Getting smarter isn't something that happens overnight. Instead, you
have to build your intelligence every day through intentional daily
habits.
In a recent Quora thread, "What would you do to be a little smarter every single day?", readers shared their advice on good habits you can establish.
Here are some simple actions that could help you become a smarter person.
1. Come up with 10 ideas every day. Think about how to
reduce poverty, how to solve a daily problem you have, interesting movie
ideas, or anything. It doesn't matter what subject your ideas fall
into, as long as you're working your brain and your idea muscles. Your
list might even lead to a new startup idea or writing subject. -
Claudia Azula Altucher
2. Read the newspaper. It will help you become more
aware of the important things happening around the word. You'll learn to
form your own opinions and connect the dots between seemingly unrelated
things. You'll also have a lot more to talk about at parties or with
friends. -
Manas J Saloi
3. Play devil's advocate. Take something you recently
learned and generate a unique opinion on it that wouldn't immediately
come to mind. Try to support it with evidence, and be open to the idea
that new evidence will change your opinion. Repeat this every day, and
you'll become much better at thinking outside the box.
If you're feeling stuck, try reading and critically evaluating the
editorial section of papers. They will help you understand how other
people form arguments and express their opinions. -
Peter DePaulo
4. Read a chapter in a fiction or non-fiction book. Aim
to read a book a week. You can always find pockets of time to read,
whether on your daily commute or while you're waiting in line. Goodreads
is a great way to keep track of everything you read and to also find a
community of other readers.
Fiction books are great for understanding characters and getting
absorbed into another perspective, while non-fiction books are great for
introducing you to new topics, from politics to psychology. -
Claudia Azula Altucher
5. Instead of watching TV, watch educational videos. Sometimes,
it's more fun to watch things about a subject you love than to read
about it, and you can learn a lot from other people's experiences.
You can find fun, educational videos on Khan Academy or watch TED talks.
You can also find good ones on Youtube's channel SmarterEveryDay. In
videos, the information is often presented in a digestible, memorable
way, so you can be assured they'll stick. -
Hendrik Sleeckx
6. Subscribe to feeds of interesting information.
Follow interesting voices on Facebook and Twitter, so you'll always
learn something new when you look at your newsfeed or dashboard. For
example, if you want to keep up with the latest news in science and
technology, subscribe to the "I F***ing Love Science" page on Facebook.
You can also follow email newsletters, such as Cal Newport's Study Hacks
and Today I Found Out. -
Saurabh Shah
7. Check in with your favorite knowledge sources. Every
day, scroll through Quora, Stack Overflow, specialty blogs, or any
other sources that satiate your hunger for knowledge. This is an
extremely easy habit, because other users are curating the content for
you, so all you have to do is follow the ones who write about topics
interesting to you. Try using Pocket to save articles for later reading,
and then try to get through them before going to sleep at night. -
Manas J Saloi
8. Share what you learn with other people. If you find
someone to debate and analyze ideas with, you can add to each other's
knowledge and gain new perspectives. Also, when you can explain ideas to
someone else, it means you've definitely mastered the concept. You can
even share what you learn without directly talking to someone. Many
people like to start blogs so they can engage others in online dialogue.
-
Mike Xie
9. Make two lists: a list of work-related skills you want to learn now and a list for things you want to achieve in the future. Google
Docs is a convenient way to keep track of your lists. For both, decide
what you want to learn, compile sources that will teach you these
skills, and then work on them each day.
For example, if you work in a computer-science related field, your first
list might suggest you learn something new in Python one day or that
you try using MongoDB another day.
For your second list, you can think about long-term goals, such as
whether you want to go into marketing or architecture. Write down the
small steps you need to take to reach that goal, whether it's by reading
the experts in those fields or taking classes at a local college. -
Manas J Saloi
10. Make an "I Did" list. At the end of each day, write
down what you completed. This will help you feel better about all the
things you accomplished, especially if you're feeling discouraged. It
will also help you reflect on how productive you were and how you can
re-structure your to-do lists for the next day. -
Claudia Azula Altucher
11. Write down what you learn. You can start a blog or
use an app like Inkpad to help you keep track of everything you learn.
Not only will this be a great way to keep a record of everything you're
doing, but it's also a good source of motivation to keep you
accountable. You will want to learn more if you know that at the end of
the day you'll have to write about it. -
Manas J Saloi
12. Stimulate your mind. Going on a daily run is a
great way to get your brain flowing and to keep your mental health in
shape. It's also a great way to think through difficult decisions or
process new information. -
Rick Bruno
13. Take online courses. Check out this list of the
most popular online courses for professionals. Make sure you don't
overload yourself; commit to one to two and truly focus on them. The
syllabi will also keep you on track, so you know you will be doing
something every day, whether it's listening to a lecture or working on
an assignment. -
Manas J Saloi
14. Talk to someone you find interesting. Even if
they're strangers, don't be afraid to approach them. Ask about their
interests and how they discovered them. Oftentimes, you learn the most
from people you barely know. -
Manas J Saloi
15. Hang out with people who are smarter than you.
Spend as much time as you can with smart people. Every day, you should
strive to have a coffee date or walk with someone who inspires you.
Always be humble and willing to learn. Ask as many questions as
possible. If you are always around people who are more knowledgeable
than you, you'll have no choice but to learn more. -
Manas J Saloi
16. Follow your questions. If you see or hear about
something cool, don't just let the moment pass. Follow up - pursue your
curiosity and find the answer to your question. -
Mike Xie
17. Use a word-of-the-day app. You will increase your
vocabulary, which can help you in competitive tests like the SAT or GRE,
or even just sound more eloquent in daily interactions.
You can also try to learn new vocabulary in a different language. Every
day, try to add five to 10 more words to the foreign language you are
trying to pursue. You can use LiveMocha, Basuu, or DuoLingo. -
Manas J Saloi
18. Do something scary. "Getting out of our comfort
zone always makes us wiser." Every day, push yourself a little further.
Try public speaking by joining a ToastMasters class, lead a meeting by
volunteering a proposal at work, or reach out to someone you really
admire by sending a quick letter or email. -
Claudia Azula Altucher
19. Explore new areas. If you can't travel every day,
at least try to find something new within your hometown. You'll meet
different people, learn new facts, and understand something new about
the world. It's a lot more productive than staying at home and watching
TV. -
Manas J Saloi
20. Play "smart" games. Some games, like chess and
Scrabble, expand your mind. Challenge yourself when you play them. For
example, play Scrabble without a dictionary. You can also solve puzzles
via games like Sudoku, 2048, and Doors. -
Saurabh Shah
21. Set aside some time to do nothing. Oftentimes, sitting in silence can help you get inspiration and reflect on your day. -
Claudia Azula Altucher
22. Adopt a productive hobby. If you have something you
can work on every day, from knitting to fly fishing, you can actively
learn more just from doing. For instance, you may try to play a new
piece of music every day, read a physics textbook, write a few more
pages in your novel, or learn a new computer skill. -
Mayank Rajput
23. Apply what you learn. If you recently learned a new
coding skill or how to play an instrument, make sure you are using that
skill in your life as often as possible. Learning by doing is one of
the most effective ways to become smarter. -
Himanshu Pal