--- description: Write summaries title: 10 Ways to Gain Real Super Powers That Will Change Your Life image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt588213f4115a5b28/69885a6d428a9e6993cce1d6/child-dress-superhero-side-view.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&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 # 10 Ways to Gain Real Super Powers That Will Change Your Life by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 13, 2015 4:01 AM CUT  Boy dressed as a superhero Boy dressed as a superheroGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 13, 2015 4:01 AM CUT ## You Can Gain Real Super Powers No gamma radiation, spider bites or mutations necessary. A few simple tips from the blog can have you performing heroic deeds in no time — cape not included. ## 1) Gain Super Creativity! Take a [hot shower](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/03/during-what-average-daily-activity-are-you-mo/ "undefined"). Via [Imagine: How Creativity Works](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1847677878/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1847677878&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Here are more ways to [increase creativity](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/12/5-quick-today-boost-creativity/ "undefined"). ## 2) Add Powerful New Habits! Use the “[20 second rule](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/is-the-20-second-rule-the-key-to-being-your-b/ "undefined").” Look at the good habits you want to develop and see if there’s a way you can make them easier to begin by 20 seconds. Want to stop a bad habit? Increase the time it takes to initiate it by 20 seconds. Put those gym clothes where you can reach them. Put the chocolate on the top shelf and close the cabinet. Here are more ways to [break bad habits and add good ones](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/what-are-the-5-steps-for-changing-bad-habits/ "undefined"). ## 3) Gain Unstoppable Willpower! Eat something. From my [interview with willpower researcher Roy Baumeister](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/increase-willpower/ "undefined"): --- > “” --- Here are more ways to [increase willpower](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/increase-self-control/ "undefined"). ## 4) Instantly Reduce Stress! [Get out in nature](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/04/does-being-near-nature-reduce-stress/ "undefined"): --- > “” --- Here are more ways to [reduce stress](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/12-ways-to-eliminate-stress/ "undefined"). ## 5) Super Learning! Write a summary. Via Daniel Coyle’s excellent book [The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips for Improving Your Skills](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/034553025X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=034553025X&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Here are more ways to [increase learning](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/what-are-the-secrets-of-improving-learning-an/ "undefined"). ## 6) Develop Mind Control Powers! Connect better with others by emphasizing [similarity](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/whats-the-key-to-being-liked-and-being-more-i/ "undefined"). Demonstrating that you [have something in common with someone else](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-an-easy-way-to-get-others-to-agree-to-h "undefined") makes them more likely to help you. Salesmen deliberately fake little similarities in order to [influence you and connect with you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-salesmen-use-similarity-to-manipulate-you "undefined"). And it [works](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-mimicry-the-key-to-sales "undefined"). Out and out mimicking people (but not obviously) causes them to [like you more](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-quickly-and-easily-make-people-like-yo "undefined") and to [act more kind](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-quickly-and-easily-make-someone-a "undefined"). Here are more ways to increase your [mind control super powers](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/robert-cialdini-influence/ "undefined"). ## 7) Be Productive Enough to Take On Multiple Supervillains! Much like a superhero, checklists really can save lives. Atul Gawande, author of [The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312430000?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0312430000 "undefined"), tells the [story](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/02/whats-something-simple-that-can-make-your-wor/ "undefined") of how much of a difference checklists made in a hospital ICU: --- > “” --- Here are more ways to gain super [productivity](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/6-things-that-will-make-you-more-productive/ "undefined"). ## 8) Resist Evil And Be A Better Person! Use peer pressure to your advantage. Spend more time with [the type of people you want to be](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/06/are-your-friends-the-easiest-route-to-self-im/ "undefined"). From Charles Duhigg’s excellent book [The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400069289/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400069289 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Here are more ways to [be a better person](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/04/7-steps-to-being-a-better-person/ "undefined"). ## 9) Gain Tony Stark Confidence! Confidence is a real super power. Immediately increase it by looking at your [resume](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/07/whats-a-quick-way-to-boost-confidence-when-a/ "undefined"). Via [Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416596178/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1416596178 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Here are more ways to give you super [confidence](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-be-more-confident/ "undefined"). ## 10) Increase Your Super Powers From A to Z! Get enough sleep. You can’t cut corners on sleep and [not have it affect you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/06/get-better-sleep/ "undefined"): --- > “” --- Being tired actually makes it [harder to be](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-being-tired-make-it-hard-to-be-happy "undefined") [happy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-the-big-events-in-life-most-responsible-f "undefined"). “Sleeping on it” does [improve decision making](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-sleep-on-it-good-advice "undefined") and can help you [follow through on your goals](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-an-easy-way-to-help-you-follow-throu "undefined"). Lack of sleep makes you [more likely to get sick](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/why-do-some-people-get-sick-so-often-and-othe "undefined") and [more likely to behave unethically](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-lack-of-sleep-make-us-unethical "undefined"). There [is such a thing as beauty sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-really-such-thing-as-beauty-sleep "undefined"). Most people don’t get nearly enough. If you do, it **really is** like being superhuman. Here is everything you need to know about super [sleep](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/06/get-better-sleep/ "undefined"). **Join over 195,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/real-super-powers/ "undefined")**_._** Related posts: [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") [How To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/ "undefined") [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3953814/gain-super-power/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3953814/gain-super-power/"},"headline":"10 Ways to Gain Real Super Powers That Will Change Your Life","datePublished":"2015-07-13T04:01:52.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:35:35.712Z","description":"Write summaries","url":"https://time.com/3953814/gain-super-power/","keywords":["Psychology","Superhero"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt588213f4115a5b28/69885a6d428a9e6993cce1d6/child-dress-superhero-side-view.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/blt588213f4115a5b28/69885a6d428a9e6993cce1d6/child-dress-superhero-side-view.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"525848837","caption":"child-dress-superhero","creditText":"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/3953814/gain-super-power/","name":"10 Ways to Gain Real Super Powers That Will Change Your Life"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"World’s Richest Superheroes, Ranked","description":"Ever wonder just how much of a burden it is maintaining a Batcave? Well for the super-hero nerds out there here’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the World’s Richest Superheroes.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/yg6IgsEW/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-07-09T22:31:26.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/yg6IgsEW.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3953814/gain-super-power/","duration":"PT2M23S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3953814/gain-super-power/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```