21 Daily Habits to Boost Intelligence

Contrary to the widespread misconception that intelligence is limited to those with high IQs, there are several potential ways to improve cognitive capacities and increase a person's effectiveness in both personal and professional contexts.

Anyone can increase their intellectual capacity and become smarter if motivated and determined. You can quickly sharpen your intelligence and embrace new challenges daily by incorporating new habits into your daily routine and providing appropriate motivation. So, how can you become smarter?

21 Daily Habits to Boost Intelligence

Brain health is crucial to physical health, and the best daily activities that engage the brain are listed below:

1. Embrace Novelty

Adding new experiences and knowledge to your life constantly strengthens your brain and develops new neural pathways. Even though these times might seem insignificant initially, you'll start looking forward to your alone time. You can practice the following exercises to improve your intelligence:

1.1. Exploring New Places

Changing locations - whether it be studying in a new café, changing commuting, or visiting a foreign country- is good for the brain. It may be difficult to realize this at the moment because it's usually somewhat challenging. You can't just order the food and beverages you usually get at the café; instead, you have to look over a new menu, select an item you've never tried before, and decide. Even though it may seem straightforward, people find comfort in engaging in routines they are used to, and we prefer always to know what to expect.

For example, when we travel to a new country, the customs, language, and culture are all foreign to us and offer an alternative outlook on life. Adapting to these new elements forces the brain to face new and unexpected challenges and develop innovative ways to express needs and emotions.

1.2. Lifelong Learning

Learning in adulthood is one of the best investments of time, money, and energy. While education is crucial during childhood and adolescence, adults often underestimate their ability to learn new concepts and skills. Therefore, challenge yourself by taking academic or creative courses. Deciding to continue education voluntarily provides an ideal opportunity for your brain to establish new connections and gain higher intelligence.

1.3. Staying Informed and Reading the News

Though it might seem habitual, this activity supports normal brain waves. Your brain will stay active if you set aside 30 minutes every morning or evening to read a newspaper or watch the news. News bulletins can offer thought-provoking subjects and stimulate your mind with fresh knowledge.

1.4. Reading

Reading is the most effective way to increase brain activity and provides the most diverse opportunities to increase comprehension capacity. It provides practical help by introducing new vocabulary, presenting correct grammar usage examples, and demonstrating the elegance of a well-written sentence. However, this is only a tiny portion of reading's magical power.

Reading allows the reader to make meaningful connections between literature and reality, regardless of whether they choose to read poetry, non-fiction, fiction, or historical literature. Your brain makes new connections to comprehend all the new information as it uses your imagination to conjure up real people, places, and experiences from words on a page. Travelling to a new place's a different way for your brain.

1.5. Working with Innovative Approaches

The workplace is a blank canvas for new experiences. No matter what kind of work you do, there are always chances to think outside the box, solve problems creatively, and develop fresh ideas for the team. Instead of feeling stressed when a new issue arises, you should relax and consider alternatives to reach your ultimate goal.

2. Challenge Yourself

Just as a weightlifter develops their muscles, one must exercise their brain daily, pushing it beyond its current capabilities. As Albert Einstein once said, “One should not pursue easily achieved goals. One must develop an instinct for what one can just barely achieve through one's greatest efforts.”

This quote captures a lot about the brain, showing how it can truly surprise people when given enough attention and room to think. When people have faith in their skills, they accomplish more than they ever would have imagined.

2.1. Exercising Brain

Lumosity and similar organizations provide great daily brain training. Lumosity was created to stretch the mind by using games and puzzles that improve neural flexibility to help the brain form new connections. This program was created by a group of neuroscientists at the University of California, Berkeley. It uses brain stimuli to promote adaptation and retraining in brain areas that had not been studied before. Numerous success stories are associated with the results of this comprehensive experiment.

2.2. Asking Questions When Facing Problems

This approach works well for handling a variety of issues. It provides a strong starting point for uncovering the issues' root, prompting the brain to seek answers. Consequently, always start by inquiring about the issue's causes rather than worrying about it.

2.3. Avoiding Technology for Brain Health

While technology is essential today, overreliance on it can hinder the brain’s problem-solving abilities and adaptation to new environments. It limits practical skills like basic math and navigation. Therefore, try going on a journey without GPS, solve algebraic problems without a calculator, and engage your mind actively. You’ll see results.

2.4. Cultivating Creativity

Finger painting in childhood wasn’t just fun; it opened up possibilities for unique problem-solving methods. A creative mindset allows for new solutions, fresh inspiration, and unwavering confidence. Combining these elements enables regular people to be exceptional innovators and creative leaders in both personal and professional contexts. So, I seek to bring some creativity into routine and everyday tasks.

2.5. Drawing

Drawing has been shown to increase cognitive function even in non-artists. Besides enhancing hand-eye coordination, drawing sends neural signals that vividly store memories. Whether you draw with charcoal or just scribble on scrap paper, drawing is a good mental exercise.

2.6. Coloring

Coloring is an extension of drawing, nourishing the same brain regions. However, unlike drawing, coloring often introduces new textures and unfamiliar colors to stimulate the brain. Artists are usually acutely aware of their surroundings. So, engaging in drawing encourages people to notice intricate details in the world around them, leading to increased alertness.

2.7. Playing a Musical Instrument

Learning to play a musical instrument has wonderful benefits for the brain. It greatly enhances memory, focus, hand-eye coordination, and mathematical abilities. While some instruments are more challenging than others, any musical instrument enhances cognitive function. Different brain areas collaborate to produce music.

2.8. Writing

Writing enhances vocabulary, grammar skills, and proper syntax. It effectively stores information and improves memory skills. Studies show that students who regularly take handwritten notes during university classes consistently perform better in exams. Additionally, writing compels people to pay attention to their memories, experiences, and inner dialogues, overall boosting brain activity.

2.9. Role-Playing

When you put yourself in another person's shoes, your brain creates new connections between its cells, enabling you to think differently. Role-playing stimulates the brain, helping those who are trying to generate creative ideas to come up with original answers to difficult problems.

3. Collaborate with Others

Emotional intelligence is just as important for success in general as logical intelligence. Interacting with others expands people’s thinking beyond their limited perspectives, allowing them to see things from various viewpoints and generate new ideas.

People naturally love challenges, but intelligent individuals prefer isolation as it shields them from others' criticism. However, discomfort is necessary for them as it brings them out of their isolation. When you believe you have all the right answers, collaborate with others to gain as many perspectives as possible.

3.1. Learning and Sharing Information with Others

Share experiences and wisdom with colleagues and peers face-to-face or virtually. New faces and fresh ideas inspire creativity and create a rich learning environment for the brain. By establishing networks for idea exchange, your mind develops new connections to formulate and execute innovative concepts.

3.2. Talking with Interesting People

Remember that no two people share identical life experiences. Everyone has a different way of interpreting information, storing memories, and viewing the world around them. As a result, creativity is vital to brain function.

Seeing things from another person's perspective encourages our minds to consider fresh approaches and solutions for both personal and professional problems, even though we all tend to believe our approach is best.

People must practice active listening, whether the conversation revolves around religion, finance, politics, or trend diets. Although suppressing your thoughts while someone else is speaking is difficult, the brain requires discipline to remain active.

3.3. Collaborative Work Environment

Collaborative environments are essential for enhancing brain activity. However, some people prefer working alone and fear being compelled to work in a team environment. Nevertheless, even highly intelligent, independent people can still benefit from occasional teamwork.

Steve Johnson’s book Where Good Ideas Come From highlights the value of collaborating with peers and colleagues to develop original ideas and effective implementation plans. Modern workplaces continue to shift toward this collaborative approach.

3.4. Physical Health Development

The body nourishes the brain; thus, it is crucial to keep oneself physically fit to stimulate and give the brain energy. Poor diet, focus, and exercise habits are frequently blamed for demotivation, mental exhaustion, and lack of inspiration.

3.5. Regular Exercise

Regular exercisers are consistently found to be more intelligent than non-exercisers. Exercisers not only keep their bodies strong but also encourage brain cell growth. A process called "neurogenesis" occurs during strenuous exercise, increasing neurotransmitter production.

Active people experience reduced stress, improved focus, and increased energy despite potential side effects such as elevated dopamine. Dr Michael Nilsson from the Sahlgrenska Academy and its university hospital in Sweden conducted extensive research on this subject and said, "Physical fitness means your heart and lungs are healthy, and your brain gets a lot of oxygen."

His research focused on over a million Swedish military personnel and found a direct correlation between physical fitness and high results in intelligence tests.

3.6. Engaging in Strength Sports

Multiple studies have shown that active children usually perform better in school and have a better chance of continuing their education after graduating from high school. Although sports activities may be exhausting at the time, the overall benefits of intense physical activity are beneficial for your future.

Maintaining a sports routine is important for optimal brain health, whether it involves trying something new every day or finding one activity you excel at, like basketball, running, or weightlifting.

3.7. Meditation

Controlling and calming the brain has an equally effective impact on enhancing activity through tools and puzzles. Researchers have studied meditation's effects on the brain for years, yielding remarkable results. In a famous study, Dr Richard Davidson from the University of Wisconsin collaborated with the Dalai Lama to explore brain activity during meditation. They found that deep meditation leads to astonishing brain outcomes.

Therefore, people experiencing fear, anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses should try meditation to calm themselves and enhance focus.

3.8. Maintaining a Healthy Diet

Children and adults interested in boosting brain activity should start by changing their diet. According to research from the University of Bristol in England, an unhealthy diet may negatively impact a child's IQ. To reverse unhealthy tendencies, eliminate excess fats, sugar, and fast food. Add more vegetables, fruits, and lean meats to your diet.

Also, unconventional beverages have been shown to benefit brain function. Some scientists believe matcha green tea, raw hot cocoa, and ginkgo biloba tea improve circulation by increasing blood flow to the brain.

In Conclusion

Creating a daily routine to enhance brain health doesn’t require specialized advice from a neuroscientist. While numerous studies provide compelling evidence, you can take basic steps to increase brain activity. Be mindful of how you use your time and energy to lead a more intelligent and fulfilling life.