We would all like to be smarter, make better decisions, improve our memory. But did you know you some brain exercises can start to make you smarter in less than a week? Let’s discover seven techniques that can get you started.
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1. Listening to podcasts at 1.5x or 2x speed
Do you watch Youtube, podcasts, or audio books?
One of the easiest and practical techniques you can incorporate into your daily life is speed listening to your favorite audiobook or podcast! (at a playback speed of 1.5 or 2).
The average speech rate for humans is about 150 words per minute. However, studies have shown that the human brain can easily digest 275 to 300 words per minute. So, speeding up your audio means you can consume more information and get smarter much quicker.
It takes some practice. You may even struggle to keep up with the speaker. You can even try 1.25x speed to get started. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your brain adapts! Then, increase the speed a bit more. Soon, you will be able to listen to more material than you otherwise would.
2. Playing Chess for Brain Exercise
Learning to play Chess can be a total life changer! It is a classic game of strategy and skill. You’ll feel smarter the more you learn and play it. (And people will thing you’re smarter too.)
Playing Chess is a brain workout. The number of variables in play on the board forces you to think about your next move and sharpens your decision-making skills. By playing Chess, you are keeping your brain engaged and active, which is beneficial for you now and in the long run.
Studies have shown that people over 75 years old who engage in brain games like chess are less likely to develop dementia and lose of thinking abilities and memory than those who don’t.
If you don’t like Chess, there are plenty of other options for you ( Such as Scrabble, Sudoku, Rubik’s Cube..etc.) You can always try any brain-stimulating game until you land on something you genuinely enjoy, which should do the trick! Recent studies have show that, yes, even video games may help elderly people work out their brains.
3. Do Tasks Differently
Just doing tasks differently is one of the easiest things you can do to increase your intelligence. It’s simple and not demanding–though it can be frustrating in the moment.
We do several tasks every day without even putting any thought into them, brushing our teeth, making the bed, or going to work. Our brains work on autopilot. But when brains become too efficient, they get lazy.
These tasks are perfect opportunities to change things and keep your brain challenged.
For example, one of the effortless things you can do is to brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand. This is a lot harder than you would think. Using your non-dominant hand for daily tasks forces your brain out of its comfort zone, which helps strengthen neural connections and develop new ones.
Practicing this technique won’t turn you into Einstein. it will surely keep your brain active and make you more adaptable than you were before. Never underestimate the power of giving your brain little challenges.
4. Learning a New Language
The benefits of learning a language are numerous. Studies have shown that people who can speak more than one language fluently are more creative, have a better memory, and are more mentally flexible than those who only speak one language.
Speaking and comprehending grammar in a second language enhances flexibility and Creative Thinking and improves memory function (long & short-term). One of the best benefits of learning a language is that it can stave off diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia by up to five years. Which is better than prescribed medication!
Our list of favorite language learning apps includes is Duolingo. In the last year, I’ve used Duolingo to learn basic Italian and Polish.
5. Changing your Diet
Food fuels the body and the brain. What we eat is vitally important for our mental and physical performance.
As the saying goes, Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO). If you put garbage in your body, you can’t expect excellence to come out. A diet consisting of fast food and sugary snacks isn’t going to do much for your brain. Especially because your brain is made mostly of fat!
Foods such as salmon, which are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, are vital for your brain. Studies show a deficiency of Omega-3 can lead to fatigue, poor memory, and mood swings. Your body does not produce Omega-3, so you must include it in your diet. By eating healthier foods, you will eat smarter and make yourself smarter.
6. Teaching
It is not required to be a professional teacher to use this technique. Teaching your children or someone you know a new skill is all you need to do to get a little brighter.
Teaching is a brain teaser for those who don’t know! It requires you to think of ways to explain and simplify a particular matter to your students so they can understand.
The skill of teaching communicates knowledge you possess to someone who doesn’t have that knowledge. The best teachers can explain this knowledge concisely and efficiently to the student. To successfully achieve this, you must think like a student and put yourself in their shoes. By doing so, you are compelling your brain to think differently and solve problems.
7. Neglecting technology
Technology has improved our lives in many ways, but it also makes us lazy. When we remove any technology aids we may have, our brain is forced to do a little workout.
The more tasks and arithmetic you do in your head, the better you will become in the long run. Doing this will keep you sharp and your brain agile. This will also help in situations where you may find yourself without the help of technology and need to engage your problem-solving skills.
In conclusion, you should challenge your brain daily. If you don’t, it can begin to waste away just like your muscles. These simple techniques can make it easy.
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