Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.
Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.
1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.
Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.
When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.
2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.
3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.
Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.
4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.
If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.
5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.
I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.
Conclusion – I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.
If you’re still hungry for more, check out the follow up post: 5 More Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence.


Pingback: heliosphan » Friday Links
Pingback: ruthnb.com » Blog Archive » links for 2007-02-17
Pingback: Blog: The Life » 5 Simple Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence
Pingback: drdrewfus.com » links for 2007-02-17
Pingback: Quick Links 18 Feb 2007 - Affiliate Marketing Blogger
Pingback: The Best Stuff of the Week 2-18-07 | steve-olson.com
Pingback: Brad’s Bits » Maximize your intelligence
Pingback: Life Optimizer - Live your life to the max
Pingback: Personal Development Radar - 24/02/2007 - Personal Development Ideas Blog
Pingback: Top Reads of the Week - Aridni
Pingback: Verve Coaching:: Life, Growth and Leadership, Boston MA » Archives » Carnival of Powerful Living - March 6th, 2007
Pingback: My Blog is Becoming Popular ... - Personal Development for Smart People Forums
Pingback: zen habits » Blog Archive » Inspiration file: Positive Blog Network
Pingback: What has made you smarter? - Personal Development for Smart People Forums
Pingback: Understanding Your Intelligence - The Best Resources | steve-olson.com
Pingback: 1st Paragraph » 5 Simple Ways to Make the Most of Your Intelligence
Pingback: 28 Links that Will Change Your Life « The Optimized Life
Pingback: links for 2007-04-14 at DeStructUred Blog
Pingback: mainpage
Pingback: Top 5 Ways to Build a Wonderful Life
Pingback: Lost Dawah - Living in this World...Preparing for the Next » » 5 Simple Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Intelligence
Pingback: Jobriga Journal » 5 ways to make the most of your intelligence
Pingback: How to become a “genius” in 5 steps? — BlogoSquare
Pingback: links for 2007-05-27 « Marcel Janus - WebLog
Pingback: Interview: Best Post at Productivity501
Pingback: 27 Personal Growth Links « Recipes, Personal Growth, Leadership, & Marijuana
Pingback: links for 2007-06-28 | noahcarter.com
Pingback: 多彩多姿 » 五种方法构建美丽人生
Pingback: 100 Tips for Better Life « printf
Pingback: Internet Redux — 100 Great Tips to Improve Your Life
Pingback: 100 Tips to Improve Your Life « My Weblog
Pingback: Boost Productivity and Energy Levels by Napping
Pingback: Make life beautiful « WEB SIDE ALLEY
Pingback: Más de cinco consejos para mejorar tu inteligencia « BLOG DE ONASIS
Pingback: 100 Tips to Improve Your Life : XianSi ’s Blog
Pingback: N 2 T u a n ‘ s B l o g » Blog Archive » 100 Tips to Improve Your Life
Pingback: Build Brain Power with these 21 Resources | Pick the Brain
Pingback: How to Fill Leisure Time Intelligently and Some Powerful Reasons You Should | PickTheBrain
Pingback: Five tips and you’re set « THE WELLNESS MANUAL
Pingback: » How to Increase Your Intelligence
Pingback: links for 2008-01-04 « Arrogant Poetry
Pingback: Happiness Project: John Wesley of Pick The Brain | Alex Shalman . com
Pingback: Talent Zoo Journal » Ways to Increase Your Intelligence
Pingback: Top 100 Self-help, Self Improvement Guides | Shape Up America
Pingback: The Most Incredible Ways To Improve Thyself! | Shape Up America
Pingback: Personal Development Radar - 24/02/2007 | Personal Development Blog
Pingback: Exercícios para o cérebro | E-Metropoli 2.0
Pingback: L0Q.com - Life’s Quest » Blog Archive » The Most Incredible Ways To Improve Thyself!
Pingback: noeL’s » Blog Archive » Live Life Rocks
Pingback: Top 5 Ways to Build a Wonderful Life « Satria Hijau
Pingback: Live Without Work
Pingback: Motivation and Self Improvement | PickTheBrain
Pingback: The Space Between My Peers » 5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Children's Intelligence
Pingback: Inspiration file: Positive Blog Network « Live for Joy
Pingback: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Rid of Laziness and Procrastination! | Shape Up America!!
Pingback: Does GTD Make Your Brain Lazy? - Work smart, play smart
Pingback: 6 ways to increase your IQ, including playing video games!
Pingback: پنج راه ساده برای افزایش هوش -
Pingback: 100 Tips to Improve Your Life (w/links) // Random Dopeness
Pingback: uberVU - social comments
Pingback: insomnia
Pingback: Train Your Brain | Choose the Right (CTR)
Pingback: Cultivating My Vocabulary « Granthickman33's Blog
Pingback: Top 5 Ways to Build a Wonderful Life | David Tasaka Website – Self-Empowered Living
Pingback: Top Reads of the Week | Aridni News Aridni
Pingback: Top 5 Ways to Build a Wonderful Life « Self-Improvement Blog
Pingback: One hundred tips to improve your life | optimal-human-performance.com
Pingback: Helpful Articles and Videos for Balanced Living
Pingback: How To Improve Eyesight Naturally [HD]
Pingback: 5 Formas Simples de Aumentar a sua Inteligência - Master Kaizen
Pingback: 100 Tips Improve Your Life | ZEN NGUYEN
Pingback: Best Self Improvement Blog
Pingback: Your Questions About Aquaponics How To | eConsumer Product Reviews
Pingback: Big Shift
Pingback: UPDATE of final project « cleveland125
Pingback: Top 5 Ways to Build a Wonderful Life « mylifecolors
Pingback: Five Things To Improve Intelligence | A Super Creative Blog
Pingback: Get Smarter in 2012! | HMH Current Events
Pingback: 5 Cara Efektif Meningkatkan Intelegensi
Pingback: Intelligence/Development/Brain Power | Pearltrees
Pingback: Visit Indonesia
Pingback: Top 10 Productivity Blogs « Changing the Way You Work
Pingback: I Will Not Zone Out While Writing This Blog Post « Lessons in Sashology
Pingback: Pondering: Brain Overload
Pingback: 10 ways to improve our Intelligence | Capital Campus
Pingback: 英語学習にも重要? あなたの知性を高める5つの方法 | 無料で楽しむ! オンライン
Pingback: 5 Cách Đơn Giản Để Tăng Cường Trí Tuệ | Giây phút thảnh thơi
Pingback: The Wellness Clarinet
Pingback: Elle Marie Presley