Everyone wants to succeed in life. Some people believe that successful people are simply born with superior aptitudes, and there is nothing that others can do to better their chances. But the reality is that fundamental cognitive aptitudes can be improved upon, and in very specific ways.

Thanks to the increased scientific focus on learning methods, people are increasingly able to break down, categorize, and improve cognitive functions in different areas. And with the genius of a new online IQ test, people are finding themselves in better and better shape to take charge of their lives. Indeed, every CerebrumIQ test review praises the strengths of this groundbreaking new program.

Mental and physical exercises to improve cognitive functioning

Improved cognitive functioning depends upon both intellectual and physical training. Remember the original days of the Greek “gymnasium” that many educational systems have built upon, which involved the development of many different sorts in a single environment.

Mental skills to hone

There are, of course, distinct mental skills that people hoping to sharpen their minds need to develop. Developing these skills can involve activities that you might not have automatically considered, but which can help shape your mind in new ways. Consider the following ideas:

• Mindfulness. This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about mental acuity, but increasing studies show that meditating can be extremely useful for training the mind. The practice increases focus and helps people stay in the present moment.
• Trying new things. No matter how old you are, it never hurts to try something new. This can mean learning a new language, a new craft, or simply exposing yourself to information that you wouldn’t normally have thought about. Fresh exposure helps the mind stay flexible and open to new things.
• Intellectual challenges. Make an effort to try puzzles and logic exercises that can challenge you. Try to find ones that test your abilities, but are not so overwhelming that you simply can’t focus.
• Creative endeavors. Even if you don’t consider yourself an “artsy” person, think about trying out an art or music class. Perhaps go online to find one, if there’s nothing in your immediate area. You may find that you start noticing things that you wouldn’t have normally noticed.

The importance of physical fitness

Even if your focus is on building mental skills, you shouldn’t neglect the importance of physical fitness. Every person is unique and has his or her own specific capabilities, so you should adjust these basic principles to your own personal situation. Nonetheless, the principles are sound ones to keep in mind:

• Make an effort to exercise regularly. You might be a fanatical athlete who goes to the gym twice a day. That is great if it’s right for you, but if you struggle to get going, try doing an online workout twice a week at home. Any regular exercise is much better than none.
• Focus on sleep. Nothing is worse for the mind than lack of sleep. Make a concerted effort to go to bed and wake up at regular times. You will definitely notice the difference that proper rest makes on your mental alertness.
• Manage stress as effectively as possible. Everyone has stress in life, and yours might be particularly great if you have a demanding job or home life. However, stress is ultimately manageable, so you should figure out methods to deal with stress proactively so that you don’t get overwhelmed by it.
• Be sure to interact with others. Sociological studies consistently show that people who interact with others are more open-minded because of increased exposure to ideas and ways of life. Make an effort to engage with others in a variety of settings.

Enter Cerebrum IQ

As mentioned above, there is now an online program available that can not only test your IQ level but which can actually break down your score into component skill sets and help you improve upon weaker areas. Cerebrum IQ is for everyone: The test consists of a series of pictorial exercises of increasing difficulty, and anyone in the world can take it as it is not language-specific.

Upon receiving your score, you can then engage in fun and interesting activities that help you improve upon weaker areas so that you can raise your score with subsequent efforts. Many people are finding the exercises so enjoyable that they are actually making them into a daily ritual. The beauty of the test is that you can take it as many times as you want and adjust the number and frequency of your exercises accordingly.

Practice, practice, practice

Everything in life takes practice. If you take the time to work on your mental and physical fitness on a regular basis, you will definitely see the results in your daily life. The trick is to think about which types of exercises work best for you, the amount of time you can allot to them, and what will motivate you to keep going. If you create the right formula, you will soon be charging ahead!