How to be Smart

Steps

Set Goals

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   Set goals once a week. Do the important things first. This helps because you might need to do an important project and you decide to go and play football instead. And the night before the project is due you are rushing around and may not even finish. Your teacher will be able to tell two things, you've rushed it and you haven't put any effort into it.
   
   
   
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   • Be organized. Begin each day by planning. Get a notebook or small digital planner to write down your daily homework assignments and write down the due dates for tests and papers. Get a weekly planner with your class schedule and plan your activities. Get a monthly calendar to write down birthdays and big events. Write down what classes you have, when to do homework and what your homework is, dates, when you are hanging out with friends etc. all in your planner.

Continue Learning New Things Even After School

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   Further your education. Keep in mind an education isn't the junk you are forced to do in school for diplomas and degrees; it's an understanding of the world around you. People who are naturally curious for some reason begin to stop asking questions the moment they hit school. The truly brilliant mind however, always questions their world and tries to make sense of it. That is the secret to "genius". Do not let the relentless orders and busywork of school called an "education" fool you. Schools are one potential resource if you enjoy the environment but by no means are they necessary for brilliance and by no means are they the best way. Try teaching yourself. You can even learn from your life experiences, sometimes called "unschooling".

Expand Your Horizons

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   Cultivate an interest in subjects like current events, interesting facts, funny and inspiring quotations, good books and movies, scientific studies and interesting inventions. Educational television is a great way to learn. Check out PBS or History channel. People who have something to talk about other than their own internal problems and worries appear far more interesting and intelligent.
   • If you can read much faster than you can speak, it is much more efficient to read a book, or better yet a non-linear^[1] electronic document like a wiki than to watch a show for all but the most intellectually demanding or video-dependent learning. Commercial television is particularly bad because its ultimate purpose is to do just enough to keep you at the TV and its ads, not satisfy you so you can do something else.^[2]

Keep Working Hard

1. 1
   Work on your vocabulary. Read good books, try to use a few definitions from the dictionary each day, or subscribe to a "word-of-the-day" service on-line. You can also take the vocabulary tests in Readers Digest or buy a book on increasing your working vocabulary. Read the dictionary one letter at a time. This will take you at least a year but you will grow intellectually.
2. 2
   Read good books. They will make you both appear and be smarter. Reading really is fun and your mind will grow. Keep your reading diverse by reading books of all genres including non-fiction. Make sure the books are interesting to you. As you read more you will soon learn that, just like movies, some books are better than others. Keep searching out the ones you think are good. If not sure what to read... ask a teacher or go to the library. Get a library card.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Exercise your mind. Learn how to solve the Rubik's cube. It is easier than it appears if you learn tricks in visualizing the cube's geometry. Also do word and math puzzles-such as Sudoku.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Learn how to do mental sums or speed math. There are all sorts of tricks for doing complicated math in your head that will amaze others. Plus it can potentially increase working memory.
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   Try learning a new language: You can say something smart that you found out in Spanish, French ect. and look it up or learn it.Practice it for five minutes and see if you can say it really fast and pronounce it right. Apart from being useful, it may bring you into contact with new people and ideas. You may feel less of a stranger when you visit a place and you know some of the language. Also, at some point you will realise that there are some phrases or concepts in other languages that have no direct translation in English! This can be a challenging and fun exercise for the mind. (Note, try to be patient and positive when studying a language as it may take time to reach the level you desire.)
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   Draw a diagram of it. Smart people are good at using diagrams too. Don't be just word-oriented, or abstract concept oriented. Look for your weaknesses and improve on those as well.
   
   
   
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   Analyze complex situations for practice. That will enable you to understand complex things better. And it will give you a better understanding of easier / simpler things.
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   Update your skills. Learn to use technology. Be an eager learner. Be more practical.
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   Make a sheet of paper and write a keyword for everything you want to memorize. If you don't retain information actively (that means: it would come to your mind in a conversation) when you cross up it the first time (that's very likely after the end of childhood), the act of writing and looking on the thing some more times (you hopefully won't have to learn it like vocabulary - actually, you should enjoy broadening your horizon) will greatly increase the chance of retaining it in mind.

Travel

1. 1
   Visit new places as much as you can. If possible, try to visit other countries too. Visiting cities in your country or in a different one, gives you a open mind and teaches you about the world we live in. You will be able to understand other cultures (how people live in a different place, how they behave with each other, how they live and so on). You will also be able to understand that the planet earth is huge and there are so much to see and do. You will be fascinated on how there are so many different people and culture in the world. That will make you smart and interesting.
   
   
   

Develop People Skills

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   Simplify. Talking about things that no one else can understand does not make you smart. Genius is the ability to translate the complex into the simple. Practice explaining concepts to others. See just how simple and clear you can make your explanations. If someone doesn't understand you, it is not their fault for being ignorant, it is your fault for being inarticulate.
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   Learn to listen carefully to others' opinions about controversial things, or things they know about and you do not. You do not have to agree with them but remember everybody has something to teach you. If a person holds an opposing opinion they most likely have logical reasons for doing so. Asking questions may allow you to re-evaluate your own beliefs, or point out the flaws in theirs. Keep an open mind. The more intelligent you are the more questions you will ask of your friends, teachers and parents.
3. 3
   Make connections. Burying information somewhere deep in your brain is not useful; you have to be able to access it in real-world situations. Think of real-world situations in which a piece of information will make sense. Then share it with us, and link it in, and watch it grow!.
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   Be nice to people. Care about the well being of others. Sometimes people don't realize if another person is hurting or sad. Look at their faces and in their eyes when you talk to them. There will always be bullies. They may call you names: a nerd, a freak, a geek, or use a racial slur, but in this case they really will only be jealous and petty. Being nice to all people is also a sign of maturity, class and intelligence. Keep it up and people will notice.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Consider that it might be a good tactic to go along with their mockery and laugh at yourself. Stand up for people who are getting bullied even if you might start getting bullied. If you really want to be smart, try to understand the bullies psychological motivations. Understanding the enemy is the best way to defeat them. Never insult anyone, gossip or hurt someone physically. Don't make offensive jokes. If someone is abusive to you, you can ignore them or go to adults for advice on how to deal with them. Be respectful to yourself, friends, parents and teachers.
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   Be friends with smart people who do all of the above. It will boost your self-esteem, confidence, make you less likely to be teased, prevent depression, help you study harder, make your life happier and otherwise enrich your life. You can also make studying fun with your friends.
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   Learn to work with all types of people. By doing this, you will be prepared for any type of situation that comes up!

Feed Your Head

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   Feed your brain and let it grow. Especially when young, eat a nutritious diet - a little too much is better than not enough, get plenty of sleep, and some exercise for general good health.^[3]
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   Find something that inspires you. Like a movie, or a good book, and try to follow the footsteps of a successful individual you have seen.
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   Know thyself! Depending on your experiences and personality, one of the most difficult things to understand may be your very own self. Understanding our motivations, emotions and ego can bring us forward in gaining a new perspective in life. This may not be raw brainpower, but is still a valuable form of intelligence.
   
   
   
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