If you ever wonder how some people manage to accumulate so much knowledge and develop such a broad understanding of the world, you’ve come to the right place, because in this article I will outline the most effective habits that can significantly improve your intelligence.
First and foremost, it is essential to practice these habits consistently.
When discussing intelligence, it is worth noting that there are multiple types (such as IQ, EQ, AQ, etc.), all of which can be developed through targeted actions and continuous learning. This article will explore some of the most effective strategies for improving your cognitive abilities.
Remember, small daily habits, when maintained over time, are the key to long-term intellectual growth.
Before exploring the most effective habits that can make you smarter, it is important to clarify one key idea. Many people are not aware of the difference between being intelligent and being smart. Of course, these two terms often have the same meaning in everyday conversations, but there is actually a significant difference between them, which many people are not aware of. I will explain it clearly.
What is difference between smart and intelligent
Being smart means having the ability to apply knowledge in practical situations, adapt to new circumstances, and learn through experience and study.
On the other hand, intelligence is often seen as an innate trait and refers to one’s intellectual potential, namely the ability to understand and develop complex concepts or theories.
Now that you understand the difference between these two terms, I will present 10 habits that can help you become both smarter and more intelligent. These habits will improve your critical thinking skills and your ability to understand complex information.
Educate yourself by reading different genres of books
Reading is one of the best habits for developing creativity, critical thinking, vocabulary, and general knowledge. Therefore, if you want to become more informed, I recommend reading what you enjoy most. However, it is especially useful to focus on one or more of the following genres:
- Classic Literature
- Philosophy
- Personal Development
- Psychology
- Historical Fiction
- Nonfiction (biographies, autobiographies of historical figures, etc.)
- Mystery
- Since Fiction (maybe even Dystopia)
- Fantasy Novels
I don’t recommend romance books, but only certain fantasy books that focus on action, drama, tension, and dystopia.
Also related to reading, you can read physical books or on Kindle. If you are interested, also read the articles about the Benefits of Owning a Kindle or how to read books for free through the guide to converting a PDF book to supported formats.
Read articles instead of asking artificial intelligence about any topic
If you are not a book lover, then you can read articles online. It doesn’t take long, just 5-20 minutes a day. You can read about any topic that interests you, including news, to stay up to date with everything that is happening in the world.
For example, I was not familiar with the term alchemy, but I chose to read an article about this pseudoscience, and I can say that I understood its etymology much better. Instead of asking the artificial intelligence, I chose to inform myself.
Honestly, the good part is that I retained much more information from that article about alchemy, than if I had asked ChatGPT.
In fact, according to a study conducted in 2024 by researchers Sarah Abou Karroum, Nour-Eldin M. Elshaiekh, and Khalfan AlHijji, Artificial Intelligence has the following disadvantages: limiting creativity and critical thinking. And the advantage is the possibility of personalized learning, depending on the uncertainties.
The study results were collected from students and teachers. As such, although artificial intelligence can be a good tool for learning, it is still best not to use it excessively, or at all (if you have a job that does not use AI, machine learning).
Watch movies, series or documentaries
If reading isn’t a way to learn for you, maybe watching movies or documentaries is. I know there are movie buffs who prefer to watch a movie rather than imagine the action in a book.
So, here’s a list of movie genres and subgenres to consider.
Among the best main film genres are:
- Psychological Dramas
- Science Fiction
- Crime/Police
And the following cinematographic subgenres are included:
- Documentary (about historical figures, animals, about the minds of criminals, innovations, etc.)
- Biographical
- Historical
- War
- Western, etc.
Learn advanced words from your native language
It is good to know as many complex words in your native language as possible. For this, you can search for dictionaries online. For English, I recommend going to dictionary.com to find out the word of the day. Basically, every day you can find out the meaning of a lesser-known word, to have an advanced vocabulary.
Learn a new language
When you learn a new language, your brain forms new neural connections. Basically, you become able to make analogies because your mind tries to compare the words in your native language with those in the foreign language you are learning. In fact, learning a new language helps improve your memory.
When you learn a new language, you automatically focus on vocabulary, so you remember more words. Beyond this aspect, when you learn foreign languages, your brain develops resistance to damage and, thus, you avoid Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of dementia.
Do recreational activities that stimulate the mind
The best recreational activities are: chess, sudoku, puzzles and board games such as Monopoly or card games. In addition to these examples, you can paint, sing, practice an instrument, crochet or play a sport.
Listen to podcasts or watch YouTube videos about topics that interest you
Podcasts are already a trend, you can listen to them on your way to work, while cleaning or while cooking. In addition, videos are an opportunity to relax and learn without too much mental effort.
Travel
Traveling helps you learn about other countries’ cultures and their history. If you want to have interesting trips and if your budget allows, you can hire a tour guide. He will provide you with interesting information about the history of the place, the architecture, or the ancient or current customs.
If you don’t want a tour guide, know that it is beneficial to inform yourself about the place you are visiting, to understand the culture, the prohibited rules/laws, the destinations to visit, etc. Basically, when you plan a trip, there is a good chance that you will be interested in the country, especially if you want to visit a state prone to attacks or contagious diseases. Rest assured that the information you accumulate will be retained in the long term.
If you don’t have the money or time to travel, you can watch vlogs by travel YouTubers.
Eat foods that are beneficial for brain health
Integrate one food that supports cognitive function into your daily routine, below is a list.
- Blueberries
- Nuts
- Dark Chocolate
- Spinach
- Eggs
- Black coffe (no sugar)
- Berries
- Broccoli
- Salmon and sardines
- Turmeric
Sleep at least 7-8 hours every night
Sleep is one of the most important physiological states of a human being, without it we do not function well either mentally or physically. Also, some studies claim that lack of sleep causes cardiovascular disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system, in addition to mental and physical fatigue or problems with concentration.
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The answer to the question below is a summary or recap of the healthy habits that were presented earlier in the article.
How to become smarter?
To become smart you need to read books and interesting articles. You need to watch documentaries, learn a new language or learn advanced words from your native language. You need to play recreational activities, eat healthy foods for the brain and sleep between 7 and 8 hours, respectively visit new destinations to learn about customs, culture and history.
Now that we have reached the end of the article, which habits have you tried or would you like to try, among those presented?
Write in the comments.