--- description: Yes, It’s This Simple Many of the fixes for our problems aren’t complex — something that’s clear in the things I recommend people do every... title: The Single Most Proven Way to Get Smarter and Happier image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd09249693090ceae/69868904d0b6f25dd83039d8/175534944.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The Single Most Proven Way to Get Smarter and Happier by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 7, 2014 2:35 PM CUT  Little boy makes a face while adjusting glasses Little boy makes a face while adjusting glassesMikkel William Nielsen—Getty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 7, 2014 2:35 PM CUT **Yes, It’s This Simple** Many of the fixes for our problems aren’t complex — something that’s clear in [the things I recommend people do every day](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/ "undefined"). **What’s a scientifically validated way to get smarter, happier, healthier and calmer?** **Stop reading this right now and go for a walk.** It’s that simple. Here’s why. ## **Exercise Powers the Body — and the Mind** **They used to say you don’t grow new brain cells. They were wrong.** Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- What really feeds those baby brain cells? Hitting the gym. **A three-month exercise regimen increased blood flow to the part of your brain focused on memory and learning by 30%.** Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- ## **The Dumb Jock Is a Myth** **Being in good shape increases your ability to learn. After exercise, people pick up new vocabulary words 20% faster.** Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- _Indeed, in a 2007 study of humans, German researchers found that people learn vocabulary words 20% faster following exercise than they did before exercise, and that the rate of learning correlated directly with levels of BDNF._ Want to be more creative? **Sweating for about a half hour on the treadmill notably increases cognitive flexibility.** Via[_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Fine, you can see differences on an MRI and with nerdy tests. Does it make a difference in the real world? Yes. **Office workers who exercised at lunch were more productive, less stressed and had more energy.** Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- That super-productive co-worker who runs every day might not exercise because he has energy — he might have energy because he exercises. While it might not make you the [smartest person in the world](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/smartest-man-world/ "undefined"), among the many [ways to increase intelligence](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/25-research-based-ways-to-increase-your-intel/ "undefined"), exercise stands out. ## **Sweating Increases Smiling** Can’t make it simpler than this: **Research from Duke University shows exercise is as effective as antidepressants in treating depression.** Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- It also reduces anxiety. Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- **What if you’re not depressed or anxious? Stay sedentary and you’re 1.5 times more likely to eventually** **_become depressed._** Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Still not convinced? **People who exercise are, across the board, mentally healthier: less depression, anger, stress and distrust.** Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- ## **O.K., O.K. — How Much Do I Need to Do?** What’s optimal? Exercise six days a week, 45 minutes to an hour per day. Via [_Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SFD21Q/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000SFD21Q&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Stop rolling your eyes. It’s not all or nothing. **Regarding body health and brain health, experts and neuroscientists agree: “A little is good, and more is better.”** **Here’s something proved to make you smarter, healthier and happier. What could be a better investment of your time?** You might ask: _If it’s obviously so great, why don’t we all do it?_ Because [habits](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/what-are-the-5-steps-for-changing-bad-habits/ "undefined") and [social influences](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/science-of-karma/ "undefined") are much more powerful than we think. And, in general, we don’t do what makes us happy — [we do what’s easy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/12/happy/ "undefined"). But it doesn’t have to be that way. What’s the best first step? Go [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/new-years-resolutions/ "undefined"). **Join 45,000-plus readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined"). Related posts: [8 Things the World’s Most Successful People All Have in Common](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/successful-people/ "undefined") [What 10 Things Should You Do Every Day to Improve Your Life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/ "undefined") [How to Make Your Life Better by Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/ "undefined") _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/ "undefined")_._ The Single Most Proven Way to Get Smarter and Happier ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/50346/the-single-most-proven-way-to-get-smarter-and-happier/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/50346/the-single-most-proven-way-to-get-smarter-and-happier/"},"headline":"The Single Most Proven Way to Get Smarter and Happier","datePublished":"2014-04-07T14:35:31.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:53:55.490Z","description":"Yes, It’s This Simple Many of the fixes for our problems aren’t complex — something that’s clear in the things I recommend people do every...","url":"https://time.com/50346/the-single-most-proven-way-to-get-smarter-and-happier/","keywords":["Psychology","Diet & Fitness","Exercise","Happiness","learning"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd09249693090ceae/69868904d0b6f25dd83039d8/175534944.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd09249693090ceae/69868904d0b6f25dd83039d8/175534944.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Little boy makes a face while adjusting glasses","caption":"Little boy makes a face while adjusting glasses","creditText":"Mikkel William Nielsen—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/50346/the-single-most-proven-way-to-get-smarter-and-happier/","name":"The Single Most Proven Way to Get Smarter and Happier"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"We Tried This: Aerial Vinyasa Yoga","description":"A total body workout while you hang from a hammock.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/68PN7sJl/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2012-08-20T20:55:26.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/68PN7sJl.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/50346/the-single-most-proven-way-to-get-smarter-and-happier/","duration":"PT1M28S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/50346/the-single-most-proven-way-to-get-smarter-and-happier/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```