How to Become More Intelligent Than

You Are Now

Do you ever feel dumb around other people? Are you embarrassed when you don’t know
the answer to a teacher’s question? Everybody has times when they just feel like they
don’t know anything. Of course, you can’t know everything, but no matter how smart
you are, you can start to become more intelligent today.

Steps
1. Improve your memory. Much of what is generally considered intelligence is
simply the ability to remember things well. You can improve your ability to retain and
recall memories in a variety of ways, including by using mnemonics and by paying
more attention to details.

2. Study more effectively. If you find yourself at a loss when your teacher puts you
on the spot, or if you perform poorly on exams, you may not be studying enough.
Even if you study a lot, improving your study skills can make a big difference. A
variety of wikiHows offer tips to help you.
3. Read a lot. Just about everything that humans know can be found in print, whether
in books and magazines or on the internet. Become a voracious reader, and you’ll
expose yourself to more ideas and information. If you’re a slow reader, consider
learning speed reading. Consider jotting down notes, and perhaps looking up a word
or two in the dictionary.
4. Visit the library frequently and pick up anything which looks interesting to you.
The subject matter is not quite as important as is the act of reading. Always have at
hand something good to read.
5. Be more curious. How do some people get to know so much? Good memory
skills are only part of the answer: you also have to be curious. If you’re satisfied going
through life with little or no understanding of things you’re unfamiliar with, you won’t
learn much. Make a conscious effort to be more curious by reminding yourself that
developing your curiosity will broaden your horizons and help to make you more
intelligent.
6. Research. Curiosity without initiative is like having a car that’s out of gas — it
won’t take you anywhere. Fortunately, when it comes to knowledge you’re never far
from a gas station. If you read a word that you don’t know, look it up in the dictionary.
If you wonder how airplanes fly, read a book. If you want to know more about
politics, pick up a newspaper. With internet access now widespread, there’s less
excuse for not finding something out that you want to know.
7. Learn how to look things up. If you know how to use references, from an internet
search engine to an encyclopedia, you’ll be able to find the information you want
more quickly and effectively. Effective researching skills will nourish your curiosity
because you’ll become more confident in your ability to access knowledge. If your
research skills leave something to be desired, take a class or workshop on how to
 research, ask a librarian or teacher, or simply practice researching. Or just press the
"help" tabs on the internet and computer programs and read.
8. Figure things out on your own. There’s a lot more to intelligence than “book
smarts.” We can all learn to perform everyday tasks at work, home, and school better
and more intelligently. If you don’t know how to do something, resist the urge to ask
somebody else to do it for you or show you how. In most cases, you’ll be able to
figure it out on your own, either by trial-and-error or by researching. While it usually
takes longer to figure something out than it does to ask about it, you’ll learn more
about the overall process, and you’ll remember it better. Most importantly, you’ll
exercise your problem-solving skills instead of your “do as you’re told” skills.
9. Ask for help. It’s great to figure things out on your own, but sometimes you don’t
have enough time to do so, despite your best efforts. Don’t give up; ask somebody to
show you how. Make sure to pay close attention and ask any questions that you have,
so that you’ll never have to ask the same thing again.
10. Exercise your mind in different ways. Most of us are good at the things we excel
in naturally or the activities we do everyday. Challenge yourself to learn a new skill or
to think in a different way, however, and you’ll actually become more intelligent.
Choose something you’d like to learn to do (play the accordion, for example) or a
subject you don’t do well in (maybe math) and focus on that thing. Initially, you may
be uncomfortable and feel even less intelligent than you did before, but if you study or
practice diligently, you’ll become more confident, and you’ll make new connections
in your mind.
11. Teach others. In order to teach something to somebody else, you’ve got to know it
pretty well. When you try to explain an idea or skill to somebody else, you’ll not only
remember it better yourself, you’ll also find that the other person’s questions will help
you find out how well you really know what you’re talking about.
12. Learn a new word each day. Go through the dictionary and find a word that you
don't know already, then practice using it throughout the day.
13. Do your homework if you're in school! Don't procrastinate, finish it last minute,
or copy someone's paper. The homework is there for practice, and when you do it,
you'll become more confident in that subject. But remember, homework time is not
the same as study time, so you can't count homework as studying.

Tips
 Don't limit yourself to what your teachers give you. If you already know
everything on your grade level, don't stop studying. Try high school work, then
college level — always challenge yourself.

 Don't limit yourself to "smart subjects"; learn about whatever interests you, as this
will usually lead to an interest in "smart" subjects. You don't have to start with nuclear
physics to be smart.
 Besides looking to learn, always look for new ways to learn. If you aren't big on
reading, try watching people, or talking to people, and even the TV - there are many
many educational channels available.
 Don't learn simply to learn, it will not work. Find a way to be interested in it,
make it fun and you will learn faster, and remember more.
 Always remember that you can’t know everything. Why would you want to,
anyway? Being good at one or two things can be more valuable than being considered
brilliant.
 Some psychologists now say there are multiple types of intelligence, such as
interpersonal intelligence (how to interact and get along with people) and bodily
intelligence (coordination, athleticism). Don’t neglect to nurture these aspects of
yourself. Even if they don’t make you “smarter,” they can help you lead a happier,
more well-rounded life.
 Get enough sleep. Some researchers say, while you sleep, your brain makes new
connections. For example if you don't understand how to perform a math equation
completely and you 'sleep on it', there is a chance that your brain will have figured it
out while you slept.
 Learn a new language because that can open doors to other sources of knowledge.
If you can speak to a Chinese Scientist, whom does not speak English, you may learn
something easier.

Warnings
 Avoid use of alcohol and drugs. Prolonged use or abuse of these substances can
damage brain cells and make you less able to focus.

 Don't be depressed when you fail at any attempt , just keep trying till you succeed.