Regardless of the role that genetics plays in intelligence as well as the environment you grew up in, there’s several things you can do to enhance your brain power.
You can improve your memory, hone your problem-solving abilities, or simply keep your brain in great shape so that it stays sharp as you age.
Here are nine of the best techniques (and extra juicy nuggets) for keeping your mind sharp.
In addition to improving your brain function, they could also enhance your manifestation skills!
1. Hydrate your body regularly
Ensure you drink a couple of glasses of water within the first 30-60 minutes of waking up if you want to feel sharp and prepared for the day ahead.
After all, you spend the majority of your sleep time without drinking!
As a result, your body will be sluggish and dehydrated, which will negatively impact your brain.
In cognitive research on young children, it has been proven that they perform better on more complex cognitive tasks when they drink more water.
PS: If you truly love your body, stop drinking “dead water”, here’s why.
2. Listening to brain-training programs or apps.
You can download hundreds of different apps on your smartphone that will help you sharpen some of your most valuable mental skills.
Some of these are free, while others may require payment to unlock all of the activities.
No matter which app you choose, you can easily set aside 10 or 15 minutes a day to improve your memory, math skills, vocabulary, or pattern recognition.
PS: Considering this route? These are the best audios I’ve personally tested during my 20+ years in the personal development world.
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3. Practice Memory Palaces (with a Twist)
You’ve probably heard about the ancient Greeks’ Memory Palace technique, but here’s a fresh take: apply it to your daily life, not just trivia or facts.
Imagine your grocery list as a walk through your favorite coffee shop, with bananas perched on a table or coffee beans spilling over your bread.
One guy I know memorizes his clients’ names by mentally “sticking” them on his apartment’s furniture—it’s genius!
His brain got a serious workout, and now he remembers more than just names; he remembers details that make people feel seen.
This technique not only sharpens memory, but it helps your brain store information in rich, vivid contexts, making recall a breeze.
It’s not just an intellectual trick—it’s a brain hack that gives everyday tasks a whole new flavor.
And next time you forget your shopping list, just walk through your mental palace instead!
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4. The Rosemary Effect
Just the scent of rosemary can enhance a person’s memory, which is a common herbal remedy for poor memories.
These are the types of memories that are associated with organising upcoming events and making plans.
Research has shown that rosemary tea can also boost your memory.
One teaspoon of rosemary can be added to a hot cup of water to make this tea.
Add a bit of honey if you don’t like the taste.
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5. The Pomodoro Technique (But Make It Personal)
We’ve all been there: staring at a monstrous to-do list and feeling paralyzed.
Enter the Pomodoro Technique, but let’s make it human. Instead of seeing it as a timer-driven grind, picture it as a game.
My friend Rachel breaks up her study sessions by treating each 25-minute burst like a race against herself.
Can she write 500 words before the buzzer?
Turns out, the adrenaline rush helps her stay laser-focused, and those short breaks keep her brain from burning out.
This approach taps into your natural competitive spirit (with yourself!) and makes the work feel way less heavy.
And here’s a pro tip: use your break to do something totally unrelated, like dancing to your favorite song.
By shifting gears completely, you trick your brain into staying fresh for the next round. It’s productivity with a playful twist.
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6. Interacting with Intelligent People
Research indicates that spending time with people who embody these characteristics can make you more reflective, logical and creative.
Push your conversations beyond the superficial, too.
Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher – Oprah Winfrey
Maintain your brain’s activity by discussing current affairs or other thought-provoking topics.
Conversations that are only surface-level aren’t stimulating your brain in a way that promotes growth.
7. Play Games
Playing your favorite game on your smartphone or computer might sound too good to be true, but it’s actually good for your mind!
Games have been shown to increase neuroplasticity when played in moderation.
Games encourage you to process more new information than other forms of recreation
(like mindlessly flipping through TV channels).
Brain training apps that combine gaming and learning new skills can help you get the benefits of both.
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8. Take a nap
Napping does not make you lazy; it improves concentration.
When you have trouble concentrating, napping can boost you back to productivity.
It has been found that napping increases reaction speed and improves learning, especially if the nap lasts no longer than 20 minutes.
On the other hand, a longer slumber allows you to sink into a deep sleep. You may wake up feeling disoriented and groggy.
Thomas Edison invented a complicated contraption that activated Theta brainwaves (also known and “Genius waves”) for him. He wrote that this device solved his hardest problems for him. Learn how this can be possible today by using this safe 7-second at-home ritual.
9. Drink Green Tea
Consider switching to green tea instead of your usual coffee if you rely on caffeine for a cognitive boost.
Additionally to boosting your metabolism and possibly helping you lose weight (if you need to), green tea also provides you with a powerful amino acid called l-theanine.
Researchers have found that this amino acid stimulates the alpha brain waves.
This allows you to concentrate without becoming nervous or jittery.
PS: my personal recommendation for the best tea around? This is my go-to, and it works wonders for mental clarity and body health.
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10. Learn a New Language (Even If You’re Bad at It)
Did you know that the simple act of trying to learn a new language can light up your brain like a Christmas tree?
Forget perfection—this isn’t about becoming fluent.
Take my friend Jake, who started learning French at 40.
He struggled, sure, but the mental gymnastics made him more focused at work.
It’s like his brain had a new tool to filter out the noise.
And here’s the kicker: even when he messed up, his brain benefited.
That’s because language learning forces your brain to problem-solve, remember patterns, and switch gears between languages.
You don’t have to aim for Paris-level French.
Just picking up a few phrases in any language can sharpen your mind and give you that extra mental edge.
Plus, it’s way more fun than Sudoku.
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11. Play a Musical Instrument (Even If It’s Just 10 Minutes)
You don’t need to be the next Mozart to reap the brain-boosting benefits of playing an instrument.
Take a buddy of mine who picked up the ukulele for 10 minutes every morning before work.
At first, it was just to destress, but something surprising happened—his mind felt clearer throughout the day.
Playing an instrument engages multiple areas of the brain, from memory to motor skills, sparking new neural connections.
And here’s the kicker: even those short practice sessions help with focus and creativity.
The act of learning to coordinate your hands, read music (or strum along to YouTube), and stay in rhythm is like a workout for your brain.
So, no need for an hour-long practice session; even 10 minutes a day can give your brain that extra edge in memory and concentration.
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12. Fiction reading
Neuroscientific explanations are available for when you feel like you are experiencing events described in a book.
An MRI scan of the brain shows that when you become immersed in a fictional story, your brain responds as if you were actually living through the events of the protagonists’ lives.
Therefore, reading enhances your ability to empathize with others. In addition, it broadens your vocabulary and exercises the creative side of your brain.
Check out these powerful self-hypnosis audio files (free for you to download) to help nurture a mindful, happy and peaceful life. You can find them here.
13. Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) – Nature’s Reset Button
This isn’t just about taking a walk in the park—it’s about slowing down and fully immersing yourself in nature.
My cousin discovered forest bathing after a stressful month at work, and it changed her life.
Instead of power-walking through the woods with her earbuds in, she stopped, listened to the birds, smelled the pine, and noticed the sunlight filtering through the trees.
What happened? Her stress levels dropped, and her mental clarity skyrocketed.
Turns out, “forest bathing” helps your brain shift from fight-or-flight mode into a state of calm focus.
Research shows that being in nature can boost your working memory, reduce mental fatigue, and lower cortisol levels (that stress hormone we all know too well).
The next time you’re feeling stuck, try stepping outside, leaving the phone behind, and letting nature give your brain the break it deserves.
14. Practice Meditation
Finally, though it might seem like a classic, mindfulness activities and creative visualization can make you a better thinker if you practice them regularly.
They’re a total game-changer for anyone who’s given them a serious try.
They teach you to concentrate for longer periods of time, block out irrelevant information, and exercise more control over your reactions to stressful situations.
In just a few short weeks, just 10-15 minutes of meditation can create measurable changes in your brain’s structure.
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