Ever wondered if intelligence is something you're born with or something you build over time? Here's the real deal: your IQ isn’t fixed, but the way you treat your brain can either sharpen it or shut it down.
For over 100 years, psychologists have debated where intelligence comes from. Is it in our DNA, or shaped by our environment? Despite all the research and expert opinions, we’re still no closer to agreeing on what “intelligence” really means. But here’s something far more useful: how you use your intelligence matters more than where it came from.
You Can Train Your Brain Or Sabotage It
Science continues to confirm this plain fact: what you do each day determines your brain strength. You can make it stronger or gradually weaken it. Consider:
- Destructive sleep.
- Vast scrolling of social media.
- Fast food and missed exercise.
- Shallow multitasking amidst loud noise.
All these are brain-killers.
We've all been there groggy-headed after only four hours of sleep, or lethargic after a night of partying. It's not about being "dumb." It's about not providing your brain the right conditions to sparkle.
Why Intelligence Isn't Just About Test Scores
Far too many individuals shy away from discussing intelligence because they don't want to be judged by a figure such as an IQ score. However, that figure doesn't tell the whole story. What is more important is your "effective IQ" how effectively your brain functions in everyday life.
Leonardo da Vinci did not become a genius overnight. He chased his curiosity, experimented with ideas, changed approaches, and continued learning on purpose. Genius is less about innate talent than about routine and inquisitiveness.
Unfortunately, most students graduate believing they aren't intelligent when actually, they were just stuck in systems that weren't conducive to the way they learn. But here's the good news: you can always update your brain's "software" even if you can't replace the "hardware."
Habits That Actually Make You Smarter
Skip the nonsense. These are evidence-backed habits that improve brain function even if they don't increase your official IQ score:
Mix Up What You Learn
Don't concentrate on a single topic interleaving (changing topics) makes your memory stronger and the learning deeper. Test yourself frequently and work hard enough to struggle; that's how progress is made.
Read More Than You Listen
Love podcasts? Excellent but when retention is concerned, reading is still the winner. Hui & Godfroid's study indicates that reading has better memory than listening. Need something to stick? Read a book or article.
Move Your Body, Sharpen Your Mind
Exercise doesn't only tighten up your muscles, it turbocharges your brain. Aerobic exercise boosts the size of your hippocampus (memory hub) and sharpens focus and learning, particularly in the elderly.
Your brain was designed to think on your feet walking, navigating, problem-solving in motion. Need a boost in mental acuity? Get moving.
Talk It Out, Don't Zone Out
Talking through ideas clarifies them for you and helps you hold onto them. Argue with your opinions, question things more, and be around those who provoke your thoughts.
The most intelligent people aren't necessarily those who score highest on tests. They're the ones who still wonder at the world and are still learning something new every day.
What Really Defines Intelligence?
Your intelligence isn't the number on a test score, it's a living, breathing entity that expands or contracts depending on how you treat it.
So, if you wish to remain mentally sharp:
- Experiment with new things.
- Pose big questions.
- Get sufficient sleep.
- Keep active.
- Keep learning.
Keep in mind: your effective intelligence is malleable, trainable, and extremely responsive to your habits.
The reality is, we all have more power over our brainpower than we've been led to believe. Intelligence is not simply about being "born smart" it's about being interested, active, and deliberate with how you use your mind.