The average IQ in Canada in 2023 was 99.5, placing it as the 16th most intelligent country in the world. An IQ score of between 90-109 indicates an average intelligence score, so for the country to secure the national average that it did is quite impressive.
However, many Canadians report on wishing to work on their memory and overall intelligence. Commitment to do so can have multiple benefits including improving problem-solving skills and reasoning. Not only that, but some studies suggest that ‘training your brain’ can also help fend off illnesses like dementia later in life.
Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways Canadians can build a stronger mind this year.
Meditation
Meditation is not only a useful tool to calm anxiety and induce sleep, but it can also have notable benefits for our overall intelligence and mental strength. For example, regular meditation has been shown to improve self-awareness, which has multiple therapeutic benefits, alongside extending the amount of time an individual is able to focus. A skill which can directly be applied to other aspects of life.
In some studies, it was even suggested that meditation can help reduce memory loss in elderly people, and may then be a useful preventative tool for the younger generation.
Canadians who wish to try meditation have a world of options available to them, from online guided meditations to meditation retreats such as those organised by the Dharma Centre of Canada.
Playing Games
This is perhaps a surprisingly effective way to train your brain, but multiple studies have reported on the benefits regular gameplay has on our minds. This can be achieved through multiple means, whether that be video gaming, crosswords, or casino gaming. There are multiple options available for Canadians wishing to try their hand at gaming. For example, Card Player helps players in Canada improve their memory, logic, and reasoning skills through the multiple casino gaming options available.
Regularly engaging in such activities can have a direct positive impact on the strength of our brains, for example, a study in 2022 concluded that completing crosswords could improve the cognitive functioning of individuals with cognitive impairments
Socializing
Many people see socialising as a pastime or a reward in their busy lives. It can be easy to believe that meeting up with friends is something we do in our spare time solely to improve our emotional well-being, but recent studies have suggested that regularly socialising can actually improve brain functioning. Think about it: When we were infants, socialising was how we learned everything. A happy child will experience their parents speaking to them before they even know what the words mean.
As humans, we crave interaction and friendship. Socialising has been seen to improve articulation, reasoning skills, and confidence. Also, being able to discuss ideas with others is an incredibly effective way to consolidate recently learned knowledge.
In Canada, individuals can meet others through engaging in common interests, such as sports, or through initiatives such as Meetup that work to help people foster new and lasting friendships.
Learn a New Language
Learning a new language comes with countless cognitive benefits including improved memory and higher levels of creativity. Not only that, but being fluent in multiple languages opens up a whole world of opportunities allowing bilinguals to read books, watch shows, and converse with others not in their native tongue.
Sometimes, people are overwhelmed by the perceived commitment and effort learning a new language will take, but, actually just doing a little every day is a great way to learn and build your vocabulary.
Those wishing to learn the two main languages in Canada (English and French) can sign up for language classes funded by the Canadian government. Alternatively, there are many software options such as Duolingo and Babbel that Canadians can access, for free, to improve their foreign language skills.
Improve Your Vocabulary
This is an effective and simple way to keep your mind sharp. Learning and retaining new words, and incorporating them into our speech are tasks that have been proven to involve multiple regions of the brain.
You can improve your vocabulary by reading regularly (an act that also has countless cognitive benefits) and making notes of words you don’t understand. Then, research those words and practice using them in sentences. Before long you’ll find those words have integrated themselves into your vocabulary and expressing yourself will be easier than ever before.
However, reading isn’t the only way to improve your vocabulary. Using word apps such as Word of the Day and Wordup are great options too.
Teach Someone Something
If you’ve spent any time revising during your school or university days then you’ve likely heard of this consolidation technique. The idea is that you learn something, and then go ahead and teach a willing participant all that you have learned. The reason this is so effective for studying is because it helps our brains store new knowledge in the long-term memory system.
Such a skill is not just beneficial for revising for an exam. Teaching others is a great way to consolidate any new skill and has also been proven to improve memory and logic. When we teach others we are able to see our skills in action and are also given a great opportunity to correct our mistakes and discuss our skills with interested parties.
If you are interested in teaching on a more professional level, FirstTutors Canada is a site where you can advertise yourself as a private tutor and get paid for teaching your skills and knowledge.
