生活百科：心理健康與生活系列之四——怎樣變得更聰明

STEP 1 Realize intelligence is malleable 要明白智力是可塑的

Realize that intelligence is malleable. Research indicates that simply knowing it's possible to raise your I.Q. makes you more likely to succeed in doing so.

STEP 2 Take a nap 午休

Sneak in a midday siesta. The brain recharges while you sleep, making you much sharper in the afternoon.

A 90-minute nap works best because it allows time for the brain to go through an entire sleep cycle.

STEP 3 Get off autopilot 擺脫自動駕駛儀

Complete a routine activity in an unfamiliar way. Getting your brain off autopilot stimulates it to produce new cells.

STEP 4 Be an explorer 做個探險家

Explore new ideas, entertain different points of view, and be inquisitive. Scientists have discovered a link between curiosity and increased brainpower.

STEP 5 Learn something new 學些新東西

Learn a new skill, preferably one that requires you to use several parts of your brain simultaneously. Mental challenges are like exercise for the brain.

People who learn another language score higher on many forms of intelligence testing.

STEP 6 Meditate 冥想

Meditate for at least 12 minutes a day. One man who did this for 8 weeks improved his memory by as much as 50 percent. Now that's something to think about!

In a Swedish study, 15-year-old boys who ate fish more than once a week for 3 years scored better on intelligence tests than those who consumed less, or no fish at all.