This is when you hear of new year resolution, decisions, strategies and plans to make the new year better than the previous one but rarely hear people talk of how they want to be smarter.

It’s the time of the year again when most people get on their marks, set and ready to take off on the rat race for the year. For many, especially Christian folks, the 'go' shot or whistle is at the end of their prayer and fasting program which starts with the new year and could last anything from 7 to 40 days. For many others of different faith or no faith, the race starts any time.

Wether you have fully kick-started your year or still marking time, here are five very simple tips to help and improve your odds of achieving your goals by making you smarter.

SPEND LESS TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GOSSIP FORUMS.
If you stop to take a look at how much time you spend on social media everyday beginning from the moment you open your eyes in the morning and reach for your devices till they dropped from you hands when your sleep off in the night, you will be shocked at the amount of time you waste.

There are lots of educative sites and and web resources to develop yourself. Look for them and get smarter learning something new everyday rather that dulling your brain with social media gossips.

BE AROUND SMARTER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE
The old saying, ‘show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are’ is still true. According to experts, 'your IQ is the average of five closest people you hang out with'. Improve your smartness by being with people smarter than yourself. It’s easy to be threaten by others intelligent, develop inferiority complex and avoid them but that exactly is what you should avoid.

If you look around and you are the smartest among your circle, then do some major change of friendships and associations. Change your friends and try to meet and relate with people smarter and more successful not to be a parasite but to learn from them.

DEVELOP OR RE-IGNITE THE HABIT OF READING.
It’s sad that we hardly read these days but if you want to be smarter and make better progress, you’ve got to be a reader. Make use of some of the time you freed off from social media to read. Newspapers, ebooks, novels, professional books, just read! It will boost your brain power and make you smarter.

PLAY CHESS, SCRABBLE AND SOLVE PUZZLES.
Yes, chess is a highly mental stimulating game and scrabble too. Get a chess set or scrabble board and look for folks who play. This is one excellent way to meet and make new friends with people smarter than you and keep your brain constantly fit and sharp.

LEARN TO ENJOY SOLITUDE AND QUIETNESS
As inconsequential as this may seem, this is a very important and powerful factor for brainpower development and success. According to Blaise Pascal, ‘All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.’

You may not be able to practice yoga or some other forms of meditations and mindfulness but by all means learn to shut out the world every now and then and be alone. Such times allows you to reflect, connect with Higher power and hear from God. When you learn to sit still without smartphones, tablets, computers, music and television, you will discover one of the biggest secrets of health, wealth and happiness.

http://bluestocker.com/5-simple-things-to-make-you-smarter-this-year/

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