Hobbies that Make You Smarter

7. Daydream More

It seems counter-intuitive -- how can spacing out make you smarter? Shouldn't you be working on something? But brain scans show that when your mind is wandering, it is working incredibly hard and getting stronger by the minute. A long-lost concept in our culture is the fact that these unstructured, seemingly lazy moments give creative ideas space to root and grow, overtaxed nerves a chance to relax and heal, and all those neurons what they need to strengthen and increase. Many of the world's brightest and most successful people swear by daydreaming, although some prefer to legitimize it by calling it meditation or reflection. While they aren't quite the same thing, the effect is: they give the brain room to rest, play, and grow, making you smarter.