6 Top Hobbies That Will Likely Make You Smarter

There is no guarantee, but these games will help improve your thinking faculty towards strategy.

1. Chess

• Chess is not only a great hobby, but also has been proven to literally make you smarter by exercising both sides of your brain. Studies have shown it to raise levels of IQ in students, stimulate creativity, improve memory, strengthen concentration, prevent Alzheimer's and grow dendrites ( tree-like branches that conduct signals from other neural cells. The bigger they are, the more signals you'll pick up). For more information read here: The Top 10 Health Benefits of Chess

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2. Reading

• As many other answers here have noted, reading is very important in order to increase one's cognitive abilities, creativity and keep that brain young. Not only does it relieve stress, but also stimulates your cerebral cortex by building new synapses and strengthening the existing ones. Reading develops your vocabulary, verbal intelligence and memory.

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3. Writing/Blogging/Answering Quora questions

• This is one of my favourites. Among the usual benefits such as improved ability to focus and express ideas cohesively you also gain fantastic amounts of knowledge. In order to write something useful you will have to come back to hobby number 2. A lot. Doing research and writing everything in your own words helps you to memorize better. Subsequently you learn new and interesting things, which will definitely make you a more interesting and intelligent person. Give it a try and answer a Quora question today :)

4. Exercising

• Scientists all over the world almost unanimously agree that exercising is good for your brain. It reduces stress and also improves blood circulation to the brain. Also researchers in the University of British Columbia discovered that even simple aerobic exercise increases the size of hippocampus - the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. So, whether you run marathons or have never touched weights in your life - now is the time to start exercising regularly. Go for a run or hit the gym. What I especially recommend is exercising early in the morning before work or school. You will start thinking more clearly and have more energy throughout the day.

5. Playing a musical instrument

• As TED educator Anita Collins say "When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout.". Playing an instrument is definitely your go-for hobby to get smarter. Almost every smart and famous person played an instrument: Einstein played piano and the violin, Charles Dickens played the accordion, Steven Spielberg plays clarinet, etc. Personally I play the guitar. It may not make me smarter, but helps me to relax and acts as meditation. That brings me to.

6. Meditation

• Harvard neuroscientist Sara Laza conducted a research to find connection between the mind and body during meditation. Her findings show that subjects, who meditated had thickened parts of brain responsible for: learning, cognition, memory, empathy, compassion and many more: Full article here: Harvard neuroscientist: Meditation not only reduces stress, here’s how it changes your brain

5 Psychological Facts To Be A More Likable Person

 

1. Be Direct: People love boldness. You will be respected when you become a straight talker. Example: If you can’t provide a favor, say no instead of trying to please them.
2. Love yourself: If you don’t like yourself, no one else will. You must change what you don’t like about yourself and accept what you can’t change. Example: You can change your weight but you can only accept your background.
3. Enjoy yourself: You don’t always need to be around people. People will want to be with you when you are happy by yourself.
4. Admit your mistakes: Swallow your pride and always accept your mistake. Deflecting blame is always seen as a weakness.
5. Listen more: When you listen more instead of talking people feel special. In return, they will make you feel special. Example: If let someone vent by being a good listener, they will return the favor.
6. Reveal some insecurities: When you share a few uncomfortable truths about yourself, people will feel comfortable and reciprocate. Example: When talking to someone new, share the truth about your nervousness.

6 Hardest Truth Of Life

1. Sex is overrated.
2. Consumerism is overrated.
3. Personal development is underrated. But it doesn’t pay any bills.
4. If you are too skilled, people will be jealous and this will spell trouble.
5. If you suck, then you will get trouble for that reason instead.
6. Just as you start getting the hang of things and enjoying what you do, it is time to leave and enter the next chapter of studies / life / work.

What are some paradoxes in life? 

1. The more you seek approval from others, the less you will get it.
2. You can only be brave when you are afraid.
3. If you aren’t happy now, you won’t be happy after you achieve your goals.
4. We aren’t wired to be happy and fulfilled, but to be miserable and safe.
5. Without failures, there can be no consistent success.
6. Wisdom is realizing that you know so little.
7. The more available you are to people, the less they will respect you.
8. Nobody will love you if you don’t love yourself.
9. A king and a slave have the same duties i.e. to serve others.
10. If you find yourself in toxic relationships over and over again, then it’s your fault — you teach people how to treat you.
11. Whatever you think is stopping you from living the life you want is not stopping you, but only you.
12. Wisdom is realizing that you know so little.
13. The more available you are to people, the less they will respect you.
14. Nobody will love you if you don’t love yourself.
15. A king and a slave have the same duties i.e. to serve others.
16. If you find yourself in toxic relationships over and over again, then it’s your fault — you teach people how to treat you.
17. Whatever you think is stopping you from living the life you want is not stopping you, but only you.