5 Ways To Increase Your Intelligence

1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a
hard sell. People love vegetating in front of
the television, myself included more often
than I’d like. The problem is watching
television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR
allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy
sapped out of a muscle without the health
benefits of exercise.
Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of
TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being
focused on the light box for so long. You don’t
even have the energy to read a book.
When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book
instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some
music. When you’re with your friends or
family, leave the tube off and have a
conversation. All of these things use your
mind more than television and allow you to
relax.

2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn
more by not exercising and using the time to
read a book instead. But I realized that time
spent exercising always leads to greater
learning because it improves productivity
during the time afterwards. Using your body
clears your head and creates a wave of
energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and
can concentrate more easily.

3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like
to read popular suspense fiction, but
generally these books aren’t mentally
stimulating. If you want to improve your
thinking and writing ability you should read
books that make you focus. Reading a classic
novel can change your view of the world and
will make you think in more precise, elegant
English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if
you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of
dense passages. Take your time, re-read
when necessary, and you’ll soon grow
accustomed to the author’s style.
Once you get used to reading challenging
books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t
tempted to go back to page-turners. The
challenge of learning new ideas is far more
exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.

4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes
it harder to concentrate than sleep
deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you
go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8
hours. If you stay up late and compensate by
sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and
have trouble focusing. In my experience the
early morning hours are the most tranquil and
productive. Waking up early gives you more
productive hours and maximizes your mental
acuity all day.
If you have the opportunity, take 10-20
minute naps when you are hit with a wave of
drowsiness. Anything longer will make you
lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.

5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get
so hectic that we become overwhelmed
without even realizing it. It becomes difficult
to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep
interrupting. Spending some time alone in
reflection gives you a chance organize your
thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities.
Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding
of what’s important and what isn’t. The
unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore
and your mind will feel less encumbered