10 tiny exercises that quickly raise your intelligence
Have you ever done one of those online IQ tests or intelligence tests? If youâve ever re-taken the same test, you may have noticed itâs pretty easy to score higher once youâve played the âgameâ a few times. Intelligence isnât a number weâre handed at birth in an envelope. There are various kinds of intelligence and some malleability to it. Improving our intelligence requires understanding the game and forming good intelligence-boosting habits.
Here are 10 tiny exercises that quickly raise your intelligence:
1. Sleeping more than 7 hours per night
Enough studies have been done to drill the point home that if you donât get your Zs in each night, you become stupider. Do what you can to get those 7â9 hours daily. Head to pillow is time well spent when your mood, creativity, and mental acuity multiply in your waking hours.
2. Spend at least 10 minutes learning something new
Your brain wonât develop new pathways if you continually do the same old things and never stretch or learn. Find something youâre curious to know and make that commitment. It could be extra-curricular, like learning the guitar, Thai cooking, or another language, or you could deepen your knowledge in your chosen field.
3. Stop eating
Iâm not going to refer to the ongoing studies done on the benefits of fasting. You only need to stop eating for a few hours to know what this does to your mental clarity. Your energy will spike, and your thinking will clear. Consult a doctor before trying this if youâre unsure, and take small steps. You might surprise yourself with the power of intermittent fasting.
4. Meditate
I get it. Enough gurus are harping on about why you need to meditate. But it becomes a lot easier to commit to this every day when you realize what it does for your brain, sense of peace, and general performance. A mind that is less reactive to stimulus, and therefore more resilient, is intelligent.
5. Single-task
While everyoneâs running around like a chimpanzee on crack, trying to compensate for being âsnowed underâ and doing several things at once, youâre unique. Youâre focused on one thing at a time, with full engagement. You become dumber when you multitask.
6. Read books
The stereotypes are true â clever people are readers. Youâll not only gain more knowledge, gain new creative connections, and boost your understanding of the world, but youâll train yourself to concentrate. This is a huge advantage in a short-attention-spanned society addicted to scrolling cringe vids on TikTok.
7. Exercise
I know, I know. Itâs another one youâve heard before. But I canât be writing a list on intelligence without bringing in regular exercise. Lifting weights, cardio and walking have proven positive effects, not only on mood but on real cognitive ability. Unlike what many think, you wonât become a meathead dummy in the gym. You will live longer, feel better, and bump your IQ.
8. Create a distraction-free environment
If youâre lucky enough to have your own dedicated working space, make it a joy to be there. Improve the lighting, add some plants, and get freaky with the Feng Shui. Once youâve done this, pay close attention to all the crap that can get in to distract you, whether itâs email pings or pestering pets, and be ruthless. This is how you refine your focus and become a brainiac.
9. Play games
Puzzles are back in vogue. There are all kinds of nifty games out there, whether itâs crosswords or brain-teasers, that will train your brain to be sharper and more versatile. Who said working out your brain needed to be dull?
10. Get your face in the sun
Weâve been told for too long that the sun is something to run from, and itâs turning us all into pasty zombies. Youâll be dumber too. Get that vitamin D from those glorious rays, and supplement it if you donât get much. Vitamin D and simply being outdoors and in touch with nature is an intelligence hack. See you on the other side, Einstein.
