Hello everyone 
The fundamental building block in the brain is the neuron. By learning ways to enhance the building block, we open a new frontier for understanding the power of our brain.
“Building your brain power will open a new frontier beyond which lies an understanding that seems nearly incalculable.”
So, what’s the point?
We can improve our brain power and intelligence through certain brain training exercises.
You might be wondering:
In our busy life, how can I find time to do this?
The answer is simple and it’s not that difficult.
Brain training is simply cognitive training using exercises to improve your brain power. By improving your brain power, you will find that your IQ, focus, and creative skills will increase as well.
Let’s take a look at how you can improve your brain power through brain training.
Brain training hacks that will make you smarter
Hack #1. Learn by teaching
In Mindhacker, Ron and Marty Hale-Evans argue that we should learn by teaching.
“Before you can teach an idea, you must understand it. Therefore, teaching situations can be proving grounds for your own knowledge. Accelerate your learning of a subject by agreeing to teach it.” – Ron and Marty Hale-Evans
How to make this work:
Dive deep into a concept by breaking it apart (analysis) and putting it back together (synthesis).
Find a way to teach the content. If you have the appropriate education, try teaching an online course. If not, try teaching a new idea through places such as Udemy.
Use innovative systems thinking tools to conduct analysis and synthesis and to teach your course.
Hack #2. Learn by writing
One of my favorite methods for learning and increasing intelligence is writing. By writing or blogging on a new topic, I force myself to break apart concepts. I then piece them back together by writing about them.
How to make this work:
Start writing for a blog or start your own. A great place to start writing is on steemit.com
Dive deep into a concept by breaking it apart (analysis) and putting it back together (synthesis).
Write about the content you are learning and pay close attention to the feedback you receive once published.
Hack #3. Physical exercise
Physical exercise will not only improve your body, but it will also improve your brain power. Neurogenesis is the birth of new neurons in our brain. Exercise increases the levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which supports neurogenesis.
How to make this work:
Start an exercise routine.
Change your diet. Eliminate refined sugars and start taking vitamins to improve the functioning of your brain.
Hack #4, Read smarter
Start reading books faster and smarter. There are certain ways you should read a book. Some books should be read faster than others.
How to make this work:
Skim the book first. Start with the title page, the inside of the cover, the table of contents, then the back of the book.
Identify the author’s main theme (and main points within the book). Ask yourself the question “why” throughout the book. For example, “Why is the author arguing this point?”.
Throughout the book and at the conclusion of the book, ask yourself three questions:
– What? What happened in the book?
– So What? What was the key takeaway?
– Now What? What can you do with this new information?
Hack #5. Reason backward
Maurice Ashley, Chess Grandmaster, discussed the importance of retrograde analysis or reasoning backward in the following Ted Talk:
Let’s look at an example of reasoning backward.
Read the following sentence:
After reading this sentence, you will realize that the the brain doesn’t recognize a second ‘the’.
Now read the sentence again. Did you notice that you missed the second ‘the’?
Our mind is logical and proceeds forward, so we don’t see the second ‘the’; however, if we read the sentence backwards we will always catch it.
Hack #6. Quick and easy math tricks
Let’s examine some quick and easy math hacks that should be (but are not) taught in school.
Easily multiply any two-digit number by eleven:
32 x 11
Simply add the first two digits: 3 + 2 = 5
Place the 5 between the 3 and the 2 and you have your answer: 352
32 x 11 = 352
ii. Easily add two digit numbers:
84 + 57
Add 84 + 50 = 134
Then add 134 + 7 = 141
84 + 57 = 141
Hack #7. Think – Try – Learn
In Mindhacker, Ron and Marty Hale-Evans discuss a powerful tactic called Think – Try – Learn.
Think: Theorize, Predict, Plan
Try: Test, Observe, Record, Play
Learn: Analyze, Define Meaning, Change, Grow
Hack #8. Learn a new language
Learning a new language is one of the most powerful ways to improve your intelligence and cognitive capacity.
Hack #9. Brain training apps
Elevate and Lumosity are brain training programs designed to improve our focus, speaking ability, processing speed, memory, math skills, and much more.
Both programs come packed with more than 40 games and puzzles designed to improve our critical thinking and cognitive skills.
