When Simple Ways but ‘Scientific’ Add 5 to 15 % to your Intelligence and Productivity
How can you say that you are intelligent?
Is it having a perfect score in an exam? Always excel in academic activities? Being active in class? Bringing stickers of rewards from your teacher?
Or you can conquer the world through your undoubted knowledge?
Based on the Britannica dictionary, being intelligent means having the ability to easily learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations.
While pursuing the course I wanted, I’ve noticed a significant difference in terms of learning and how classes and activities are handled. There are a lot of formulas, complex and specialized problems, and technical skills that are undoubtedly helpful in various fields and specializations.
‘Rest in peace to my brain cells’
‘I wish I had the portion or genetics of Einstein’s brain’
That's what I always say when I feel so drained from my studies and even in everyday life. I feel like my brain is shrinking, my organs are going to explode, and then...
I became so curious that I searched for various methods to enhance my intelligence — not just to improve what I have, but to make it a habit and eventually turn it into a system.
Through this article, I want to share these effective ideas, especially for those whose thinking and focus are their primary tools for work and study.
By consistently incorporating these habits into your daily life, you can gradually develop and improve your intelligence. This will only be true if you actually do them, not just think about them.
1 — Drinking water
When I am studying, I always have my glass or my tumbler on my study table. When there’s a topic I can’t understand, I tend to drink because my body makes it a habit.
I get refueled. My body feels refreshed after having a sip or drinking water.
It’s like I am a vehicle, and the water is my fuel. For the vehicle to perform well, the driver must refill the tank with good fuel.
Scientific Explanation: Dehydration may affect cognitive performance, as water accounts for 75% of brain mass [1]. Water gives the brain energy for thought and memory processes. Also, it is needed for the production of hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain [2].
2 — Eat Brain-Healthy Foods
‘You are what you eat.’
What you consume shapes not just your body, but also your mind, energy, and overall well-being.
The brain is the central powerhouse of our body, operating 24/7. From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep, we rely on our brain for everything we do. Even when we’re resting or asleep, the brain remains fully active, ensuring that our body functions properly.
What I am saying is what you are eating every day reflects on your brain activity.
Not getting enough sleep, waking up late, and eating junk food make our brains allergic to them.
Eat appropriately—not just eating, but the right time and how much you must intake to be more productive. If you are hungry, then eat something nutritious. If you are full, stop so you won’t fall into ‘food coma’, or become sleepy after eating.
Hara hachi bu is a Japanese practice of eating until you’re 80% full. It encourages mindful eating by stopping before you feel completely full, relying on internal cues rather than external ones.
3 — Read and write regularly
Just as our body needs physical exercise, our brain craves regular mental workouts to stay sharp. Engaging in activities like reading and writing is an excellent way to strengthen cognitive skills and keep our minds in shape.
During my school days, especially in college, I relied more on digital tools than handwriting because they were easier and more convenient. However, I’ve noticed that my handwriting has gotten worse over time, and I feel more fatigued when I have to write by hand.
Writing notes by hand helps me retain information better than typing. Plus, I can easily find where I wrote specific notes.
Imagine the process of consuming information as being similar to eating food.
When we eat, the act of chewing and swallowing can be compared to reading or taking in information. Just as our bodies digest food, breaking it down and extracting nutrients, our minds digest what we read by processing and understanding it. The nutrients absorbed by our bodies represent the important information that we retain and internalize.
On the other hand, just as waste is expelled from our bodies after digestion, irrelevant or unnecessary information is discarded by our minds. In this way, reading is like eating, writing is like digesting, and the retained knowledge is like the nutrients that nourish us.
Scientific Explanation: In a 2014 study, Mangun and Verlay found that writing by hand provides feedback to the brain that aids memory recall. Similarly, Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014) observed that handwritten notes enhance both memory recall and conceptual learning.
- Researchers using MRI scans have found that the same brain areas activate regardless of the language read. The temporo-parietal cortex connects speech sounds with meaning and activates when decoding unfamiliar words. The inferior frontal cortex is involved in speech production, used when thinking about pronouncing words. The occipito-temporal cortex recognizes letters and words by sight.
- These areas are linked by white matter pathways, which strengthen with reading proficiency.
4 — Exercise and meditate
Exercise is crucial for boosting brain function and intelligence. Regular physical activity not only sharpens focus and increases energy levels throughout the day but also enhances creativity.
When you move, your brain benefits from increased blood flow and oxygen, which can lead to a surge of new ideas and improved problem-solving abilities. Exercise also stimulates the release of neurotrophic factors, which support brain cell growth and connectivity, further enhancing cognitive performance.
Taking a simple walk is much better than attending a brainstorming meeting. Trust me.
From my experience, whenever I’m washing clothes, walking, or doing anything other than being on my phone, ideas seem to flow effortlessly, as if they’re naturally being fed into my brain.
Scientific Explanation: Exercise triggers changes in the body, such as producing growth factors — chemicals that help form new blood vessels in the brain and support the growth, survival, and health of new brain cells.
5— Set Goals. Make plans and tick them off.
‘I have three items on my lists that I need to finish today’
‘I need to do these in order to finish these tasks.’
That’s what my brain said when I listed my weekly goals. I am more driven, and every Sunday is my ‘planning day.’
Setting goals and planning how to achieve them not only boost your intelligence but also help you stay organized and focused. This approach keeps you prepared and provides guidance on what you will do in the coming days.
By breaking down your goals into actionable steps, you build problem-solving skills and improve your ability to think ahead, making it easier to reach your objectives.
Having weekly goals is better than having no plans at all. You become more driven and guided by what needs to be done, aligning your actions with your long-term goals.
Scientific explanation: Dopamine and serotonin are key neurotransmitters involved in goal-related feelings. Dopamine is released when you’re close to achieving a goal, creating motivation and satisfaction. Serotonin promotes happiness, calm, and focus. Their presence explains why achieving a goal feels rewarding.
6— Curiosity is a superpowers
- Why did researchers conduct thick and comprehensive studies?
- Why did scientists stay up all night just to discover new things?
- How did I come up with these lists of ideas to improve our thinking?
Like Einstein said, ‘I have no special talents, I’m only passionately curious.’
You took a certain course to improve your skills or develop what is needed for the future. You are researching because you want to explore new things beyond what you know.
Sit at a table. Pretend you don’t know anything. Act like a 5-year-old on your first day of school. Be driven by curiosity.
Believe it or not, successful people are curious. Their curiosity is what drove them to where they are now — the positions they hold and the knowledge they share with others.
- A few years ago, Elon Musk’s first wife, Justine, noted on Quora that becoming a billionaire is more about being “intensely curious about what the world wants and needs” than about personal desires.
- In 2011, Forbes published an article by August Turak titled “Steve Jobs and the One Trait All Innovative Leaders Share.” Turak highlights that Steve Jobs wasn’t curious about success itself; rather, his success connected to his deep curiosity.
Be hungry like a hyena, not for food, but for knowledge. Be open. We can’t grow if we keep saying, “I know that already, so I don’t need any more person to teach me.”
7— Limit Screen Time
- Do you feel drained even you are doing nothing?
- Do you feel so tired even you just wake up in the morning?
I’m sure your mom checks on you every night to see if you’re still using your phone, catching YouTube reels, or watching TV series.
If you do these things, you gradually turn yourself into a zombie. If you’re not aware of this, it’s time to take a break from your screen or gradually limit your screen time.
Being distracted is a broad topic in technology, discussed by various professionals in areas such as ‘How to Break Your Distractions’ and ‘How to End Procrastination.’ It’s alarming, but many people are still not aware of it.
All of too much is bad.
Screen time can be beneficial if used for self-improvement, but these gadgets can be harmful if you let them keep you constantly entertained and scrolling. Imagine navigating this world without your device — how would you prioritize your time and focus?
Still not convinced?
Scientific Explanation: Excessive use of gadgets and social media is linked to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The light from screens mimics daytime, suppressing melatonin and disrupting sleep. It also overloads the sensory system, fractures attention, and depletes mental reserves.
Set specific times to use your phone, and approach technology as if you were a Homo sapiens or Homo erectus discovering it for the first time.
8— Stay Socially Active
It’s a big challenge for me.
I am a shy person. I feel uncomfortable around crowds. I dislike being among many people, as if they are staring at me and judging me.
Face your fears. Step out of your shell. Engage in brief conversations with others and observe the significant changes.
One thing you’ll learn is that communication with other people is a good practice for our brain. Why?
Talking to your best friend or neighbors can be compared to walking down a street and brainstorming for a good writing topic. After engaging in a meaningful conversation, you’ll often feel uplifted. This positive emotional state can lead to a flow of new ideas and topics for writing, which is beneficial for your brain.
Make healthy conversations. Do it for your body not just for entertainments but also for your life improvements.
Take note that communicating with others is bad if you keep badmouthing them, revealing their dark secrets, or making plans to take down certain individuals.
Not only bad for your brain but also as a living person.
Scientific Explanation: Healthy interactions with other people promote your brain’s release of the chemical's oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. These brain chemicals help control your social behavior and support your overall health and well-being, making social interaction naturally rewarding.
9— Practice Critical Thinking
If someone sent you a million dollar to your bank account, what will you do? Deposit for business or buy your dream sports car?
Sounds complicated, right?
Practicing critical thinking is a conscious or unconscious development that benefits your brain. It involves engaging in deep thinking to solve problems, make decisions, and more.
- Decision making — It’s great practice for those running businesses, entrepreneurs, and others where their decisions are significant. By doing this daily, they are unconsciously improving their brains, which is a great advantage for them.
- Problem- solving — During my engineering journey, complex problems are unescapable. The way they are constructed, along with the given values and conditions, is mind-blowing. However, the fact is that unconsciously, we are progressing from basic to more complicated problems.
- Evaluation — Take this as a simple example: Ask yourself, ‘Is it too much, or do I need to add more?’ You are evaluating whether your project needs further improvement or if you should keep it as it is.
Challenge your brain and unlock your underlying skills. This will prepare you to handle more complex situations.
10 — Take a Break
- Do you feel like you’re slowing down?
- Are you experiencing burnout or struggling to come up with new ideas?
The most important thing: don’t forget to take a break.
You are not just improving your intelligence but also improving your brain by doing your tasks.
Imagine a sports car in a race. The car takes a break to change its tires, adjust them, and refuel. After these modifications, the car becomes faster and more competitive on the track.
Your brain might say, “Hey, little buddy, I’ve done my job. I think it’s time for a well-earned break.”
- Pomodoro Technique — If you want your system to be more organized, use the Pomodoro Technique. It’s my method when I am studying — either using a phone clock or watching live videos. It involves a 30-minute session followed by a 5-minute break. During the break, I walk or drink water and avoid using my phone to prevent scrolling, which could disrupt your plan.
Scientific Explanation: Your brain gets a boost from rest and breaks because you have different electrochemical brain states based on what your brain is doing. When the brain is active, it produces beta waves; when resting, alpha waves; daydreaming, theta waves; and sleeping, delta waves.
Key takeaways:
- Drink water
- Eat brain-healthy foods
- Exercises
- Read and write regularly
- Set goals. Plan and tick them off.
- Be curious
- Limit Screen Time
- Stay Socially Active
- Practice Critical Thinking
- Take a break
These are simple and proven methods. You read this article because you were interested — maybe you wanted to improve yourself. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to improve quickly; take it step by step or gradually.
Intelligence can be a result of genetics or personal development. It’s up to you how you use it every day: whether to maintain it as it is or to improve upon it, striving to surpass even someone like Albert Einstein.
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