Doing this forms new pathways and connections in your brain. Quite often we take for granted how easy life is, especially once we get the basics down. When you mix it up, your brain has to relearn the skill, challenging it all the more.

Try 30 minutes each day. You may split this into 10 or 15 minute blocks 2-3 times a day. It is preferable to do when you wake up, after you exercise, and at night directly before you go to bed.

Caffeine[3] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Creatine[4] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Ginkgo Biloba[5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Omega-3 fatty acids[6] X Research source

This is good for your waistline, too, and fitness, in turn, can improve your mood. The more endorphins you release in your exercise sessions, the more active your brain is and the better you’ll feel.

Aim to get a solid 7-9 hours of sleep a night, too. When you’re tired, your brain can’t function at 100%. It cuts down what it thinks it can, sort of putting you in hibernation mode, and only does what it absolutely has to to keep you alive and breathing. Consistent inadequate sleep also prevents your brain from developing to its full potential, and can lead to various mental and physical illnesses down the line.

You can try MIT OpenCourseware, which offers notes, syllabuses, and tests from over 1800 official MIT courses. You can also go for Coursera, KhanAcademy, or even YouTube.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Stanford-Binet do not measure intelligence in a single, simple form. Rather, they have a set of problems which measure your ability to process things quickly, understand what you are told, and recognize sequences.

The tests you can take for free online aren’t like the actual tests you might take through a career center or a psychiatrist. If you want your real IQ, you’ll have to take the real thing. There is generally a fee, so always try your hardest.

Even just visiting a new place or trying a new food is a good experience. You’re widening your knowledge, making yourself better informed for future decisions. However, the more different they are, the better. Consider it an excuse for an exotic vacation!

Learning another language is a great way to get the brain working on new pathways. Not only does it fire up centers in your brain that aren’t being used, but it’s real-world applicable and impressive to boot.

This is especially important for breakfast to get you ready and raring to go for the day. [13] X Expert Source Katherine DembyTest Prep Specialist Expert Interview. 17 December 2020. Sugar for breakfast just leads to a crash in a couple of hours, slowing you down, and leaving you even hungrier than before.

Not too much though, of course. Anywhere between 1 and 5 ounces a day is good.

Folic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, and niacin are all part of the structure of vitamin B. When you get vitamin B, you get a powerhouse of goodies all in one.

Vegetarians have higher IQs on the whole, by about 5 points for both sexes. [17] X Research source To get the extra boost, make “Meatless Monday” a regular thing throughout the week.

You can also use this technique to manage your weight. Many fast intermittently and see great results in terms of weight loss. Just make sure you’re doing it safely – fasting isn’t for everyone (the elderly, expecting mothers, young children, etc. ).