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Technology develops at the speed of light, and it's becoming increasingly important for us, the people, to learn how to outsmart it to keep our jobs, advance our careers, stay ahead of the game, and become successful in a rapidly changing business environment.

But being smart isn't just about this. It's not only a practical advantage. If we can use our brains and minds to the maximum, we're opening the door to endless opportunities to grow, discover the world, and continuously experience new things.

So, how to become smarter without burning out or burying yourself in textbooks? Below, you'll discover 10 daily habits that are simple, science-backed, and incredibly effective!

Key Takeaways

• Stimulate your brain daily. Ask questions, read regularly, play brain games, and use tools like neurofeedback to sharpen your focus, memory, and thinking speed.

• Reflect, teach, and connect. Build a reflective practice through journaling, teach others what you learn, and surround yourself with smart, inspiring people to deepen understanding and expand your perspective.

• Optimize your environment and decisions. Reduce decision fatigue by simplifying routines and batching tasks—freeing up mental space for creative and critical thinking.

• Support your brain with healthy habits. Prioritize quality sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and stress management to keep your brain in peak condition.

10 Tips on How to Become Smarter

Intelligence comes in different forms or specialties, according to psychologist Howard Gardner, who studied various elements of our intellect. Gardner's work highlighted that the concept of intelligence was multidimensional.

Furthermore, psychotherapist John T. Maier suggests that being smart isn't only linked to the degree of intelligence we possess. "The other aspect of 'smart'," he states, "is an evaluative one. It says, roughly, that this display of intelligence is one that the speaker considers praiseworthy, or which accord with the speaker's value."

Therefore, on your way to becoming smarter, don't forget that this is not an all-encompassing quality that requires you to know everything or excel in every domain. Rather, it's about identifying and cultivating different types of intelligence that align with your strengths, values, and goals.

Moreover, some scientists suggest that to become smart, you have to take on tasks that are difficult for you. For example, if you're very good at Sudoku, this puzzle isn't a challenge anymore, so you can try something new.

Therefore, if you want to figure out how to become smarter without spending hours and hours in a library, keep reading!

1. Ask Questions Every Day

Curiosity is the foundation of intelligence. Asking questions regularly enhances your ability to learn and adapt to new information. Think about it: every time you ask a question, you open a door to new knowledge and insights.

Scientists Hartung et al. argue that "curious individuals might be more likely actively seeking out new environments and situations to satisfy their 'thirst of knowledge'. Being in new environments and situations increases the opportunity to learn." Moreover, they suggest that when we are exposed to new situations, we are likely to become more attentive and "apply a higher amount of exploratory behavior."

So, start your day with a question of the day. This is one of the best ways to engage your mind and cultivate a curious mindset for the rest of the day without too much hard work. Don’t be afraid of hard questions; they push you out of your comfort zone and lead to deeper understanding. Reflect on the answers you get, and that will further enhance your learning.

2. Train Your Cognitive Skills with Neurofeedback

Imagine getting smarter by literally training your brain to improve mental acuity, focus, and processing speed! That's exactly what Mendi can help you with.

Mendi is a neurofeedback brain training tool. It utilizes advanced technology that gives you real-time insights into how your prefrontal cortex is working. The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain in charge of focus, decision-making, learning, and emotion regulation. In other words, training your prefrontal cortex with Mendi can strengthen your mental muscles and help you become smarter and more self-aware.

All you have to do is wear the Mendi headband on your forehead while playing a simple game in the app. But here's the twist–the game is controlled by your brain. The sensors in our headband measure blood flow and oxygen levels in your prefrontal cortex, which increase when you're focused. As you concentrate, the game responds in real time, showing how engaged your brain is and helping you track your progress over time!

If you use the Mendi headband for just 3-15 minutes, x3 times a week, you may find it easier to:

• Stay focused while studying or working

• Think clearly when you're under pressure

• Improve your processing speed and reaction time

• Retain information and learn new things faster

• Stay motivated and mentally present throughout the day

3. Read Daily

Books are the building blocks of learning and growth. Most successful people attribute their success to reading habits. It may seem like a huge time commitment, but trust us, even 10 minutes a day of reading can make a big difference and expand your knowledge!

Reading engages multiple areas of the brain and stimulates neural pathways and overall brain health. So, make reading a habit. Start small if needed, but be consistent. Over time, you’ll discover that reading gets easier and more enjoyable.

And the best part about this activity is that you can vary your reading material. Read fiction or non-fiction books. Read scientific articles. Listen to audiobooks. This variety keeps your brain engaged, exposes you to new words in context, and expands your vocabulary.

The more you read, the more you’ll see the connections between different knowledge fields! The more you read, the more exposed you'll be to different concepts and ideas!

4. Play Brain Games

Brain games are a fun way to build a sharper mind. Play Sudoku, crosswords, memory games, and even chess–they're all great for boosting brainpower. Play these games for 5 minutes a day, and you’ll see significant improvement in your cognitive abilities! Think of them as a fun way to exercise your ability to remember things, problem-solving skills, as well as critical and analytical thinking.

You can even play video games! Fantasy and adventure games, for example, can strengthen inferencing skills (when you are able to read between the lines and find clues), improve your reaction time, and help you process information faster. The key is to make these games a part of your daily routine, which can fit into your overall development.

5. Build a Reflective Practice

Reflection is one of the most powerful tools for personal and intellectual growth. When practiced consistently, it transforms everyday experiences into valuable learning opportunities. When you take time each day to reflect on your thoughts, actions, and decisions, you can deepen self-awareness, improve emotional intelligence, and foster personal growth. Plus, reflection not only puts things in perspective in your head but also helps you align your daily routines with your long-term goals.

One effective way to achieve this is through journaling. A 5-minute journaling session can help you realize what you've achieved, lock information into memory, and reflect on your experiences. Allow yourself to challenge your assumptions and thoughts–this can also lead to breakthrough insights and a more open-minded outlook on life.

Here's a tip: write in your journal by hand, as it is much more beneficial. Writing by hand can lead to a better conceptual understanding of a subject and support learning by engaging the brain in different ways. According to cognitive neuroscientist Marieke Longcamp, "[h]andwriting is probably among the most complex motor skills that the brain is capable of." Plus, you can also draw or sketch in your journal to make this activity more enjoyable!

6. Interact with Smart People

Surrounding yourself with intelligent people is a powerful way to boost your own intelligence and get smarter. They can inspire and support you by exposing you to new perspectives. When you connect with successful people, you unravel new ways of thinking, problem-solving, and approaching challenges.

Ultimately, if you interact with someone new every week, you’ll soon notice that you'll have managed to expand your worldview and introduce new ideas into your life. Just make sure to connect with smart people in your field or related areas of interest. Attend seminars and workshops, join discussion groups, or have a coffee chat with someone knowledgeable. The more you engage with these circles, the more opportunities you'll create for growth, collaboration, and creative breakthroughs.

7. Stay Healthy

The mind-body connection–a truly powerful one indeed! You can't rely on your brain's potential when you're under chronic stress or sleep deprived. Your brain can't function at its best when it doesn't receive the nutrients it needs from your diet and when you're not moving your body (according to the CDC, physical activity can really help you think, memorize, learn, and problem-solve!).

What you eat can truly influence your brain performance. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet supports memory, focus, and mental stamina. More precisely, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds) are known to improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of age-related decline. Leafy greens, berries, and whole grains are just as beneficial. And don't forget about hydration, as it provides you with more energy for leveraging your cognitive powers!

And get enough quality sleep. When you sleep, your brain resets, repairs, and consolidates information. This goes hand in hand with managing stress, which can be done through practices like deep breathing, meditation, or simply spending time in nature.

8. Reduce the Number of Daily Decisions

Research suggests that adults make approximately 35,000 decisions every day. Quite a significant number when put in perspective, right? This constant decision-making can lead to decision fatigue. This, in turn, drains your mental energy, and you are left with no cognitive resources to learn new stuff:

To mitigate decision fatigue and preserve mental clarity, consider doing these:

• Have a routine. Automate daily tasks like meal planning or outfit selection.

• Batch similar tasks. Group different related decisions, such as responding to emails, at designated times.

• Prioritize important decisions. Tackle complex tasks when you're most alert.

9. Teach Others What You've Learned

Once you learn something new, teach it to others. This way, you're consolidating what you've learned, reinforcing your understanding, and uncovering areas that need to be improved.

For example, if you want to read every day, join a book club where you can discuss the books you're reading. Or you can find a friend who is willing to be your buddy read so you can exchange ideas. You can also leverage social media for this purpose–create an account where you can post about things you've mastered.

10. Other Methods You Can Try to Become Smarter

Here are some other methods you can try if you want to become smarter and broaden your knowledge base:

• Read aloud. This boosts comprehension, memory retention, and verbal fluency. It also forces your brain to process visual input and turn it into speech.

• Learn/work in short bursts of 20-30 minutes, and then take a break. There are various apps that can help you with this.

• Take notes during meetings or when you're attending workshops to learn new skills, preferably by hand.

• Use the "Feynman Technique" to consolidate information. It implies imagining that you're explaining something to a person who has absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

• Learn one new word every day.

• Change the way you study frequently.

Get Your Mendi to Train Your Brain!

Becoming smarter isn’t just about working harder—it’s about thinking sharper, staying calm under pressure, and mastering your mind. With Mendi, you don’t just learn more—you train your brain to learn better.

So if you’re ready to unlock clearer thinking, laser focus, and a smarter you without too much effort, get your own Mendi device today and start building the brain you’ve always wanted—one focused session at a time. Your future self will thank you!

FAQs

Is it possible to develop intelligence?

It is possible to develop intelligence. More precisely, scientists consider we can improve fluid intelligence, which is our ability to manipulate information, generate ideas, and solve problems.

How to increase your intelligence?

You can increase your intelligence by improving your cognitive skills through neurofeedback, reading more books, cultivating curiosity, surrounding yourself with smart people, staying healthy, increasing self-awareness, and playing brain games.

Is dedicating time to reading really worth it?

Yes, dedicating time to reading is incredibly valuable as it improves focus, memory, information processing skills, and other cognitive abilities.

Why is physical exercise good for brain health?

Physical exercise is good for brain health as it improves memory, reduces anxiety and depression, and lowers the risk of cognitive decline.