August 7, 2025 • 25 mins
Ever wondered if intelligence is fixed or if you can actually boost your brainpower like upgrading your phone? Spoiler alert: It’s totally upgradeable. Welcome to the ultimate podcast guide that shatters the myth of static IQ and reveals 16 powerful lifestyle habits that turbocharge your intelligence. From asking the right questions and reading like a knowledge sponge, to surrounding yourself with sharp minds and breaking a sweat — this podcast dives deep into the science-backed secrets of cognitive growth.
We’re not just talking about book smarts. Think healthy eating that fuels your brain, journaling to unlock your thoughts, embracing new experiences that stretch your mind, and even the underrated power of sleep and brain games. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a curious soul, or just someone who wants to outsmart their own limits, this podcast is your go-to blueprint for smarter living.
Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about intelligence. It’s time to hack your brain, boost your mental fitness, and live smarter every day. Hit play, and let’s grow that genius together.
Keywords: intelligence growth, boost brainpower, cognitive habits, lifestyle for intelligence, brain health, mental fitness, smart habits, neuroplasticity, brain training, lifelong learning, healthy brain lifestyle, mindfulness for intelligence, brain-boosting foods, mental clarity, productivity hacks, sleep and cognition.
Ready to unlock your brain’s full potential? Subscribe now and join the smart revolution! Share this with anyone who’s ready to get smarter every day.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/life-hacks-diy-more-transform-your-everyday-with-simple-tricks-and-diy-magic--5995484/support.
We’re not just talking about book smarts. Think healthy eating that fuels your brain, journaling to unlock your thoughts, embracing new experiences that stretch your mind, and even the underrated power of sleep and brain games. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a curious soul, or just someone who wants to outsmart their own limits, this podcast is your go-to blueprint for smarter living.
Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about intelligence. It’s time to hack your brain, boost your mental fitness, and live smarter every day. Hit play, and let’s grow that genius together.
Keywords: intelligence growth, boost brainpower, cognitive habits, lifestyle for intelligence, brain health, mental fitness, smart habits, neuroplasticity, brain training, lifelong learning, healthy brain lifestyle, mindfulness for intelligence, brain-boosting foods, mental clarity, productivity hacks, sleep and cognition.
Ready to unlock your brain’s full potential? Subscribe now and join the smart revolution! Share this with anyone who’s ready to get smarter every day.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/life-hacks-diy-more-transform-your-everyday-with-simple-tricks-and-diy-magic--5995484/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What if I told you that being smart isn't just
about what you're born with, you know, some inherent quality
you either possess or don't. We often look at brilliant minds,
these pioneers, academics, really insightful people, and we think, wow,
they just have it, like it's some kind of effortless gift, right,
a fixed thing. But what if that's not the whole story.
(00:20):
What if intelligence is actually more dynamic, more flexible, more
something we can actively control.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Indeed, Yeah, if we connect this to the bigger picture,
we'll often see that those who really rise at the top,
but ones making breakthroughs, are solving really complex problems. They
often get there not just because of some preordained talent. Instead,
their success often comes down to very specific, cultivated habits.
These aren't random, you know, their dedicated lifestyle choices, things
that actively stimulate their brains, protect their mental health, and
(00:50):
well grow their cognitive abilities over time. Yeah, it's a
real commitment.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And that's exactly what we're diving into today on the
deep Dive. Our mission here is to unpack this fascinating
idea about intelligence that it's not fixed like your eye color.
It's more like a muscle you can absolutely train, develop
and strengthen throughout your life. We've gone through a whole
lot of observations and insights about how these sharp minds operate,
(01:14):
and we've pulled out the most important fits. We want
to give you a shortcut basically to understanding what these
habits are and crucially, how you might integrate them into
your own life to become well demonstrably smarter every day.
Get ready for some aha moments, because what you're about
to hear might really shift how you think about intelligence
and your own potential. Okay, so let's unpack this first
(01:35):
cluster of habits. These are all about how we actively
engage with the world and acquire knowledge. And the very
first one might seem deceptively simple, maybe even too obvious,
but it's so foundational, asking questions. It's the engine of curiosity, isn't.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It It is? And what's truly fascinating here is how
we often sort of unlearned this natural curiosity we have
As kids. Think about a toddler, right, They're constantly wondering,
why is the sky bluey do cats mew? Why does
water do that? Their world is just this endless series
of questions. A relentless search for understanding. The German philosopher
(02:10):
Hans Kor Gadmeyer put it beautifully. He said, knowledge can
only be with those who have questions. That's not just poetic,
you know, it highlights the active role we have to take.
You don't just passively receive knowledge, You have to go
out and like demand it with a question.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Oh, it's so true. As kids, our curiosity feels limitless.
Everything sparks an inquiry. But then as adults we often
fall into this weird trap of not asking why. It's
often just because we're afraid, afraid of looking stupid or
maybe showing we don't know something. But the material we
looked at for this deep dive is really clear. That
couldn't be farther from the truth. Learning fundamentally requires asking
(02:46):
questions and then just as importantly, actively finding the answers.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
It's a loop which raises a really important question for
all of us, doesn't it? Are we maybe prioritizing comfort,
the comfort of seeming knowledgeable, over actual cognitive growth. If
you don't get some thing, the smartest thing to do
isn't to pretend you do. It's just to ask. And
it's not just about asking other people either a really
powerful practice when we often overlook asking yourself questions and
(03:10):
then actually going and researching the answers on your own.
Imagine after a confusing meeting or reading something complex, instead
of just zoning out with TV or scrolling, you actually
look it up. You use the resources we have now
to really understand it exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
It seems easy, like the idea is easy, But yeah,
it can take time to actually do it, no doubt.
But the benefit, as our sources suggests, is huge. This
consistent curiosity, the shift from just consuming stuff to actively
engaging it, can seriously increase your intelligence. It forces your
brain to make new connections, find pathways to answers. Just
think about the sheer amount of information we have now
(03:46):
if we approach it with a questioning mind, not just browsing,
the potential for growth is massive. It's like turning on
the floodlights and moving on.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
The second habit ties right into this, It deepens that engagement.
Reading across genres the brain. You know, it's a powerful tool,
and like any tool, it needs exercise to say, sharp, agile, powerful,
and reading is probably the best mental workout. It can
get much more comprehensive than lots of other things.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Right, And here's where it gets really interesting. It's not
just that you read, but what you read. The variety
of your mental diet seems key. We have instant access
to like almost everything ever written, phones, tablets, the Internet.
It's an unbelievable buffet of knowledge. Yet how often do
we just find ourselves, you know, watching funny cat videos
or mindlessly scrolling through the same kind of news feed
(04:31):
kind of narrowing our focus really, and.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Look, unwinding is important. Definitely, balance is key, but it's
probably not healthy to use all our free time that way.
The material emphasizes that reading often and critically reading widely.
It doesn't just keep you informed. It teaches your brain
to function well, helps you continuously learn new things. When
you read different genres fiction, nonfiction, history, science, philosophy, even
(04:54):
stuff from different cultures, you're exposing your brain to diverse
ways of thinking, different logic, new words, new perspectives. It
broads you, builds empathy, maybe introduces you to completely different
ways of seeing the world.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Absolutely, and the best options here aren't just you know,
light beach reads are the same blog over and over.
We're talking about engaging with challenging books, thought provoking articles,
maybe some in depth websites. The key seems to be
having a consistent routine, even if it's just part of
the chapter each day or one significant article. That consistent
(05:26):
engagement is like well diversified weightlifting for your brain. Over time,
your intellect will definitely grow. It's diversifying your mental diet. Right.
Just like you want to need only pizza for physical health,
you shouldn't consume only one type of info for your brain.
You need the whole spectrum precisely.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And that leads us nicely to the seventh habit, which
uses a different but equally powerful cognitive muscle, keeping a diary.
It's actually been shown in studies that even just a
few minutes reflecting on your day, writing down thoughts and
events significantly boosts brain power. It's not just recording what happened.
It's about as in your internal world.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yeah, I can totally see that. It makes sense why
it's so powerful. Nothing motivates you or helps you learn
about yourself quite like your own experiences, right, your achievements,
your mistakes. A diary gives you this like safe space
to really analyze ideas that pop into your head, thoughts
from conversations, questions that linger. You're basically processing your own
life data, turning raw experience into structured understanding. It's thinking
(06:24):
about your own thinking metacognition.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
There's another advantage too, beyond just reflection. Writing frequently, especially reflectively,
it makes you smarter overall, just by expanding your language skills,
because keeping a diary is basically consistent language practice. Right,
You're constantly learning new words, maybe looking for better ways
to phrase something, expanding your vocabulary. This active engagement with language,
(06:47):
constructing thoughts into sentences, it's consistently shown to stimulate brain
regions linked to verbal fluency and reasoning, and that can
actually raise IQ. It's a powerful feedback loop. You're not
just writing down thoughtstively shaping them as you write.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
That's a fantastic point about vocabulary and IQ. How structuring
thoughts improves the thinking itself. Okay, now for the epe habit.
This one might take a bit of courage for some
of us. Do something new, even if you think it
won't work. Embrace challenges because practice makes perfect. The core
idea here is that smart people aren't like unnecessarily scared
(07:22):
of failure. They really get that universal truth without practice.
Without doing it, you can't truly learn anything, let alone
master it.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, this really makes you think about comfort zones, doesn't
it why we resist stepping out? The source implies that
pushing past that initial worry, that feeling of oh, I
might mess this up is absolutely crucial for real growth
and learning new skills. Think about it. You can't learn
a math equation without trying the problems right, even if
you get them wrong at first. You can't learn guitar
(07:50):
without fumbling through the chords, making awful sounds, probably feeling awkward.
That apprehension, the potential failure, the discomfort, it's not an obstacle,
it's just part of the lear curve. It has to
happen before you get good.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
And this habit suggests that sometimes the biggest successes, the
really spectacular breakthroughs, come directly from doing things that initially
scared us a lot. It's about embracing that beginner feeling
that discomfort as a necessary step. It's the difference between
just knowing about something and actually being able to do it.
It's that jump into the unknown, that willingness to stumble
and learn that often unlocks totally new levels of capability.
(08:25):
That's where neuroplasticity really kicks in. Your brain literally rewires.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Itself exactly, and following from that, willingness to act, the
ninth habit is absolutely key for making knowledge stick, apply
and share new knowledge. The core idea is simple but
really profound. If you don't plan to use what you learn,
if it just sits there, well there's not much lasting
point in studying it. Knowledge needs to be active.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
So what does this mean for us then? Beyond just
collecting facts like stamps, it's not enough to just consume information.
We need to be active participants, really engaged with it.
Are people consistently use what they learn, and it's not
just for personal game or showing off. It's because sharing
their knowledge actually makes it more valuable, both for them
and for others.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
It's fascinating, right, Knowledge isn't used up when you share it,
it gets amplified, reinforced, maybe even refined.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Absolutely, the best way to really cement something in your understanding,
move it from short term recall to long term knowledge,
is to share it. Read a great book, don't just
put it down, talk about it with people who've read it,
or even those who have it but are curious. You
learn so much more in that discussion about the book, sure,
but also about how others sought, what lessons they took away,
just articulating your understanding, maybe defending your view listening to others.
(09:40):
It solidifies your own grasp and shows you angles you missed.
Turns reading from a solo act into a group exploration.
And it doesn't really matter who you share with, does
it or where? Could be family, friends, colleagues at lunch,
an online group of forum. The key is the act
of sharing, talking it out, teaching it, debating it. That's
that's what enriches your understanding and helps you draw better conclusions.
(10:03):
It's meta learning, really learning better by teaching and discussing
that active recall, forcing yourself to explain it, getting questions back.
That really makes the information in yours.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
And finally, for this section, they have a kind of
bonus habit, one that shows learning doesn't have to feel
like hard work. It can actually be fun. I'm sixteen
playing games that task the mind. This is a really
beneficial way to spend time because it forces creative thinking, imagination,
problem solving, all in a low stakes, often enjoyable setting.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
This one feels almost like cheating it's so enjoyable, like
getting a brain work out without really noticing, but the
research totally backs it up. These mental games sharpen your
faculties while bringing to light powerful combo. A twenty nineteen study,
for example, found a clear link people who regularly played
games that challenge their thinking performed better cognitively, memory processing, speed,
problem solving compared to those who didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
It's a potent mix of engagement and cognitive exercise. Things
like crosswords or Sudoku are classics for a reason logic
pattern re ignition focus. But also think about strategic board
games chess, go with ahday, train planning, foresight, tactics, even
some video games. The ones who complex puzzles or strategy
can boost problem solving and quick decision making. And there's
(11:13):
no age limit. Right. Good for adults, good for kids.
They train your brain in logic patterns, solving problems in
a structured, engaging way. It's structured play that helps mental
agility in the real world. Okay, So moving from those
personal intellectual habits, this next seeded insights shows how our environment,
our interactions, even our work routines profoundly impact our cognitive sharpness.
(11:33):
Let's start with habit number three hang out with smart people.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, and this isn't about being exclusive or feeling intimidated
is it, or only seeking out geniuses. It's more about
intentional connection, surrounding yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.
Our surroundings really do shape our values, believes how we think,
and spending time with people who are curious, engaged, always learning.
It constantly feeds your brain. There's always something interesting to discuss,
(11:58):
a new viewpoint, something new to learn from them. It's
like your brain is a sponge and you're choosing what
stimulating liquid.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
It soaks up. What's interesting, too, is that even if
you initially feel a bit out of your depth, that
feeling itself can be useful. As the source material suggests,
you adapt to your surroundings. Your mind kind of pushes
you to improve when you see where you might have gaps.
It's not about feeling inadequate. It's aspirational. Your friends don't
all need PhDs. The important thing is they have interesting discussions.
(12:25):
They challenge you, introduce new ideas, movie their paysetters in
their own way. People who are already intellectually curious know
how to feed their brains. Right. So being around them
helps you pick up not just knowledge, but also that
style of learning. That mindset's like cognitive osmosis.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That makes total sense, creating an intellectual gravity where curiosity
is contagious. And this ties really well into the fourth habit,
take time to think. In our crazy, hyperconnected lives, we
jump from thing to thing right often without really processing
the information we just got. We're always in input mode,
rarely processing mode.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
And what's fascinating here is the emphasis on slowing down
to actually speed up understanding in a world bombarding us
with input, Deliberately making space for reflection is well. It's
an act of cognitive discipline. The habit of just pausing
to reflect on what you learned, a problem you're stuck on,
a decision you need to make. It's hugely beneficial. It's
(13:23):
a crucial part of the learning process. When you take
time to think, maybe just five minutes of quiet or
a longer walk, you allow your brain to connect the dots,
to see the bigger picture, consider all the factors. That's
where real insight comes from, not just surface level understanding.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
And it's not just passive daydreaming, is it. It's active
mental work. It lets you plan ahead, anticipate things, so
you're less likely to be caught off guard, proactive thinking
instead of reactive scrambling. The source even mentioned this supplies
to conversations. Smart people tend to listen more, talk less,
and get more done with fewer words. It's not about
being quiet just cause, it's about really processing, forming a
(14:00):
thoughtful response, making your words count depth over volume, contributing
when it adds real value.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Moving to habitt number ten, which builds on that selective focus,
be selective of what you put your effort into. Smart
people often have fewer friends, but those friendships tend to
be deep, genuine, and Beyond friendships, this selectivity applies to
where they direct their attention and energy overall.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
That's a really insightful point and probably a hard lesson
for many of us in this age of constant demands.
Who you spend time with your loved ones included, reflects
your identity, your needs. It helps you understand yourself and
the world. So it's not about cutting people off, but
consciously investing your social energy where it's truly nourishing and challenging,
and beyond people, being careful about what you give your
(14:44):
attention to projects information causes lets you work optimally without
unnecessary distraction. It's recognizing that attention is finite, incredibly valuable,
and choosing to use it strategically.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Exactly and smart people often find it easier to prioritize
because they grasp this scarcity of attention. Think of it
like a mental checklist. It's much easier to focus on
the next thing on your carefully chosen list than to
juggle absolutely everything demanding your attention at once. This selectivity
isn't about being narrow or missing out. It's about strategic
focus on what actually matters for growth, effective action, and
(15:16):
just well being.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Cultivating deep focus that idea of a mental checklist. Intentional
prioritizing really clicks, simplifies things, reduces mental noise. And speaking
of optimizing work and avoiding burnout, habit number eleven is crucial,
though often neglected, take short breaks at work. In this
digital age, constant notifications always on our brains can literally
(15:38):
burn out from the NonStop input.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
It's true being constantly connected isn't always good for cognitive health.
It creates this state of chronic partial attention. When there
are no pauses, no moments of mental quiet, our thinking
can become superficial, automatic, just reacting, not really engaging deeply.
That's why even a short mental vacation is sometimes critical
to stay creative, maintain quality, avoid burnout, especially after hours
(16:04):
or weeks of intense focus. Your brain needs time to
defragment consolidate.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yeah, it feels so counterintuitive and our productivity obsess culture
where a break feels like slacking. Yeah, but the source
really points to the power of intentional pauses for deeper
processing and renewed focus. Sam goes for intense learning. Right,
You absorb information better if you take breaks after a
few hours of study. During that break, go for a
short walk, meditate, quick exercise, maybe do some simple chores.
(16:30):
The key is giving yourself a real mental timeout, step away,
let your subconscious work, or just recharge. It's like a
quick system reboot for your brain. Improves efficiency and creativity.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Which leads perfectly into Habit twelve, supporting clarity and efficiency.
Learn how to be organized. People who have a habit
of keeping things orderly tend to be smart. It's not
just about tidiness for its own sake. It's about creating
a better cognitive environment.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Right, think about it. Physical clutter, constant phone alerts, digital
mess on your desktop or folders. It all diverts your
mind lowers productivity. Every piece of clutter, physical or digital,
is like a tiny decision or distraction, pulling at your
cognitive resources. Less disorder in your living and working spaces
means your mind can function more effectively. It frees up
(17:15):
mental bandwidth that would otherwise be spent in navigating chaos
or just trying to remember where you put something. Reduces
cognitive friction exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
It reduces cognitive load, lets your brain focus on the
actual task, not managing the environment. Practical advice includes putting
things away right away, like a one touch rule for
digital stuff. Make themed folders, don't just dump everything on
the desktop, use clear file names. This systematic approach physical
and digital, creates a streamlined workspace, promotes focus, reduces mental fatigue.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Okay, Next up Habit thirteen, which is about developing maybe
social intelligence. Study other people's behavior patterns. Smart people seem
to be understanding. They consider things like colleagues, motivations, how
they see a pro check, what help they might actually need.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yeah, it takes real intellectual effort and delivered empathy to
truly understand other people's situations. It's not just feeling sorry
for someone. It's more analytical observing, hypothesizing about why they
do what they do, testing those ideas, trying to get
at the underlying drivers, their goals, fears, strengths, maybe things
they haven't even articulated. The long term benefit is huge.
(18:23):
Better social skills, more effective communication, better decision making, especially
when other people are involved, which is, let's face it,
almost always. It's mastering the human element.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
That's a seriously powerful skill for navigating life professionally and personally.
And it flows nicely into habit fourteen, which broadens that
observational skill to everything. Be actively observant. You know, we
can physically see everything around us, but do we really
pay attention. Many of us, myself included, sometimes just watch
the world uncritically. We focus on what directly affects us
(18:53):
or shouts the loudest.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
It really raises that question, how much do we truly
see versus just look. Cultivating active observation is a direct
path to deeper understanding, finding novel insights. The advice is
pretty practical. Spend a few minutes every day deliberately examining
your surroundings critically. Don't just glance. Really look examine every
day interactions globally via news, interpersonally, societally in your community.
(19:17):
Look for patterns, anomalies, the undercurrents.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
It sounds so simple, but it's kind of unpopular, isn't it,
especially now with so much competing for our passive attention.
But when you consciously turn your attention outward actively look
for details, the nuances in a chat, subtle shifts in
a market, overlooked parts of a problem, you'll genuinely be
surprised by what you discover about the world and often
about yourself. Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Just by
(19:41):
choosing to look deeper, give it a try, you might
see things in a whole new light. Okay, so we've
talked about how we learn, how we organize our mental space,
interact with others, but none of that really flourishes without
the foundations habits supporting our physical and mental well being.
This is where the mind body connection is undeniable. With
habit number five, exercise frequently. Don't overlook this exercise has
(20:04):
profound direct effects on smartness.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Absolutely, the brain and body aren't separate things working in isolation.
They're intricately connected, constantly cooperating our overall energy, physical health,
cardiovascular fitness. These directly impact the quality of our thoughts
are mental stamina cognitive functions. As you grow cognitively challenge
your mind, you also need to grow physically. The two
are intertwined. Neglect one and you'll eventually compromise the other.
(20:29):
Regular exercise actually stimulates things like BDNF brain drive neurotrophic factor,
which is basically fertilizer for brain cells for most growth connections.
It also improves blood float to the brain, reduces information
that helps manage stress, all critical for optimal cognitive health.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
And it's more than just the physical benefits right, It
builds mental discipline too. Exercise instills discipline, committing to show up,
pushing through discomfort, sticking to it even when you don't
feel like it, and that discipline it's incredibly helpful for
building other positive habits, like learning new things. It's a
virtuous cycle. The advice is simple. Try to make time
for some form of exercise most days. Jim running, yoga, homeworkouts,
(21:06):
anything works. Just move your body more consistently. Consistency is key, and.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
That bodymind link brings us straight to habit six, which
fuels the engine prioritize eating healthy. We all hear that
glucose sugar is ideal brain fuel, and while glucose is important,
the reality is more nuanced. A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals,
healthy fats, proteins. That's the best, most sustained fuel for
your thought engine.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Right. This challenges that simplistic idea that brain power is
purely mental, separate from what we eat. It highlights the
undeniable link between diet and cognitive performance, clarity, even mood.
The best brain diet isn't just simple sugars. It needs
good protein, moderate complex carbs for sustained energy, and importantly,
healthy fats things like omega threes and fissure nuts vital
(21:53):
for brain cells neural communication. So whole grains, lean meats, nuts,
fatty fish, dairy should be regulars. They provide the comprehensive
nutrition your brain needs.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
And it's also smart to get into the habit of
eating just enough to be satisfied, not stuffed. Overeating differts
energy to digestion, causes that postmeal brain fog, and crucially,
avoid junk food as much as possible. Yeah, might taste
good short term, but it tires you out, sugar crashes inflammation.
Long term, a diet heavy and processed stuff can cause
health issues that directly impact cognitive vitality, maybe even contribute
(22:25):
to neurodegenerative diseases down the line. Fueling your brain properly
is fundamental.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
And finally, the last habit number fifteen maybe the simplest,
yet often the first thing we ditch when we're busy.
Sleep whenever you need to. Giving our bodies more downtime
genuinely helps our brains function better, more efficiently, more creatively.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Yeah, the studies are overwhelming on this. There's a clear,
undeniable link between enough sleep and cognitive function. One study
found people who consistently skimped on sleep had worse attention,
poor memory, reduced problem solving skills compared to those who
slept longer. And it's not just about feeling awake. Fundamental
cognitive processes only happen during sleep. During deep sleep, your
(23:06):
brain processes and consolidates information from the day, moving memories
to long term storage, and critically, sleep is when your
brain does its housekeeping, clearing out metabolic waste, including those
amyloid and tau proteins linked to Alzheimer's Black sleep is
literally a nightly brain detox and repair session.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
It seems so simple, doesn't it. Yet we treat it
like a luxury, not a necessity. But the research really
hammers home how profound sleep's impact is memory, brain health,
emotional regulation, everything. And there's no magic number for everyone, right,
Different people need different amounts. The core advices make it
a priority to rest when your body needs it. Listen
(23:46):
to the signals. It's not just a break from thinking.
It's non negotiable for sustained intellectual performance and long term
brain health. Ignoring it like trying to run a marathon
on empty.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
So, wrapping this up, what we've really discovered in this
deep dive is it's a powerful kind of liberating truth.
Isn't it intelligence? Isn't this static gift given to a few.
It's dynamic, malleable, something we cultivate throughout life. It comes
down to consistent, intentional dedication to habits, habits that nurture
our mental landscape, how we learn, organize, interact, and crucially,
how we care for our physical selves. These actions might
(24:19):
feel weird or hard at first meeting conscious effort, but
with practice they become seamless, just part of who you
are and how you operate.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, exactly, And this deep dive leaves us with a
really compelling thought, something actionable. If intelligence truly is a
muscle you can train, what new cognitive heights could you
reach just by intentionally picking up one or two of
these habits and sticking with them. What new things might
you discover? What questions might you finally ask the ones
you've held back, Or what insights might you gain? What
(24:46):
patterns might you finally see just by being a bit
more actively observant every day, noticing the details you missed before.
We invite you, our listener, to think about which habit
really resonated with you today. Which one could you maybe
start weaving into your room teen starting now, The journey
to a sharper, more insightful, more fully realized you, Well,
it starts now. M
What if I told you that being smart isn't just
about what you're born with, you know, some inherent quality
you either possess or don't. We often look at brilliant minds,
these pioneers, academics, really insightful people, and we think, wow,
they just have it, like it's some kind of effortless gift, right,
a fixed thing. But what if that's not the whole story.
(00:20):
What if intelligence is actually more dynamic, more flexible, more
something we can actively control.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Indeed, Yeah, if we connect this to the bigger picture,
we'll often see that those who really rise at the top,
but ones making breakthroughs, are solving really complex problems. They
often get there not just because of some preordained talent. Instead,
their success often comes down to very specific, cultivated habits.
These aren't random, you know, their dedicated lifestyle choices, things
that actively stimulate their brains, protect their mental health, and
(00:50):
well grow their cognitive abilities over time. Yeah, it's a
real commitment.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And that's exactly what we're diving into today on the
deep Dive. Our mission here is to unpack this fascinating
idea about intelligence that it's not fixed like your eye color.
It's more like a muscle you can absolutely train, develop
and strengthen throughout your life. We've gone through a whole
lot of observations and insights about how these sharp minds operate,
(01:14):
and we've pulled out the most important fits. We want
to give you a shortcut basically to understanding what these
habits are and crucially, how you might integrate them into
your own life to become well demonstrably smarter every day.
Get ready for some aha moments, because what you're about
to hear might really shift how you think about intelligence
and your own potential. Okay, so let's unpack this first
(01:35):
cluster of habits. These are all about how we actively
engage with the world and acquire knowledge. And the very
first one might seem deceptively simple, maybe even too obvious,
but it's so foundational, asking questions. It's the engine of curiosity, isn't.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It It is? And what's truly fascinating here is how
we often sort of unlearned this natural curiosity we have
As kids. Think about a toddler, right, They're constantly wondering,
why is the sky bluey do cats mew? Why does
water do that? Their world is just this endless series
of questions. A relentless search for understanding. The German philosopher
(02:10):
Hans Kor Gadmeyer put it beautifully. He said, knowledge can
only be with those who have questions. That's not just poetic,
you know, it highlights the active role we have to take.
You don't just passively receive knowledge, You have to go
out and like demand it with a question.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Oh, it's so true. As kids, our curiosity feels limitless.
Everything sparks an inquiry. But then as adults we often
fall into this weird trap of not asking why. It's
often just because we're afraid, afraid of looking stupid or
maybe showing we don't know something. But the material we
looked at for this deep dive is really clear. That
couldn't be farther from the truth. Learning fundamentally requires asking
(02:46):
questions and then just as importantly, actively finding the answers.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
It's a loop which raises a really important question for
all of us, doesn't it? Are we maybe prioritizing comfort,
the comfort of seeming knowledgeable, over actual cognitive growth. If
you don't get some thing, the smartest thing to do
isn't to pretend you do. It's just to ask. And
it's not just about asking other people either a really
powerful practice when we often overlook asking yourself questions and
(03:10):
then actually going and researching the answers on your own.
Imagine after a confusing meeting or reading something complex, instead
of just zoning out with TV or scrolling, you actually
look it up. You use the resources we have now
to really understand it exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
It seems easy, like the idea is easy, But yeah,
it can take time to actually do it, no doubt.
But the benefit, as our sources suggests, is huge. This
consistent curiosity, the shift from just consuming stuff to actively
engaging it, can seriously increase your intelligence. It forces your
brain to make new connections, find pathways to answers. Just
think about the sheer amount of information we have now
(03:46):
if we approach it with a questioning mind, not just browsing,
the potential for growth is massive. It's like turning on
the floodlights and moving on.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
The second habit ties right into this, It deepens that engagement.
Reading across genres the brain. You know, it's a powerful tool,
and like any tool, it needs exercise to say, sharp, agile, powerful,
and reading is probably the best mental workout. It can
get much more comprehensive than lots of other things.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Right, And here's where it gets really interesting. It's not
just that you read, but what you read. The variety
of your mental diet seems key. We have instant access
to like almost everything ever written, phones, tablets, the Internet.
It's an unbelievable buffet of knowledge. Yet how often do
we just find ourselves, you know, watching funny cat videos
or mindlessly scrolling through the same kind of news feed
(04:31):
kind of narrowing our focus really, and.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Look, unwinding is important. Definitely, balance is key, but it's
probably not healthy to use all our free time that way.
The material emphasizes that reading often and critically reading widely.
It doesn't just keep you informed. It teaches your brain
to function well, helps you continuously learn new things. When
you read different genres fiction, nonfiction, history, science, philosophy, even
(04:54):
stuff from different cultures, you're exposing your brain to diverse
ways of thinking, different logic, new words, new perspectives. It
broads you, builds empathy, maybe introduces you to completely different
ways of seeing the world.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Absolutely, and the best options here aren't just you know,
light beach reads are the same blog over and over.
We're talking about engaging with challenging books, thought provoking articles,
maybe some in depth websites. The key seems to be
having a consistent routine, even if it's just part of
the chapter each day or one significant article. That consistent
(05:26):
engagement is like well diversified weightlifting for your brain. Over time,
your intellect will definitely grow. It's diversifying your mental diet. Right.
Just like you want to need only pizza for physical health,
you shouldn't consume only one type of info for your brain.
You need the whole spectrum precisely.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
And that leads us nicely to the seventh habit, which
uses a different but equally powerful cognitive muscle, keeping a diary.
It's actually been shown in studies that even just a
few minutes reflecting on your day, writing down thoughts and
events significantly boosts brain power. It's not just recording what happened.
It's about as in your internal world.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yeah, I can totally see that. It makes sense why
it's so powerful. Nothing motivates you or helps you learn
about yourself quite like your own experiences, right, your achievements,
your mistakes. A diary gives you this like safe space
to really analyze ideas that pop into your head, thoughts
from conversations, questions that linger. You're basically processing your own
life data, turning raw experience into structured understanding. It's thinking
(06:24):
about your own thinking metacognition.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
There's another advantage too, beyond just reflection. Writing frequently, especially reflectively,
it makes you smarter overall, just by expanding your language skills,
because keeping a diary is basically consistent language practice. Right,
You're constantly learning new words, maybe looking for better ways
to phrase something, expanding your vocabulary. This active engagement with language,
(06:47):
constructing thoughts into sentences, it's consistently shown to stimulate brain
regions linked to verbal fluency and reasoning, and that can
actually raise IQ. It's a powerful feedback loop. You're not
just writing down thoughtstively shaping them as you write.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
That's a fantastic point about vocabulary and IQ. How structuring
thoughts improves the thinking itself. Okay, now for the epe habit.
This one might take a bit of courage for some
of us. Do something new, even if you think it
won't work. Embrace challenges because practice makes perfect. The core
idea here is that smart people aren't like unnecessarily scared
(07:22):
of failure. They really get that universal truth without practice.
Without doing it, you can't truly learn anything, let alone
master it.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, this really makes you think about comfort zones, doesn't
it why we resist stepping out? The source implies that
pushing past that initial worry, that feeling of oh, I
might mess this up is absolutely crucial for real growth
and learning new skills. Think about it. You can't learn
a math equation without trying the problems right, even if
you get them wrong at first. You can't learn guitar
(07:50):
without fumbling through the chords, making awful sounds, probably feeling awkward.
That apprehension, the potential failure, the discomfort, it's not an obstacle,
it's just part of the lear curve. It has to
happen before you get good.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
And this habit suggests that sometimes the biggest successes, the
really spectacular breakthroughs, come directly from doing things that initially
scared us a lot. It's about embracing that beginner feeling
that discomfort as a necessary step. It's the difference between
just knowing about something and actually being able to do it.
It's that jump into the unknown, that willingness to stumble
and learn that often unlocks totally new levels of capability.
(08:25):
That's where neuroplasticity really kicks in. Your brain literally rewires.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Itself exactly, and following from that, willingness to act, the
ninth habit is absolutely key for making knowledge stick, apply
and share new knowledge. The core idea is simple but
really profound. If you don't plan to use what you learn,
if it just sits there, well there's not much lasting
point in studying it. Knowledge needs to be active.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
So what does this mean for us then? Beyond just
collecting facts like stamps, it's not enough to just consume information.
We need to be active participants, really engaged with it.
Are people consistently use what they learn, and it's not
just for personal game or showing off. It's because sharing
their knowledge actually makes it more valuable, both for them
and for others.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
It's fascinating, right, Knowledge isn't used up when you share it,
it gets amplified, reinforced, maybe even refined.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Absolutely, the best way to really cement something in your understanding,
move it from short term recall to long term knowledge,
is to share it. Read a great book, don't just
put it down, talk about it with people who've read it,
or even those who have it but are curious. You
learn so much more in that discussion about the book, sure,
but also about how others sought, what lessons they took away,
just articulating your understanding, maybe defending your view listening to others.
(09:40):
It solidifies your own grasp and shows you angles you missed.
Turns reading from a solo act into a group exploration.
And it doesn't really matter who you share with, does
it or where? Could be family, friends, colleagues at lunch,
an online group of forum. The key is the act
of sharing, talking it out, teaching it, debating it. That's
that's what enriches your understanding and helps you draw better conclusions.
(10:03):
It's meta learning, really learning better by teaching and discussing
that active recall, forcing yourself to explain it, getting questions back.
That really makes the information in yours.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
And finally, for this section, they have a kind of
bonus habit, one that shows learning doesn't have to feel
like hard work. It can actually be fun. I'm sixteen
playing games that task the mind. This is a really
beneficial way to spend time because it forces creative thinking, imagination,
problem solving, all in a low stakes, often enjoyable setting.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
This one feels almost like cheating it's so enjoyable, like
getting a brain work out without really noticing, but the
research totally backs it up. These mental games sharpen your
faculties while bringing to light powerful combo. A twenty nineteen study,
for example, found a clear link people who regularly played
games that challenge their thinking performed better cognitively, memory processing, speed,
problem solving compared to those who didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
It's a potent mix of engagement and cognitive exercise. Things
like crosswords or Sudoku are classics for a reason logic
pattern re ignition focus. But also think about strategic board
games chess, go with ahday, train planning, foresight, tactics, even
some video games. The ones who complex puzzles or strategy
can boost problem solving and quick decision making. And there's
(11:13):
no age limit. Right. Good for adults, good for kids.
They train your brain in logic patterns, solving problems in
a structured, engaging way. It's structured play that helps mental
agility in the real world. Okay, So moving from those
personal intellectual habits, this next seeded insights shows how our environment,
our interactions, even our work routines profoundly impact our cognitive sharpness.
(11:33):
Let's start with habit number three hang out with smart people.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Yeah, and this isn't about being exclusive or feeling intimidated
is it, or only seeking out geniuses. It's more about
intentional connection, surrounding yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.
Our surroundings really do shape our values, believes how we think,
and spending time with people who are curious, engaged, always learning.
It constantly feeds your brain. There's always something interesting to discuss,
(11:58):
a new viewpoint, something new to learn from them. It's
like your brain is a sponge and you're choosing what
stimulating liquid.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
It soaks up. What's interesting, too, is that even if
you initially feel a bit out of your depth, that
feeling itself can be useful. As the source material suggests,
you adapt to your surroundings. Your mind kind of pushes
you to improve when you see where you might have gaps.
It's not about feeling inadequate. It's aspirational. Your friends don't
all need PhDs. The important thing is they have interesting discussions.
(12:25):
They challenge you, introduce new ideas, movie their paysetters in
their own way. People who are already intellectually curious know
how to feed their brains. Right. So being around them
helps you pick up not just knowledge, but also that
style of learning. That mindset's like cognitive osmosis.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
That makes total sense, creating an intellectual gravity where curiosity
is contagious. And this ties really well into the fourth habit,
take time to think. In our crazy, hyperconnected lives, we
jump from thing to thing right often without really processing
the information we just got. We're always in input mode,
rarely processing mode.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
And what's fascinating here is the emphasis on slowing down
to actually speed up understanding in a world bombarding us
with input, Deliberately making space for reflection is well. It's
an act of cognitive discipline. The habit of just pausing
to reflect on what you learned, a problem you're stuck on,
a decision you need to make. It's hugely beneficial. It's
(13:23):
a crucial part of the learning process. When you take
time to think, maybe just five minutes of quiet or
a longer walk, you allow your brain to connect the dots,
to see the bigger picture, consider all the factors. That's
where real insight comes from, not just surface level understanding.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
And it's not just passive daydreaming, is it. It's active
mental work. It lets you plan ahead, anticipate things, so
you're less likely to be caught off guard, proactive thinking
instead of reactive scrambling. The source even mentioned this supplies
to conversations. Smart people tend to listen more, talk less,
and get more done with fewer words. It's not about
being quiet just cause, it's about really processing, forming a
(14:00):
thoughtful response, making your words count depth over volume, contributing
when it adds real value.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Moving to habitt number ten, which builds on that selective focus,
be selective of what you put your effort into. Smart
people often have fewer friends, but those friendships tend to
be deep, genuine, and Beyond friendships, this selectivity applies to
where they direct their attention and energy overall.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
That's a really insightful point and probably a hard lesson
for many of us in this age of constant demands.
Who you spend time with your loved ones included, reflects
your identity, your needs. It helps you understand yourself and
the world. So it's not about cutting people off, but
consciously investing your social energy where it's truly nourishing and challenging,
and beyond people, being careful about what you give your
(14:44):
attention to projects information causes lets you work optimally without
unnecessary distraction. It's recognizing that attention is finite, incredibly valuable,
and choosing to use it strategically.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Exactly and smart people often find it easier to prioritize
because they grasp this scarcity of attention. Think of it
like a mental checklist. It's much easier to focus on
the next thing on your carefully chosen list than to
juggle absolutely everything demanding your attention at once. This selectivity
isn't about being narrow or missing out. It's about strategic
focus on what actually matters for growth, effective action, and
(15:16):
just well being.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Cultivating deep focus that idea of a mental checklist. Intentional
prioritizing really clicks, simplifies things, reduces mental noise. And speaking
of optimizing work and avoiding burnout, habit number eleven is crucial,
though often neglected, take short breaks at work. In this
digital age, constant notifications always on our brains can literally
(15:38):
burn out from the NonStop input.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
It's true being constantly connected isn't always good for cognitive health.
It creates this state of chronic partial attention. When there
are no pauses, no moments of mental quiet, our thinking
can become superficial, automatic, just reacting, not really engaging deeply.
That's why even a short mental vacation is sometimes critical
to stay creative, maintain quality, avoid burnout, especially after hours
(16:04):
or weeks of intense focus. Your brain needs time to
defragment consolidate.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yeah, it feels so counterintuitive and our productivity obsess culture
where a break feels like slacking. Yeah, but the source
really points to the power of intentional pauses for deeper
processing and renewed focus. Sam goes for intense learning. Right,
You absorb information better if you take breaks after a
few hours of study. During that break, go for a
short walk, meditate, quick exercise, maybe do some simple chores.
(16:30):
The key is giving yourself a real mental timeout, step away,
let your subconscious work, or just recharge. It's like a
quick system reboot for your brain. Improves efficiency and creativity.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Which leads perfectly into Habit twelve, supporting clarity and efficiency.
Learn how to be organized. People who have a habit
of keeping things orderly tend to be smart. It's not
just about tidiness for its own sake. It's about creating
a better cognitive environment.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Right, think about it. Physical clutter, constant phone alerts, digital
mess on your desktop or folders. It all diverts your
mind lowers productivity. Every piece of clutter, physical or digital,
is like a tiny decision or distraction, pulling at your
cognitive resources. Less disorder in your living and working spaces
means your mind can function more effectively. It frees up
(17:15):
mental bandwidth that would otherwise be spent in navigating chaos
or just trying to remember where you put something. Reduces
cognitive friction exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
It reduces cognitive load, lets your brain focus on the
actual task, not managing the environment. Practical advice includes putting
things away right away, like a one touch rule for
digital stuff. Make themed folders, don't just dump everything on
the desktop, use clear file names. This systematic approach physical
and digital, creates a streamlined workspace, promotes focus, reduces mental fatigue.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Okay, Next up Habit thirteen, which is about developing maybe
social intelligence. Study other people's behavior patterns. Smart people seem
to be understanding. They consider things like colleagues, motivations, how
they see a pro check, what help they might actually need.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yeah, it takes real intellectual effort and delivered empathy to
truly understand other people's situations. It's not just feeling sorry
for someone. It's more analytical observing, hypothesizing about why they
do what they do, testing those ideas, trying to get
at the underlying drivers, their goals, fears, strengths, maybe things
they haven't even articulated. The long term benefit is huge.
(18:23):
Better social skills, more effective communication, better decision making, especially
when other people are involved, which is, let's face it,
almost always. It's mastering the human element.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
That's a seriously powerful skill for navigating life professionally and personally.
And it flows nicely into habit fourteen, which broadens that
observational skill to everything. Be actively observant. You know, we
can physically see everything around us, but do we really
pay attention. Many of us, myself included, sometimes just watch
the world uncritically. We focus on what directly affects us
(18:53):
or shouts the loudest.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
It really raises that question, how much do we truly
see versus just look. Cultivating active observation is a direct
path to deeper understanding, finding novel insights. The advice is
pretty practical. Spend a few minutes every day deliberately examining
your surroundings critically. Don't just glance. Really look examine every
day interactions globally via news, interpersonally, societally in your community.
(19:17):
Look for patterns, anomalies, the undercurrents.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
It sounds so simple, but it's kind of unpopular, isn't it,
especially now with so much competing for our passive attention.
But when you consciously turn your attention outward actively look
for details, the nuances in a chat, subtle shifts in
a market, overlooked parts of a problem, you'll genuinely be
surprised by what you discover about the world and often
about yourself. Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Just by
(19:41):
choosing to look deeper, give it a try, you might
see things in a whole new light. Okay, so we've
talked about how we learn, how we organize our mental space,
interact with others, but none of that really flourishes without
the foundations habits supporting our physical and mental well being.
This is where the mind body connection is undeniable. With
habit number five, exercise frequently. Don't overlook this exercise has
(20:04):
profound direct effects on smartness.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Absolutely, the brain and body aren't separate things working in isolation.
They're intricately connected, constantly cooperating our overall energy, physical health,
cardiovascular fitness. These directly impact the quality of our thoughts
are mental stamina cognitive functions. As you grow cognitively challenge
your mind, you also need to grow physically. The two
are intertwined. Neglect one and you'll eventually compromise the other.
(20:29):
Regular exercise actually stimulates things like BDNF brain drive neurotrophic factor,
which is basically fertilizer for brain cells for most growth connections.
It also improves blood float to the brain, reduces information
that helps manage stress, all critical for optimal cognitive health.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
And it's more than just the physical benefits right, It
builds mental discipline too. Exercise instills discipline, committing to show up,
pushing through discomfort, sticking to it even when you don't
feel like it, and that discipline it's incredibly helpful for
building other positive habits, like learning new things. It's a
virtuous cycle. The advice is simple. Try to make time
for some form of exercise most days. Jim running, yoga, homeworkouts,
(21:06):
anything works. Just move your body more consistently. Consistency is key, and.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
That bodymind link brings us straight to habit six, which
fuels the engine prioritize eating healthy. We all hear that
glucose sugar is ideal brain fuel, and while glucose is important,
the reality is more nuanced. A balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals,
healthy fats, proteins. That's the best, most sustained fuel for
your thought engine.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Right. This challenges that simplistic idea that brain power is
purely mental, separate from what we eat. It highlights the
undeniable link between diet and cognitive performance, clarity, even mood.
The best brain diet isn't just simple sugars. It needs
good protein, moderate complex carbs for sustained energy, and importantly,
healthy fats things like omega threes and fissure nuts vital
(21:53):
for brain cells neural communication. So whole grains, lean meats, nuts,
fatty fish, dairy should be regulars. They provide the comprehensive
nutrition your brain needs.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
And it's also smart to get into the habit of
eating just enough to be satisfied, not stuffed. Overeating differts
energy to digestion, causes that postmeal brain fog, and crucially,
avoid junk food as much as possible. Yeah, might taste
good short term, but it tires you out, sugar crashes inflammation.
Long term, a diet heavy and processed stuff can cause
health issues that directly impact cognitive vitality, maybe even contribute
(22:25):
to neurodegenerative diseases down the line. Fueling your brain properly
is fundamental.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
And finally, the last habit number fifteen maybe the simplest,
yet often the first thing we ditch when we're busy.
Sleep whenever you need to. Giving our bodies more downtime
genuinely helps our brains function better, more efficiently, more creatively.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Yeah, the studies are overwhelming on this. There's a clear,
undeniable link between enough sleep and cognitive function. One study
found people who consistently skimped on sleep had worse attention,
poor memory, reduced problem solving skills compared to those who
slept longer. And it's not just about feeling awake. Fundamental
cognitive processes only happen during sleep. During deep sleep, your
(23:06):
brain processes and consolidates information from the day, moving memories
to long term storage, and critically, sleep is when your
brain does its housekeeping, clearing out metabolic waste, including those
amyloid and tau proteins linked to Alzheimer's Black sleep is
literally a nightly brain detox and repair session.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
It seems so simple, doesn't it. Yet we treat it
like a luxury, not a necessity. But the research really
hammers home how profound sleep's impact is memory, brain health,
emotional regulation, everything. And there's no magic number for everyone, right,
Different people need different amounts. The core advices make it
a priority to rest when your body needs it. Listen
(23:46):
to the signals. It's not just a break from thinking.
It's non negotiable for sustained intellectual performance and long term
brain health. Ignoring it like trying to run a marathon
on empty.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
So, wrapping this up, what we've really discovered in this
deep dive is it's a powerful kind of liberating truth.
Isn't it intelligence? Isn't this static gift given to a few.
It's dynamic, malleable, something we cultivate throughout life. It comes
down to consistent, intentional dedication to habits, habits that nurture
our mental landscape, how we learn, organize, interact, and crucially,
how we care for our physical selves. These actions might
(24:19):
feel weird or hard at first meeting conscious effort, but
with practice they become seamless, just part of who you
are and how you operate.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Yeah, exactly, And this deep dive leaves us with a
really compelling thought, something actionable. If intelligence truly is a
muscle you can train, what new cognitive heights could you
reach just by intentionally picking up one or two of
these habits and sticking with them. What new things might
you discover? What questions might you finally ask the ones
you've held back, Or what insights might you gain? What
(24:46):
patterns might you finally see just by being a bit
more actively observant every day, noticing the details you missed before.
We invite you, our listener, to think about which habit
really resonated with you today. Which one could you maybe
start weaving into your room teen starting now, The journey
to a sharper, more insightful, more fully realized you, Well,
it starts now. M
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!