Are You Smart Or Intelligent? 5 Things That Can Help You In Becoming Smart!

Most of us would like to call ourselves both as we think of them as synonymous terms, but that’s not actually the case. Smartness and intelligence may go hand in hand, but there’s a thin line between them that separates the two and gives each of them a whole new meaning of their own.

To explain it further, intelligence is something you are born with. It can be defined as your ability to learn, which is dependent on your genetic makeup and, hence, cannot be changed. So, you’re either born intelligent or not. (At least now you know why you suck at math.)

Smartness, on the other hand, is something you acquire. It refers to learned inferences like making the right decision in the various circumstances of life, for example. Simply put, smartness can be defined as an earned status. Ergo, if you read a book, you will become smarter, although that won’t necessarily make you intelligent. (Not getting any better at math there, are we?)

That said, if you were looking to be more intelligent, then too bad. It can’t be done. However, you can definitely become smarter!

Here are 5 tips that will help you in becoming smarter every day!

1. Make A Note Of Everything New You Learn

If you are on a ‘curiosity voyage’ and want to get smarter by the minute, it’s best you write down whatever you learn. According to a recent study, if you pen down what you’re learning, you are able to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter, and even remember it better in the long run (1). But you have to make sure that you actually write it down with a pen in a notebook rather than type it out. While typing is good for copying notes verbatim, it doesn’t help in the absorption of the knowledge that you’ve just acquired since your brain doesn’t get the time to process and articulate the information gathered.

2. Play Tons Of Video Games

One way to get smarter is to ensure that your brain functions more efficiently than ever before. And one of the ways to ensure that it indeed does so is to play more video games! Researchers have found that playing video games can improve brain activity and make a part of your brain, which is responsible for visuospatial skills and attention span, more efficient (2). Besides, playing puzzle-based games keeps your brain sharp even in old age. Being smarter cannot get easier than this!

3. Hang Out With Smart People

Is there anyone in your contact list that you consider super smart? Well, you might want to make that person your best friend and hang out with them all the time! Stimulating conversations with such people, whether they challenge your notions or make jokes, can cause a significant increase in your IQ levels, according to new research (3). The same holds true for jobs that mentally energize you. Such improvement in your smartness levels relies on the principle of “The more you use it, the better it gets.” So, conversely, if you hang out with people who are not-so-smart, you may start stagnating. Now you know the kind of company you should keep!

4. Read Something Every Day

Some of the most famous, smartest, and accomplished people on this planet such as Elon Musk and Bill Gates make it a point to indulge in literature. Both claim that reading books captivates their imagination and helps in shaping their worldview. In fact, reading is one of the crucial things most successful people do. And you can be sure beyond a doubt that they are very smart.

But that’s not all. Even science backs up reading as a good habit for the brain, with scientists asserting that reading fiction (and even non-fiction) can actually make you smarter (4), (5), (6). How reading works is that when you indulge in this activity, you improve your vocabulary and language skills and even boost your emotional intelligence. So, we suggest you pick up that book right now and get started!

5. Always Try Out New Things

Lazy as you might be, it’s better to force yourself to try out new things than to sit on the couch and say, “Not today!” Trying out new things or acquiring new skills, no matter how small or insignificant they seem, will expose your brain to new horizons, which will consequently lead to personal enrichment and growth – two things that will definitely help you in getting smarter. Besides, joining classes to learn new stuff is a great way to meet smart people who can further help you improve in your journey of getting smarter.

Treat these 5 simple habits as key to getting smarter and inculcate them into your own life. The results you achieve in the end will leave you stumped as to how much better and smarter you’ve become than before!

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