By: Ronah Pingoy – June 9, 2020
What is Intelligence?
Intelligence is characterized as general problem-solving cognitive skills. A mental capacity to think, interpret relationships and analogies, measure, and understand quickly. Genetics and environmental factors can affect one’s intelligence quotient. While studies have shown that heredity is a significant factor in determining intelligence; it has also been suggested that the environment is a crucial factor in determining the degree of its expression. Individually, we have a difference in our level of intelligence.
Can Students Increase Their Intelligence?
Having high grades is the goal of every student because they believe it can be a great factor in their future success. They keep striving to increase their intelligence. They think that the greater their intelligence, the more successful they will become.
But can the level of intelligence increase? Yes, it’s absolutely changeable and can increase. The key is to practice lifestyle habits that help your brain and protect it. If you want to increase your intelligence, here are the 8 helpful ways.
1. Eating Nutritious Food
We certainly know that food provides energy and building materials for our bodies. But do you know that there are certain foods that boost our intelligence? You can increase your intelligence with vitamins and micronutrients by eating the following:
- Omega-3-salmon, soybeans, sardines, oyster, shellfish, avocado, nuts, chia seeds, and egg yolks.
- Vitamin B6 – cereals, pork, chicken breast, tofu, turkey, fish, milk, bread, pork, beef, eggs, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocado, peanuts, milk, and salmon.
- Vitamin B12 – animal liver and kidney, clams, sardines, tuna, beef, and dairy products, egg, and cereals.
- Iodine – seaweed, cheese, sardines, shrimps, milk, cod, scallop, yogurt, tuna, eggs, strawberries, banana, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, grains, peanut, and barley.
- Zinc -dairy, meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, eggs, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, whole grains, garlic, nuts, and cereal.
2. Making Reading as a Habit
Reading makes us healthier, smarter, and aware of the things happening around us. According to research, reading can increase intelligence. It stimulates every part of the brain. As a student, reading for an hour a day helps improve brain activity. Habitual reading can also improve your communication skills and learning a new language boosts your memory.
3. Learning New Things
Learning new things helps your brain to continue to grow. You can start learning a new sport or learning a new language. Learning to play new music using piano, guitar or other musical instruments can give your brain full work out. It may also boost long-term memory and contribute to enhanced brain growth for those beginning at a young age. New experiences also stimulate your intelligence. Try having a break like going to exhibits or visiting new places.
4. Engaging in Physical Exercise
Exercising increases our level of fitness and helps build a healthy brain. Exercise increases the blood flow (and therefore oxygen) to the brain which helps to give it the ability to think. It also stimulates neuronal growth and may facilitate the release of certain growth hormones which are vital to the overall health of the brain. All of this may lead to improved memory and focus.
It is recommended that you take physical exercise every day for at least 30 minutes. Some exercises are cycling, swimming, running, jogging, and aerobics. Sports can also be a good exercise like playing basketball, volleyball, badminton, football and many more.
5. Mind Games
Playing mind games help sharpen your abilities to retain information and increase your intelligence or improve your ability to reason and think abstractly. Aside from that, it provides enjoyment and at the same time sharpens your mental abilities. Below are 10 mind-game apps that you can enjoy that also develop your critical thinking and imaginative abilities.
- Scrabble Crossword Game
- Sudoku
- Lumosity
- CogniFit Brain Fitness
- Personal Zen
- Brain Trainer Special
- Happify
- Fit Brains Trainer
- Clockwork Brain
- Braingle
- Eidetic
6. Getting Enough Sleep
When you lose sleep, focusing, and paying attention is more difficult. This affects your school performance. Getting enough sleep helps us think better, keep track of details, and make decisions. If you don’t get enough quality sleep, it will affect your function—doing well in school, working on your task, and in other areas of everyday life. Adequate sleep is important to support our cognitive function. Your brain, as you sleep, consolidates memories you have made during the day. It also increases the capacity of your brain to learn new knowledge when you wake up.
7. Avoiding Stress
Stress is part of our daily lives. In as much that you don’t want it but with school activities, it cannot be avoided. Lots of homework, project deadlines and exams trigger your stress. It is a fact that stress can lead to health problems and even more serious impact on our brain.
Here are the best stress-relieving activities that you could anytime.
- Do a quick exercise
- Do something tactile
- Dance with a happy music
- Sing your favorite song
- Meditate
- Watch Funny Movies or YouTube Videos
- Bake or Cook
8. Socialize with other People
Socialization is generally a healthy behavior. We are born to be part of the community- to grow, learn, dream, and to develop individually. By interacting with other people, in your school with your classmates, you are training your brain. Social interaction can help improve memory formation. As a student, you need to socialize more in your school like joining clubs, attending school activities, and engaging with your classmates.
Overall, intelligence can be improved and increased if you really want to be smart. These are 8 ways to help you increase your intelligence and perform better in school.