5 Ways to Increase Intelligence
In a recent post, Andrea Kuszweski describes the 5 ways one can increase their fluid intelligence. Here is a summary of those 5 ways.
1. Be a Knowledge Junkie
Openness to new experiences is strongly correlated with IQ. New experiences trigger the release of dopamine, a hormone that plays an important role in the brain. Dopamine simultaneously stimulates new neurons and prepares the brain for learning.
Seek knowledge outside your area of expertise. Engage in activities and experiences outside your comfort zone.
2. Cause Your Brian Discomfort
The brain’s natural efficiency is not conducive for cognitive growth. Once the brain has learned a task, it will find the shortest neural path to complete that task. This shortened paths result in decreased cognitive activities. In order to ensure that new neural connections are forged in the brain, you have to constantly engage in activities that are challenging. Engaging in activities that cause the right level of anxiety will help spur cognitive growth.
3. Think Creatively
Forget “right brain” / “left brain.” Creativity is about finding connections and relationships that have gone unnoticed. You do this by engaging in divergent thinking, which requires the“whole brain.” By fully engaging your mind and being cognitively flexible in your approach (conventional/unconventional thinking), you will be able to make novel and creative observations. This form of thinking contributes to your cognitive growth.
4. Never Take The Easy Way
As stated earlier, comfort is the enemy of cognitive growth. Your brain, like all muscles, needs exercise to grow. Simple things such as getting somewhere without using GPS and not using auto-correct or translation software will help give your brain some needed exercise. Avoid shortcuts when possible.
5. Reach Out
Network. Network. Network. Your social connections will help expose you to new ideas and perspectives discussed in Step 1. This is especially true of your “weak connections,” which are those connections outside your inner circle. The network you develop, either through social media or face-to-face, will contribute to collective learning.
Although the ways seem simple, the steps to put them into to practice may be difficult. But like everything, the first step is the most important one. And in this case, the first step is recognizing that you have the capacity to improve your cognitive abilities.
The referenced post contains links to great research and articles that are worth reading.
If you liked this post, I would really appreciate it if you’d hit the Recommend button below, which will mean more people will see it. Similar writings can be found in my Medium Collection Creative Individuals and Businesses. You can also find me over on Twitter. Thanks!
