Many people believe, quite wrongly, that intelligence is formed and fixed in youth, and that there is no chance of change as they grow older. But research shows the opposite.

Increasing intelligence is possible at any age. Even if your school years are long behind you, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn new things that will help you grow as a person. Learning is a lifelong process, and wisdom comes with age.

There are simple habits you can apply in your everyday life that will help you become smarter. Here are 7 simple habits that improve your cognitive skills.

1. Read it. Many. Anything

Research shows that the earlier a person learns to read and the more he reads, the more he will keep his brain functions unchanged even as he ages. Reading improves your memory and makes you smarter. It stimulates your brain and keeps it healthy, which helps with memory. Reading has been proven to reduce age-related cognitive decline and prevent mental illness.

When you read a book, for example, you have to remember a lot of information – from the names of the characters to the sequence of events in the story. If you are a detective lover, you will try to solve the mystery without reaching the end of the story. And this means to remember (memorize) all the information obtained from the book and combine it (think) to decipher the mystery.

Those who prefer fiction also have advantages. This literary genre not only improves communication and communication skills, but also develops emotional intelligence, according to research. I mean they make you a better person. Reading gives you a chance to develop empathy because, for example, by reading about the reactions and actions of characters, you will be able to understand the slight expressions and grimaces of people you interact with in your everyday life. So, reading makes you not only smarter, but also better. Because, by better understanding people’s emotions, you will become more useful to others and, why not, more human, better.

2. Use a news service with a filter

Many people believe that they need to be aware of everything new that is happening in this world. Any knowledge gained through haphazard consumption of information leads to brain overload with information that is irrelevant to your intelligence. And clearly a negative value for health!

Watch the news channel all day and see how you feel! Hour after hour the same information is replayed in a loop. Introducing them again and again is exciting. Do yourself a favor and stop this ordeal that can cause you panic attacks. Subscribe to a news service where you can filter your main feed to receive/view only news in areas that interest you.

Choose to know only what is important to you and focus on what makes you feel good. For example, the Mind&Corp section of the HotNews.ro news site.

3. Learn something new every day

We are never too old to learn something new. While it’s true that our minds are more receptive when we’re children, that doesn’t mean we can’t learn new things when we’re older.

Learn new skills. Ride a bike, for example, or a scooter! Look for online courses, attend workshops – how about learning pottery?! Choose something that interests you, because it is much easier to learn something new if it interests you.

Learn a foreign language. This is a way to improve your intelligence. You’ve been watching movies for a while and it seems like you already understand a little Spanish. Scientists have proven that being bilingual increases your intelligence.

It has always been said that people who speak two languages ​​are smarter. Learning a foreign language can have a significant effect on the brain. It not only improves language intelligence, but also protects you from dementia in old age. The words of the new language you will learn, as well as the grammar rules of that language, will improve your memory and give your mind more self-control.

Learn to play an instrument. It’s never too late for that. This will give you an extra reason to be the soul of a meeting with friends or even make new friends. You may not be able to become a pianist at 40, but you can learn to decipher the notes and make the instrument sound beautiful in your hands. Similar to learning a foreign language, when you learn to play an instrument, you develop your cognitive functions and bring many positive effects to the brain.

4. Beware of technology!

Technology is great, but if we leave everything to it, our brains will become increasingly lazy. The next time you need to calculate something, do it in your head. If this is difficult, calculate on paper. Want to know where the city is? Look also in an atlas or a tourist guide. The brain is a muscle, so it needs to be exercised every day.

5. Surround yourself with smart people

There is an advantage in surrounding yourself with like-minded people. But if you want to be smart, hang out with people who are smarter than you. Connect with people who inspire you and those you think are exceptional. A variety of opinions and experiences sharpens your mind. And an environment that challenges you intellectually will help you thrive.

Stop wasting time on people who bring you down or have a negative influence on you. Being selective about who you spend time with becomes a better strategy as you get older. If the people around you are deeply influencing you, you should learn to attract others you admire and gradually eliminate toxic relationships from your life.

In addition to the knowledge you possess, intelligence comes from frequent, quality interactions with other people. Scientists have concluded that the stronger the social connection, the more likely these people will keep your mind clear.

6. Play board games (scrabble, chess, sudoku, rebuses, puzzles)

In fact, it can be a very interesting way to become smarter. It is an activity that involves problem solving, reasoning, critical thinking and creativity.

It has been scientifically proven that board games can educate and develop our intelligence. They develop our logical thinking skills, improve our learning abilities and reduce the risk of age-related cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

7. Visit museums

Or draw, color, paint, DIY or crochet. All these actions contribute to increasing intelligence. Visiting museums, moreover, involves physical movement, which has long been known as the engine that drives all our functions, not just the functions of the brain. And creating art requires imagination, whether you’re drawing concrete things or depicting emotions in abstract art. All of them play a useful role in the further development of the brain.

Don’t give up activities you used to enjoy just because you’ve reached a certain age. Choose something you enjoy doing and organize yourself to find time to put it into practice.

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