation or bias.
By questioning assumptions, seeking out evidence, and considering different perspectives, you can improve your critical thinking skills and enhance your overall intelligence.
Q: Can staying informed about current events improve intelligence?
A: Yes, staying informed about current events and new developments in your field of interest can help you to stay engaged and curious, and can also provide you with new ideas and perspectives to explore.
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