How do I increase my IQ?

If you're talking about just getting a higher point on a common IQ test, just take more IQ tests in the same manner as they are given. If you want to get better at a particular something, do that thing more. It's as simple as that.

But, if you're talking about raising your general intelligence, that's a different story. The most important factor in doing this is to increase your intellectual curiosity for everything around you. You will not be able to increase your intelligence if you don't increase your curiosity.

The second most important thing is knowing how the brain works, so you can optimally leverage it. Learn about the inherent biases, logical fallacies and cognitive traps we all fall into. If you are not aware of your own mental faults, you will not be able to overcome them.

Third, embrace nuance and complexity. Nothing in life – NOTHING – is simple, and everything requires a deeper analysis than what we originally think ... you never know something as well as you think you know it, so don't settle for superficial knowledge.

Finally, rote memory is the most basic test for intelligence (unfortunately, it's what we focus most on), so don't try to just memorize things. Strive for a deeper understanding. Try to know something as if you had to teach this understanding to others.

1. Read More - Intelligence begins with reading. The more you will read, the more you will absorb and therefore the more intelligent you will get.
2. Set Goals - Goals create structure in life and only through proper structure can you increase intelligence.
3. Meditate - When you meditate you calm your brain. This peace and tranquility is crucial in building intellect.
4. Make Notes - The body remembers by doing. So by making notes on everything you do, you will increase memory and intellect.
5. Play Sudoku - Playing Sudoku challenges your brain and helps you think logically. It is a brain game and according to the American Alzheimer’s Association and it might helpreduce the risk of Alzheimer’sdisease.
6. Stay Hydrated - Our brains depend on proper hydration to function properly. Brain cells require a delicate balance between water and other elements to operate at max efficiency.So try to keep you brain replenished and drink the medically recommended amount of water every day.
7. Minimize “Bad” Television - Watching TV nowadays with all of its reality shows or just simply watching re-runs is one of the worst things you can do for your intelligence. While it can be relaxing you don`t stimulate your thinking. Try tuning into a documentary or the news every now and then.
8. Exercise - Exercise keeps your body fine-tuned and energetic; it is a great way to increase your productivity and intelligence.
9. Mentally Simplify – Intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge or skill. So try unclutter your thoughts and process information one piece at a time. You will find that you will not just be more productive but your mental capacity will increase.
10. Have a Good Breakfast - You can’t drive a car without fuel. Once you wake up and your tank is empty, eat a hearty breakfast to get yourself going again. Eating a healthy breakfast is directly linked to higher mental performance.
11. Eat Yogurt and other bacteria - Certain bacteria have been scientifically linked to brain power. So it’s possible that by simply eating yogurt you can promote the growth of neurons.
12. Get Enough Rest - Imagine your brain like a smartphone. No matter how efficient and wonderful it is, it eventually needs to recharge and shut down. A good night’s rest will do wonders in making you smarter.
13. Do Math Questions - The only reason people don’t like math is because it requires them to use their brains. By doing math you exercise your brain and just like a muscle, through exercise it gets stronger and quicker.
14. Make Connections - Don’t wait for ideas to become clear. Always be on the edge and make connections between things.
15. Breathe - Oxygen is crucial to the brain and it can’t survive very long deprived of it. You should practice good breathing techniques and give your brain as much as oxygen as it needs.“You don’t need to know all the answers. No one is smart enough to ask you all the questions”. – Unknown
16. Do Crosswords - Crosswords are very effective in making your brain work and exercise.
17. Take Breaks - Your brain is just a muscle and overworking it will only cause problems. Take periodic breaks to keep your brain fresh and productive. And never forget to sleep.
18. Refine Your Thinking – Don’t just think but think about how you are thinking when you think. It’s a quite a handful of words, but it works. If you plan out your thinking process you will think more productively.
19. Eat Brain Food - There are many foods which have been associated with brain health, including dark green vegetables, fish oil and nuts. Try to incorporate as much as brain food into your diet.
20. Draw Diagrams and Charts -Try to organize your thoughts using diagrams and charts whenever possible. This reorganization is very helpful in increasing intellect.
21. Quiz Yourself - To become more intelligent try to always challenge yourself and push your brain to the limits. So if this simply means that by using your opposite hand you are challenging yourself; do it.
22. Keep Your Brain Working - Your brain should never stop working unless you are sleeping or taking periodic breaks as mentioned above. Keep your brain active, and clicking on all cylinders.
23. Get a Rubik’s Cube – A Rubik’s cube is a great way to exercise your brain and build intelligence.
24. Don’t take in too much Sugar - Too much sugar gives your brain short term jolt, but after the sugar rush is over the sugar crash is just not worth it.
25. Learn to Play an Instrument - Playing an instrument is a great way to increase your intellect. The reasoning behind it is that you’re triple tasking: listening, reading and playing the instrument.
26. Work on Vocabulary - If you know more words you will be able to not just acquire more information but will be able to apply it more effectively as well.
27. Eat throughout the Day - Your brain needs fuel to function. Try to avoid being hungry and keep yourself well fed.
28. Focus - Intelligence is largely based on how much you can focus at one time. Practice focusing on tasks and avoid distractions.
29. Listen to Classical Music - According to the Mozart Effect by listening to classical music an improvement in productivity is induced.
30. Don’t Give Up - Anybody can become smarter and improve their intellect so never give up and keep trying.

Tsfh Ftw

great advice. I am currently training my brain with three brain trainer apps daily

Lumosity, Memorado and Fit brains.

after doing daily excercises in these I have noticed that I am doing much better in live chess.

bobby what is helping you is known as teh "placebo effect" meaning thinking something helps might acually help. In studies done by neurobioligists is showed that apps such as lumosity didnt acually have any long term benifits

Placebo*

Nice article - Thanks!

Good comments Warren

Reading. Ask questions. Seek answers.

thomas9400 even if it is a placebo. It certainly doesn't harm and it almost identical to doing Sodoku. So I think I will continue, it doesn't take long to do those excercises.

yes it was easy for Bobby Fischer to be a genius ...no internet forums.

Thanks for new ideas to learn, much i knowing before but not all. The new things i learned i like! THX

What also is good for playing Chess is...if you are a righthander make more with your left hand at the day. That is good for the other side of brain. And good for chess. Lefthander just do more things with the right hand.

If you are bothhander like me ...make it as you want :)

Answer this

______ + ________ + _______ = 30

Fill these boxes with all these numbers 1,3,5 ,11,13,15.

Do not use even numbers.

Do such problems.

Read a book.

i think iq can''t really be increased after you're an adult

it is something you are born with

I have expirience in the field of neuroscience and after a lot of research I can say the list @quantumlee posted is the most realistic down to earth and so far more effective to increase intelligence specially if the advice is done all together as a change in lifestyle.

There is an important reason why his advice works and it is that many people are not using their full potential because most of their brain power is busy dealing with everyday noise, bad emotional habits, internal conflicts etc... if you free your mind (oriental practices help like meditation and more of this kind of practices) you release all that computing power that unconciously is taking space and energy inside your brain but people dont realise this because until you do it, you will realise the beauty that you are missing to see your brain working properly at full power

.... I would only add, choose your friends and social circles wisely, that will save you from unnecesary conflict and live a happy life full of love

would a lobotomy work ?