How to Make Yourself Smarter

It's a common misconception that intelligence is hard-wired -- that you can't change how smart you are. Not true! There are several things you can do to increase your intelligence -- and they're simpler than you might think (no pesky brain transplants required).

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Get some rest! The first component of making yourself smarter is probably the easiest: Get enough sleep. Continued lack of sleep has a profound impact on the brain; sleeping only a few hours a night for several nights can have a negative effect on memory and performance. Short-term memory in particular is affected by sleep deprivation. Get your eight hours a night and let your brain do its job!

2. Work out. The second step to increasing intelligence is more physical than mental, at least at first glance: Exercise! Everybody knows exercise is important for physical health, but did you know it's also a key component of mental agility? Cardiovascular exercise helps you think more clearly, and it can decrease feelings of depression, which can make it difficult to perform at a high level intellectually. Yet another reason to get on the treadmill!

3. Think. Finally, keep your brain on its toes with "mental workouts." Like any muscle, the brain needs stretching for optimal performance, and you can keep yours limber with games and puzzles that challenge you. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or learning a new language, for example, are all ways to keep the brain growing and learning -- and your intelligence increasing.

Tips & Warnings

• Ease into any new workout program, be it physical or mental. Don't jump on a treadmill for an hour without consulting your doctor, and don't start a fiendishly hard Sudoku puzzle and expect to be able to finish it on your first try. Increasing your intelligence is a process, but that's a good thing -- you never have to stop getting smarter!

Resources

• Web Sudoku -- free online Sudoku games
• The New York Times online crossword puzzle