Habits to increase your IQ

Some people tend to think that intelligence is immutable and inherent in some people. However, there are many ways to improve your cognitive skills and become more effective at work and in your personal life.

Most importantly, if you want to become smarter, you need to create habits that increase your intellectual abilities and feed your mind. So here are 18 things you can do every day to boost your mental capacity.

1 - Reflect on 10 ideas daily

Invent anything - a way to reduce poverty, a solution to a problem you face daily, an interesting idea for a new movie, etc.

No matter what the topic, it is important to think about it and make the idea concrete and lasting. Maybe it turns into a business plan.

2 - Read newspapers

This habit helps you keep track of all the important and meaningful things going on around you. Reading the news helps you form your own opinions and make connections between seemingly unrelated things.

It's actually a good way to become someone more intelligent and cultured.

3 - Be the 'devil's advocate'

Take a subject you have recently learned about and voice your opinion on a subject you are unfamiliar with. Try to look for evidence that supports your opinion and be open to the possibility that new evidence may change your opinion. Repeating this process every day will help you think "outside the box".

If you feel 'stuck', try reading and criticizing editorials in the newspaper. This will help you understand how others develop arguments and express opinions.

4 - Read a book chapter

Try to read one book a week. You can always find small gaps in your day to read, for example on the way to work or while waiting for some service.

Fiction is good for understanding characters and getting a different perspective, while nonfiction is good for learning about new topics.

And, admit it, I've always known that one way to get really smart is to read a good book.

5 - Instead of watching television, watch educational videos

It is sometimes more interesting to watch a program on your favorite subject than to read a book, and you can learn a lot from other people's experiences.

You can watch TED Talks or tutorials on YouTube. With video, information is constantly conveyed in a form that is easier to digest and memorize.

You may not be able to resist the temptation of movies, but hopefully this way you will become smarter quickly.

6 - Subscribe to newsletters with interesting information

By following interesting Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, you will always learn something new when browsing your feed.

7 - Visit your favorite information sources

Every day, visit expert blogs on topics that interest you and explore websites that discuss your favorite subjects.

8 - Share what you learn with others

You can't get smarter every day without sharing knowledge.

Having someone to discuss and analyze ideas with, on the one hand, increases your knowledge and allows you to gain new perspectives. Also, explaining it to others means you've mastered it enough to pass it on.

9 - Make two to-do lists: the job skills you want to learn now and future goals.

Both lists aim to decide what you want to learn, gather sources of information that teach you those skills, and work on each of them every day.

For example, if you work in a technology company, you might want to learn different types of programming (Java, SQL), so you might spend one day learning Java and another day learning SQL.

For the second list, think long term. Where do you see yourself in a few years, what are your professional goals and what field do you want to work in. Write down all the steps necessary to reach your end goal, and then gradually implement the actions on your list.

10 - Make a list of "achieved results

At the end of the day, write a list of the things you've done and the goals you've achieved. This will help you recognize your accomplishments, especially when you feel discouraged.

This step also allows you to check your productivity and establish your to-do list for the next day.

11 - Start the "closure" list

To clear your head, write down all the unimportant things you spend time on. Give up old habits and create new and better habits.

12 - Write down what you learned

You can start a blog, use an application or even write everything you learn in a notebook.

It's a great way to stay on top of what you're doing, as well as motivate yourself. If you think you'll eventually get it down on paper, you'll want to learn more.

Then it will be easier for you to understand how intelligence works.

13 - Stimulate the mind.

Daily exercise is a great way to keep your brain oxygenated and your mind healthy. It's also great for making complicated decisions and processing news. However, this exercise provides endorphins in the body and gives you a feeling of well-being.

14 - Take online courses

This is one of the excellent tips to get smarter.

Don't overdo it, take one or two courses and dedicate yourself to them. Online courses are easier to fit into your daily routine because you know that classes will take place every day.

15 - Talk to interesting people

Don't be afraid to approach people, even if you don't know them. Ask them about their interests and how they came about. You can learn a lot from people you don't know.