As a university student, I spend a huge amount of time and money to get a good education and be considered a "smart" member of society (whatever that means). Despite the tons of studying and effort on the part of students, we often still feel like we're lacking the basic knowledge needed to be a functioning member of society. As students, we are not alone.
In today's world, there's always some new app, program or subscription on the market claiming to make you smarter. As great as it all looks, most of us don't have the time or the money to take advantage of these resources.
What you're probably thinking is a familiar thought: Can only the bored members of society with lots of money actively take control of increasing their knowledge and understanding? Spoiler alert, the answer is absolutely not.
Here are eight ways you can feel more productive, strengthen your brain and improve your basic conversation skills without changing anything about your daily routine.
1. Ask your personal assistant (Alexa, Google or Siri) to give you a morning news briefing while you get ready for the day.
If you're fortunate enough to have an Alexa or a Google Home in your bedroom, it's pretty easy to incorporate a quick news briefing into your morning routine. Listening to a brief update while getting ready for work can allow you to feel more prepared for the day. Worried about the content? You can specify news source preferences on the personal assistant apps.
2. Find a great podcast series to listen to while you walk to class or drive to work.
There are a TON of podcasts produced daily. Find one that interests you, challenges you or causes you to think about something new. Podcasts are free for those of us with smartphones and even available on music players like Spotify.
3. If podcasts aren't your thing, try listening to an audiobook.
We all know the value of reading books but sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day. If podcasts aren't your thing, download a book on Audible or any other audiobook software. Now you can enjoy a good book in the car, running errands or while getting work done at home.
4. Take a few seconds to follow news accounts on Instagram or Facebook.
Even if you don't read the larger stories, seeing headlines pop up on your social media feed will encourage you to be a more active member of your community. Oftentimes, I use social media to take a break from a stressful day, seeing a post from a news source reminds me to make a mental note to catch up later on.
5. Download a news app or two and enable notifications.
While these suggestions probably feel news-heavy, staying up to date on the big things going on in your community and around the world will give you a stronger base of general knowledge. If social media isn't your thing, take a few seconds to download your favorite news source's apps. Turn on notifications and limit the frequency to whatever is best for you. When you glance down at your phone to check the time, read through your notifications and see if there's anything you want to look into later.
6. Meditate.
Taking the time to disconnect from your day and recenter your brain will make you more productive. There are countless lessons on meditating while walking, taking a shower, or even cooking dinner. Use this time to quiet your brain and the more engaging parts of your day will be much easier to get through.
7. Disconnect from your tech and pick up an old fashioned book.
Make some tea, grab a blanket, leave your phone in the other room and find a great book. Letting your brain take a "nap" from constant stress and processing will not only allow you to relax but will let your mind comprehend the topic of your new favorite novel.
8. Sleep consistently
This is absolutely easier said than done but sticking to a consistent sleep schedule will help you process information more successfully leading to great conversations and less study time needed. Huffington Post even reported that sleep deprivation has the same impact on our bodies as being intoxicated. Lots of research and a long story short, do yourself a favor and get your full eight hours.
While admitting that you're trying to "get smarter" probably feels like a weird or embarrassing confession but it's actually the exact opposite. We should all be constantly trying to expand our brains and our general knowledge base. The world keeps changing and it's up to us to keep up.
There are more than just eight ways to "effortlessly" challenge our brains but sometimes it takes just an action or two to make us feel empowered enough to be confident in our words and choices. Here's to a new year of learning new things and challenging our brains.