1. Trivia Games
Trivia games are a great way to boost your cognitive abilities if played regularly. It’s not that this is about filling our heads up with facts and being a bore at a party—although that could be you if you wish. Instead, when you remember things such as trivia facts, you can become smarter by improving your long-term memory. Not only will you become smarter by playing, but by engaging friends or relatives you can deepen relationships through good-natured competitiveness. Surely this is better than slouching in front of the TV?
2. Learn Song Words
As odd as this might sound, if you take time to learn the words of your favorite songs, you can make yourself smarter and get a bit more creative, too. Initially focus on your all time faves, and then work through your favorite albums and then onwards. If you cannot hear all of the words then look them up online (Google is your friend here). Most people who like music should be able to find more than 100 songs with lyrics that they would enjoy knowing the words to. By learning the words and tunes, not only do you improve your memory skills, you also engage some of the more creative aspects of your brain.
3. Playing Puzzles
Like trivia games, puzzles will help you become smarter by engaging the problem-solving parts of your brain. Whether you prefer jigsaws (which help your spacial awareness), sudoku (problem solving and number handling) or crosswords (language and problem solving), there is a puzzle game for you that can extend your smartness.
4. Play Some Poker
Poker not only involves strategy but also weighing risks and acting accordingly. Poker requires you to know your hand and anticipate the other players’ actions. You need to learn how to read people’s “poker faces” and you need to anticipate what kind of a pot that you can win. Since poker games have lots of different rules, you will increase your knowledge and memory through playing.
5. Strategy Card Games
There are many different forms of strategy card games that will help you become smarter. These can include simple card games like the well known game Uno, all the way up to complicated collectors’ card games, such as Magic: The Gathering. Like poker, all of these games will increase your cognitive ability and make for great social activities.
6. Video Games
Some people might consider playing video games to be a waste of time, but there are many games that can challenge you in ways you may have not considered. High-action, quick-thinking, first-person, shooting or driving games require the player to be aware of surroundings and act accordingly. Not only that, but the abstract nature of games and hand-to-eye coordination require the brain to engage in a way that isn’t usually associated with becoming smarter. Aside from the high-octane, there are also “brain training” games. Whether straightforward puzzles, or more story-based adventure games, these will help you with puzzle solving and hand-to-eye coordination.
7. Read, Read and Read Some More
Last but not least, reading will definitely help you become smarter. Whether it is poetry, books, magazines or web pages that you read, it doesn’t really matter as long as you read regularly. Reading helps you to develop your memory and improve your language skills. If you are the kind of person who can relax with a book for more than 15 minutes at a go, then you are also exercising your concentration skills. Not bad for something that so many people take for granted.
