You have already worked a lot to increase
your intelligence and this is something you don’t want to lose. Many things you
probably do every day have a negative influence on your brain and kill your
intelligence. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid them.
01. Multitasking
Reading this article while watching TV and
answering your text messages may make you think you are simply doing more
things in a shorter amount of time, but it actually is not a good idea.
Multimedia multitasking lowers gray matter density, affecting your cognitive
and emotional control. People who constantly use gadgets can not concentrate
and recall information as well as those who don’t. So, in fact,multitasking is
less productive than doing a single thing at a time.
02. Poor Nutrition
You should be concerned about consuming
saturated fats and sugar not only for the sake of your health but also because
such kind of foods reduce your cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to
adapt to changing situations, and can affect your memory and ability to learn.
Your brain (as well as your stomach) will also thank you for not taking the
easy way by eating pre-cooked and processed foods, since they can lead to
excessive cravings and contain ingredients that have the ability to affect your
behaviors and cognitive functioning. And don’t think caffeine is truly the best
way to start your day since it easily causes headaches and makes you less calm.
Eating healthy homemade food is what is going to give you the energy you need.
03. Googling vs Being an Expert
Searching the Internet makes people believe
they know more than they really do as they can find almost any answer online.
However, that doesn’t mean that your brain is doing the work. Knowing you can
easily access information, you don’t remember it that well, which also affects
your critical thinking. Even if you are an expert in your field and use your
own brain, psychologists have found that people who think they know much about
a topic are more likely to claim that made-up facts are true. In fact, we are
more likely to believe the statements that prove us right and thus tend not to
question them.
04. Being Asocial
Our brains are made for socialization and we
need to be in contact with other people to think and function properly. Studies
show that people who socialize much perform better on cognitive tests than
those who don’t. Being with friends also gives you a chance to take a break and
avoid too much stress, which can help enhance your memory and mental acuity.
Not enough social life increases the likelihood of developing psychological
disorders, which can potentially damage your brain, so you should think twice
before sacrificing time you could spend with your friends to concentrate on
your work.
05. Lack of Sleep
You love sleep because your brain loves it too. Poor sleep damages your
thinking skills, which makes studying all night long before an exam a really
bad idea. Being sleepy negatively affects your short-term and long-term memory,
attention and planning skills, as well as the ability to understand other
people’s facial emotions. Needless to say that this all makes it harder for
your brain to work effectively. Even if you are tired not because of the lack
of sleep but because of the physical and mental exhaustion, you should probably
take a break. Sleepiness can even lead to mental disorders like depression and
anxiety, so even if you have a lot of things to do, you better take some time
to rest and recharge your batteries.
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