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Beauty with Brains:
9 Habits to Level Up
All Day Every Day

Table of Contents

Nr. 1: Get Your General Knowledge Right

Introduce yourself to new topics.
This means you can make a list of topics you are interested in or that are considered general knowledge:

  • Language,  Literature, Art & Culture
  • Geography, History & Politics 
  • Science & Technology
  • Economics & Business
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Sports, Health & Medicine

And this is how you acquire general knowledge:
Books and encyclopedias, educational websites, free online courses, YouTube channels, newspapers and magazines, podcasts, mobile apps, quiz and trivia platforms, conversations and discussions, documentaries and films, museums, libraries, and public events.

Nr. 2: Study Methods: Look for New Ways to Learn More Effectively

There are many different study methods out there.
There’s no single right way for everyone to maximize their study time, so you have to find out what works best for you.

Visual Learners: Mind Mapping, Color-Coded Notes, Infographics and Diagrams, Video Tutorials

Auditory Learners: Feynman Technique, Discussion Groups, Listening to Podcasts or Audiobooks, Reciting Information Aloud

Reading/Writing Learners: Summarization, Creating Flashcards, Essay Writing, Note-Taking

Kinesthetic Learners: Role-Playing, Building Models, Interactive Simulations, Movement-Based Study

Multimodal Learners: Integrated Study Techniques, Interactive Learning Platforms, Group Study Sessions, Varied Study Environments

GOOD TO KNOW: Sometimes, your ability to learn depends not only on your learning style but also on the material you need to study.

Nr. 3: Inner Dialogue: Reflect on What You’ve Learned

Self-reflection is a key element in becoming smarter. Set aside time in your day to reflect on what you have learned.

Try explaining it to someone else and sharing your knowledge (the Feynman Technique); you can also write it in your journal to track your progress over time, which is especially useful when you are learning a new language.

Or even brainstorm/mindmapping by writing down all the knowledge you’ve acquired after your study or reading session, or simply after a mentally stimulating day, and connect it with what you already know.

Nr. 4: Quality Screen Time: Reduce Your Screen Time

It is well known that excessive smartphone use reduces people’s attention span. It therefore becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate when it is necessary.

Make sure to also include long-form content in your screen time, and use your time in front of digital devices as effectively as possible.

You can use it to:

  1. Music: Listen to music or frequencies that help you stay focused.
  2. Visual and Auditory Learning: Watch documentaries or listen to podcasts on topics you are interested in.
  3. Language Learning: You can use apps like Babbel or Memrise. You can also start texting with people in a foreign language (a language you are learning).
  4. Digital Journaling: Use apps like Notion, Day One, or GoodNotes to reflect, plan your week, track goals, and monitor your study sessions. If you like it a bit more creative, you could also create a vision board or manifestation tracker digitally.
  5. Free Learning Sources: YouTube tutorials are known to be easy to follow. From coding to how to cook like a Neapolitan, you can find almost anything.
  6. Online Courses: Platforms like Coursera, Skillshare, and Khan Academy are another great way to use your screen time. While the courses are usually free, you pay for the diploma.
  7. Read: Use the Kindle app, Audible, or free e-books from Libby or OverDrive. Consider listening to audiobooks while reading.
 

Nr. 5: Social Circle: Spend Your Time with Intellectually Stimulating People

Choose to have people in your life who challenge you intellectually and are either on the same intellectual level as you or above.
Generally speaking, everyone knows something better than someone else, that’s who we can learn from everyone.
But if you surround yourself with five smart people, you will become the sixth.


The people around you shape your mindset, habits, and standards, so choose relationships that push you toward your potential, not your limits.

Nr. 6: Language Skills: Learn a New Language or improve your Language Skills 

Switching from one language to another requires a lot of concentration and problem-solving skills.
Speaking multiple languages is also believed to influence changes in neurological processing on a large scale.

How many languages do you have to speak in order to be considered a polyglot?

Bilingual: Speaks 2 languages

Trilingual: Speaks 3 languages

Polyglot: Speaks 4 or more languages

Good To Know: Many dialects are distinct enough to be considered languages.

Nr. 7: Discipline: Develop a Daily Routine

Our body needs a certain routine. It would be best to get up and go to sleep following the circadian rhythm  (rise with the sun and go to sleep at sundown). 

Having a daily routine helps you focus on what is important without losing time or too much energy on things that are not as essential.

There is a reason Steve Jobs opted for the same sweater and jeans every day and this was it.

Nr. 8: The Mind-Body Connection: Have a Regular Workout

Exercise improves blood circulation in the brain and releases substances that protect and promote the growth of neurons (brain cells that send and receive messages).

These effects can lead to better memory, attention, and executive function, which is the ability to plan and make decisions.

Exercise may also enlarge the hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in memory that tends to shrink as we age.

This may help explain why regular exercise is associated with a lower risk of dementia.

Nr. 9: Fuel: Your Diet for Brain Power

DIET: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, Include healthy fats (fish, nuts, olive oil). Choose whole grains. Get enough protein (lean meat, beans, eggs) and  limit processed foods and sugar.

Additional Considerations: Eat regular meals to keep blood sugar stable. Include antioxidant-rich foods. You can also consider taking supplements, like OMEGA 3, Bacopa and Phosphatidylserine, that are known to improve cognitive function, if you got a study session ahead (you should ask your health professional before taking them).

HYDRATION: Drink plenty of water throughout the day (1-3 liters). Our bodies need a sufficient amount of water to function properly, as does our brain.

In order to stay hydrated, make sure to also consider your body’s electrolyte balance.

Avoid too much caffeine and sugary drinks.

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