Month: February 2018

The Growth of the Online Mattress Market

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These days, people are getting new mattresses every 8 or 9 years as opposed to once every 10 years just a decade ago. Where did our sudden interest in buying beds come from? Why did the mattress market suddenly boom?

Online mattress retailers identified the complicated process of buying a bed and it overwhelms a lot of people. Here are the figures to help you understand:

  • 80% of shoppers look for free delivery as a factor when deciding where to purchase a mattress
  • 51% of shoppers look for a free trial before they make a decision
  • 35% of shoppers look for mattresses that come in compressed boxes for ease of delivery and set up

Recognizing that it’ll take a large paradigm shift to topple the brick and mortar portion of mattress sales, online retailers operate differently from traditional retailers.

Taking the guesswork out of buying a mattress, especially in an environment where the shopper can’t take the bed for a test, online mattress retailers often offer a generous return policy and some even offer free trials.

Shipped mattresses are compressed into rectangular boxes for ease of shipment and retailers eliminate the cost of shipping companies.

Online mattress sales, while still a fledgling industry, are already beginning to make a dent in the mattress economy. Though 85% of mattress sales are made via physical stores, like specialty chains, furniture stores, and department stores, 27% are made online and that number is quickly growing. As more consumers decide to try their luck online, the appeal of shopping for a bed from home becomes more and more real.

The Big Players:

Casper, founded in 2014, is probably the most well-known of all the online mattress companies because of its frequent sponsorship of popular content creators. Though mainly an online retailer, Casper has branched out into brick and mortar stores like Target.

casper-mattress
Via good housekeeping

Purple, founded in 2016, follows a similar marketing strategy as Casper by sponsoring podcast episodes and other online media. Purple mattresses hold a patented polymer design that relieves back pain and supports the spine.

Saatva, founded in 2010, is more on the high-end of online mattresses, offering luxury mattresses that are much more expensive than competitors. Their target consumer age is 30 to 65, unlike other online mattress companies that are marketing towards the millennial generation.

The more affordable options:

Tuft & Needle, founded in 2012, sells mattresses for almost half the price of its competitors. They refunded early buyers a total of $50,000 when the company discovered that they were selling a pillow that’s 25% higher than necessary.

tuft and needle mattress
Via toolsandtoys

Leesa, founded in 2014, donates one mattress for every ten sold. So far, more than 10,000 beds have been donated.

Aside from being a booming business, why does a lot of big companies want a piece of the mattress market so badly?

For many investors, the disruptive nature of this new industry is very attractive.

New technologies: Casper’s memory foam formula worked for companies and institutions like NASA, Muji, and IDEO.

The disruption is beneficial to investor and consumers alike. Founders saw problems within the existing mattress industry, including unfair markups and questionable sales tactics.

Tuft & Needle was developed by software developers who had this unique vision to make their company the Apple of mattress retailers.

As with any industry, innovation is necessary.

Our beds as we know them now are already a thing of the past. Soon, the entire industry will be completely digitized. The capabilities of the humble mattress are growing exponentially and even traditional retailers are waking up.

See Also: Do You Have The Right Mattress For Your Body Type?

Just take a look at these examples:

  • Sleep trackers help monitor breathing and restfulness during the night
  • Sensors that adjust firmness and softness or align your head to prevent snoring
  • Smart beds that are connected to other devices in the home

Online mattress companies aren’t just changing the way we buy beds; they are changing the way we think about mobile retail and how far we can take its capabilities.

The post The Growth of the Online Mattress Market appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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The Heart of Conrad

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Joseph Conrad’s heroes were often alone, and close to hostility and danger. Sometimes, when Conrad’s imagination was at its most fertile and his command of English at its most precise, the danger came darkly from within the self. At other times, however, it came from what could not be named. Conrad sought then to evoke rather than delineate, using something close to the language of prayer. While his imagination was content at times with the tiny, vivid, perfectly observed detail, it was also nourished by the need to suggest and symbolize. Like a poet, he often left the space in between strangely, alluringly vacant.

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Painting on the Precipice

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A woman walks down the red stairs of a tall roofless building. Her dress is almost black. Her hair is pulled back, her arms crossed against the cold, her face melancholy. She walks past denuded trees up a darkened street, curves into another, and another. The wind seems to be propelling her, tugging at her, so that at one point her hair tumbles free, her dress whirls. Lamplight turns pavement and road a stormy sea blue. As she comes closer her path is outlined in blood red, until red takes her over to transform her into a drowning figure in a blackened lake.

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Incredible 3D Drawings Pop Off the Page and Sink Into the Ground

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3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

Hungarian anamorphic artist Sandor Vamos creates incredible trick-of-the-eye 3D drawings that seem to jump from the page. With an integral understanding of angles and a knack for perspective, Vamos uses clever shading, line work, and perspectives to create his hand-drawn 3D optical illusions. From letters, numbers, and symbols to animals and even Pokémon characters, the talented artist can make pretty much anything look as though it’s come to life.

Anamorphic art stems from the early Renaissance, and was popularized by artists such as M. C. Escher, who made distorted images that could only be understood when viewed at a certain angle. Vamos uses the same technique to create his work, photographing each 2D drawing from specific angles, creating the illusion that they’re 3D. While many of Vamos’ mind-boggling illustrations appear to leap from their pages towards the viewer, others appear to recess inwards through the table and down towards an unknown abyss.

The artist shares the secrets behind his illusions with time-lapse videos on his YouTube channel, capturing his fascinating process. You can also follow Vamos on Instagram to find more of his work.

Hungarian anamorphic artist Sandor Vamos creates incredible trick-of-the-eye, 3D drawings that seem to jump from their pages.

3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

Inspired by early Renaissance artists such as M. C. Escher, the mind-boggling images become three-dimensional only when viewed at a certain angle.

3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

While many illustrations appear to leap from their pages towards the viewer…

3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

…others appear to recess inwards through the table and down towards an unknown abyss.

3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

From letters, numbers, and symbols…

3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

….to animals, and even Pokemon characters…

3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

…the talented artist can illustrate pretty much anything to make it look as though it’s come to life.

3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos
3d Drawings by Sandor Vamos

Watch how the illusions are created.

Sandor Vamos: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Deviant Art

All images via Sandor Vamos.

Related Articles:

3D Illustrations Come Alive on the Page!

Unbelievable 3D Drawings by Chilean Artist Fredo

15+ Artists Whose Mind-Bending Optical Illusions Will Make You Look Twice

Impossibly Tiny Doodles Fill Sketchbook Pages with Surreal Optical Illusions

25 Amazing Optical Illusions That Illustrate the Magic of Makeup

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How to Deal With Depression: 22 Things You Need to Try Today

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Depression is extremely common. It can affect anyone at anytime.

It’s considered a serious medical issue that needs prompt attention. Failure to give it the attention it needs can result in fatal consequences. Because of this, knowing how to deal with depression is a must. You don’t need to be a doctor or a nurse to be able to help someone.

If you or anyone you know is battling this condition, know that help is available. Here are some of the things you can do to make yourself or your loved one feel better.

1. When you’re feeling lethargic and unable to focus

Unsolved tasks can increase the degree of depression. Therefore, it makes sense to set small goals every day. Achieving them one by one can make you feel good, reducing the feeling of depression.

2. When you feel unusually low

New activities lead to the release of dopamine in the brain. It’s a feel-good chemical that can make you feel less depressed. Try to do something that interests you personally.

3. When you can’t sleep

Lack of sleep can aggravate a depressive mood. For that reason, you should have enough time to sleep. You can start a “go to bed routine” and adjust your lifestyle to it.

Go to sleep at the same time every day to improve your sleep quality.

sleep debt

See Also: Are You Sleep Deprived? 8 Health Risks Of Poor Sleep

4. When you’re frustrated with how you’re feeling

Writing down your painful emotions will give you a sense of relief. There are already many books on writing therapy.

5. When you can change your mood

Go out for at least 15 minutes daily to lift your mood. Vitamin D, which is produced by natural sunlight, can reduce depression without side effects.

6. When you can’t think straight

Apples help to refresh the mind. They contain potassium, vitamin C, B vitamins, and phosphoric acid.

7. When you can’t relax

Try a foot bath. Just mix rosemary leaves and soap in hot water. Immerse your feet for 20 minutes and feel your depressive thoughts go away.

8. When you just want to calm down

Heat a little coconut oil, sesame oil, corn oil or sunflower oil until it warms up. Then, massage the oil on your body or the soles of your feet, preferably before sleeping.

9. When you can’t feel positive

Acupuncture effectively helps against depression. It increases the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters that affect brain chemistry in a positive way.

10. When you need to feel a little better

Try listening to music or watch pictorial ideas. They are a great help in creating positive mental images. The process leads to pleasant body sensations.

11. When you want to be happy

Try doing daily exercises. They can trigger the release of endorphins, which is your body’s natural antidepressants. They promote positive thoughts and make you feel happier.

12. When you can’t overcome your depressive phase

Try doing additional meditation sessions, preferably 45 minutes daily. Stay in a quiet place, turn off your phone, and just focus on the process.

mindfulness and meditation

See Also: The Profound Effects Of Meditation On The Mind

13. When you need to feel good overall

Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid can help counter mood swings. Try to add them to your diet to improve your overall mood.

You should also eat more foods that support the production of endogenous serotonin. Good choices include eggs, herrings, salmons, and fish oil.

14. When you want to improve your general health

Magnesium is a mineral that regulates numerous biochemical functions in your body. Try to eat more leafy vegetables, spinach, bananas, black beans, cashew nuts, and almonds to get your daily dose of magnesium.

15. When you want to feel refreshed

Try cool water or a contrast shower. You will feel a surge of vivacity that will drive out depression.

16. When you want to distract yourself

Go and see an exhibition or watch the latest movie in the cinema. If those things don’t interest you, try walking outside and explore nature. You can try asking your friends to come with you.

17. When you want to improve your mood

Try walking in the park or anywhere close to nature. It’s so inspiring that it can improve your mood.

18. When you want to fill your day with positive energy

Understand new countries, places or culture. The perspective you develop in understanding them can fill you up with positivity.

19. When you want to take a break

Take a few days off and go to an unfamiliar place with family or with friends. This can be very interesting and exciting.

depression therapy

20. When you feel bored

A fascinating and interesting book will completely distract you from depression and your seemingly boring everyday life.

21. When you feel negative

Try to focus on yourself and stay optimistic. Ignore what other people are saying about you, particularly the bad ones.

Remember, you are good and you are enough.

22. When you want a quiet time

Never resort to drinking. Alcohol will just make you feel worse the moment its effect wears off.

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Located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North…

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Located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is anything but dismal. With more than 111,200 acres of seasonally flooded wetland forest and the 3,100-acre Lake Drummond at its center, the refuge contains some of the most important wildlife habitat in the mid-Atlantic region. In the winter, the lake provides a resting place for thousands of migratory birds including Tundra Swans and Snow Geese. In the summer, it’s home to Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets. It’s also an amazing place to witness the start of a new day. Photo courtesy of Tom Hamilton.

Jefferson’s Daughters: Three Sisters, White and Black, in a Young America

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Martha Jefferson, the president’s brilliant oldest daughter, married a troubled third cousin, raised and educated a passel of children, and settled with her father at Monticello.

Her congenial but less scholarly younger sister, Maria, made a love match with another cousin but died a few years later, leaving only a single son to carry on her line.

Then there was Harriet, Thomas Jefferson’s daughter — historians now mostly agree — with the enslaved Sally Hemings, half sister to Jefferson’s dead wife. With Jefferson’s permission and a cash gift, Harriet left Monticello as a young woman, passed as white, and disappeared from history.

The story of all three women is ably told — to the extent possible, given the gaps in the historical record — in Catherine Kerrison’s Jefferson’s Daughters. An associate professor of history at Villanova University, Kerrison has produced a feminist biography that draws on the revisionist consensus that Jefferson fathered Hemings’s children.

Her book is, naturally, indebted to the scholarship of Annette Gordon-Reed, author of the Pulitzer Prize−winning The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family (2008). Earlier, in Thomas Jefferson & Sally Hemings: An American Controversy (1997), Gordon-Reed had marshaled the arguments in favor of a decades-long Jefferson-Hemings relationship. DNA testing in 1998 all but confirmed the liaison, linking Jefferson’s paternal line — and not that of his Carr nephews, as some had surmised — to Sally’s son Eston Hemings.

Historians now could no longer dismiss the 1873 account of Eston’s brother Madison, who claimed Jefferson as his father and described his mother as Jefferson’s “concubine.” Madison said he, along with Eston, their brother Beverley, and their sister Harriet, owed their adult manumission to a promise the future president had made to their mother in Paris. Their freedom, Madison told an Ohio newspaper, was a precondition of Sally Hemings’s agreement to leave France, where she would have been free, and return to Virginia with Jefferson.

Gordon-Reed, in her Hemings biography, relies on educated guesswork and imagination to tease out the contours of the Hemings-Jefferson relationship, as well as Jefferson’s feelings toward their children and the attitudes of Jefferson’s white family toward his unconventional (if not entirely uncommon) ménage. Kerrison faces similar difficulties. Relying on extant letters and the inventive use of other sources, her mostly chronological narrative reinterprets these women’s lives through a feminist lens and tries to distinguish between the factual and the speculative.

Of the three sisters, Martha, a prodigious correspondent who was both her father’s “emotional caretaker” and a woman “universally admired for her lively wit, high intelligence, graceful manners, and animated storytelling,” led the best-documented life. The recently widowed Jefferson took Martha — called Patsy in the family — with him in 1784 to a diplomatic posting in Paris and enrolled her, at eleven, in an elite convent school. There she quickly learned French, made friends, and (to Jefferson’s displeasure) embraced Catholicism. Kerrison devotes considerable attention to her education, not the most bracing of topics. More interesting is the author’s take on Martha’s abortive courtships and the manner in which Martha’s discussions with friends may have prepared her for the “serious business” of marriage.

At five, Maria — whose childhood name was Polly — stayed behind in Virginia with her baby sister Lucy (who died at three of whooping cough) and her maternal aunt, Elizabeth Eppes. So happy was Maria with her aunt that she resisted rejoining her family in Paris. She lost that battle and then developed a second attachment, in London, to Abigail Adams, another surrogate mother. Maria eventually sailed to France, attended by the teenage Sally Hemings.

Kerrison emphasizes that the job of middle- and upper-class women in the eighteenth century was to marry well and bear children. Both were fraught enterprises. (Jefferson’s wife had died in childbirth.) Martha’s marriage to Thomas Jefferson Randolph at first seemed promising, producing eleven children who survived to adulthood. But the relationship was undermined by Randolph’s “volatile temper” and financial reverses.

By contrast, Maria, educated in Paris and, later, Philadelphia, enjoyed “a happy union” with her cousin and childhood friend Jack Eppes. Kerrison insists that historians have slighted her “emotional maturity” and “emotional and financial independence.” But Maria inherited her mother’s frail constitution, and childbirth was difficult for her. She died at twenty-five, leaving a daughter, Maria, who survived only to age two, and a son, Francis, who became a cotton planter in Florida. Martha meanwhile lived to sixty-four.

Their illustrious parentage notwithstanding, their lives were not unusual for women of their era. Their half sister Harriet’s was a different story.

In 1994, Barbara Chase-Riboud, author of the bestselling fiction Sally Hemings, imagined Harriet’s post-Monticello life in a historical novel titled The President’s Daughter. In the novel, the fictional Harriet turns her back on her family, marries twice, and survives the Civil War. Her brother Eston describes her as a “believer in romantic love and race oblivion.” Kerrison sets out to uncover what really happened to Harriet after Monticello. The task is not a simple one: “[S]he obliterated her historical tracks so well, there has not yet been a single credible claim of descent from her,” Kerrison writes, setting up her own pursuit.

Relying on Madison Hemings and other oral histories, Kerrison posits that Harriet either followed or accompanied her brother Beverley to Washington. As per Madison, she assumes that Harriet married within a few years of her arrival, raised a family, and kept mum about her connection to Monticello and her black ancestry. (As seven-eighths white, Harriet not only looked white but, Kerrison says, would have been considered legally white under Virginia law.)

Using the limited available records, Kerrison tracks a series of Harriets, with various surnames, through the years. It’s a prodigious undertaking, and the reader is likely to share the excitement of the chase. Among other clues, Kerrison looks for children’s names that echo Monticello and Hemings family traditions. One lead in particular tantalizes her, but the evidence is contradictory, and the conscientious Kerrison doesn’t press the case. “I concede defeat,” she writes. “Harriet Hemings will keep her secret” — at least for now. What might have been a headline-making discovery turns out to be yet another lesson in the stubborn mysteries of history, and the contingent fragility of our knowledge of the past.

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8 Reasons To Rent A Roll-Off Dumpster

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Getting roll-off dumpsters to take care of your waste may seem like a last resort. This forces most of us to ask if we really need to rent them. After all, isn’t it just an over-sized trash can?

If you are thinking the same thing, here are 8 important things that can convince you to get a roll-off dumpster for your home.

Makes Decluttering Your Home A Lot Easier

As things in your home pile up over time, it becomes important to declutter your space a few times a year. During the process, you’re likely to find a lot of things you don’t really need or rarely use.

Getting a dumpster means you can now get rid of that old cupboard and piles of boxes you have been keeping for a long time. Instead of moving them to other parts of your home, you can just move them to your dumpster.

See Also: 10 Ways to Remove Clutter from Your Life

Home Renovation And Remodeling

renovating dumpster

Whether you are tearing down walls to create space in your home or having an interior renovation, a whole lot of waste and dirt is generated in the process. If not properly handled, it could impede the renovation process. Worse, it can put your kids’ safety at risk.

A rental roll-off dumpster will ensure that waste materials are removed almost as quickly as they are generated. These roll-off style containers collect all kinds of waste- from construction materials, household appliances, furniture, metal, and just about anything.

For Community Projects

Cleaning the surrounding after a community event or to prepare a site for a community or non-profit organization project is a must. You can call a rental dumpster to make the process a lot easier and faster.

Free Up Work Space

A cluttered space is an unproductive space.

Searching for office documents becomes difficult when there are lots of junk lying around. Adding new items to the office can also become a problem.

Call in a dumpster to free your office of old shelving units, boxes, old furniture, garbage, and create room for new office equipment.

Help With Moving

If you have ever had a large move, you’d know how daunting the process is. Sometimes, you’ll find buried treasures. Most of the time, you’ll just find useless things that you never get to discard.

During a move, renting a dumpster presents a good opportunity to get rid of all the junk on the go. This way, you can seamlessly pack up the important items and leave the unimportant ones behind.

Waste Materials That Garbage Collectors Reject

recycling

There are times when your local trash collector may refuse to take away your garbage because it does not meet their standards. This may vary from one city to another.

If your garbage gets rejected or you aren’t sure whether the waste collector will accept it or not, consider a dumpster rental since it has fewer requirements.

For Recycling

Taking part in recycling is a lot easier when you rent a dumpster. Instead of having to go to the recycling company yourself, you can fill up a 10-yard dumpster with all recyclables and then have it hauled away to the facility.

See Also: Your New Year’s Resolution: Better Recycling Practices

Reclaiming The Garage

To many, the garage is the repository for junk at home. Every unwanted item finds its way to the garage. Your best bet for completely cleaning out your garage and creating space to accommodate new items is to get a rental dumpster.

Cleaning Up After An Unexpected Event

This is one we hope you don’t get forced into. But torrential rains, high winds or floods can cause damages to properties and leave debris lying around your house and the neighborhood.

The best way to deal with debris in the wake of an unexpected disaster is by renting a large dumpster. A 30-yard roll-off container, for example, can be a great help since it can fit just about anything from the disaster.

In a Nutshell

With all those things, we hope you get a clearer idea of the benefits you can get from renting a roll-off dumpster.

Next time you find yourself digging out of a huge pile of old belongings, just call a local dumpster rental service and make the decluttering process much easier.

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How Sweden Became a Symbol

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When the march of progressivism seemed inexorable, Sweden was happy to play poster child and humbly let uninformed outsiders label the place a social paradise. Now that the spread of progressive values around the world is facing its stiffest test in decades, Sweden finds itself on the front line. And for the traditionalists seeking to reverse the liberal trend, to show that Sweden—Sweden—is failing offers an effective way to shortcut the argument.

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6 Practices That Will Definitely Make You Smarter

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You’re reading 6 Practices That Will Definitely Make You Smarter, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Becoming smarter is something you should seek so you can enjoy a better life. According to a 2012 study, Intelligence is a more accurate predictor of future career success than socioeconomic background.

So yes, being smart pays off. And yes, with some consistency and knowledge, you can systematically become more intelligent, make better decisions and improve your life with less resistance. How? From what I`ve read and used, these six practices can make you 2, 3 or even 10X smarter. Here they are:

  1. Remove As Many Cognitive Distortions As You Can

Charlie Munger once said: “It’s ignorance removal…It’s dishonorable to stay stupider than you have to be.” What he means is, you can become smarter by understanding and eliminating the cognitive biases and logical fallacies that influence your thinking.

Here`s a list of the top 58 biases. Read, understand and revise it regularly, and you will see yourself becoming wiser over the time.

  1. Use Mental Models and Universal Frameworks

One of the popular approaches scientists use to solve problems is applying the frameworks and laws used in one field of science to solve problems in other areas. This is why you often see laws like “Supply and Demand,” or Newton`s Laws of Dynamics used everywhere from health to benefits.

Ever heard the phrase, “An object in motion stays in motion.” This is Newton`s First Law of Inertia, and because the universe works in harmony, you can apply this law to many situations, and it will fit perfectly.

For instance, the more money you make, the easier money making becomes. Or, the more junk food you eat, the harder it will be to switch back to eating healthy.

Another example is the Peacocking technique used by pickup artists like Neil Strauss to standout and appeal to women. This sexual behavior is borrowed from zoology and is called Display.

Smart people like Munger and Warren Buffet use this law of Inertia and other universal laws to make better decisions in business and life, and they call them Mental Models.

You can build such models by reading a wide variety of books on physics, mathematics, biology, finance and different scientific fields. These books will expose you to various frameworks and models that you can then apply to your problems and come up with better solutions.

  1. Don`t just read books, learn how to comprehend

Ever watched Suits? They have Mike Ross, the smartass lawyer with the photographic memory who never forgets a thing. In one episode, someone asks him how he managed to memorize an entire sector of a 300-page document after just reading it for once. Ross` reply was, “I read things, I understand them and I, never forget them.”

Similarly, this is what you should do to become smarter, comprehend. Deeply understanding the books you read helps you use that information better and gives you a competitive advantage. This is why an avid reader like Tai Lopez teaches the books he read so he can understand it better and maximize their benefits.

So how to do?  Whenever you`re done reading something, do the following:

  • Close the book and try to summarize it on paper or in your head using mental maps and memory palaces. Then,
  • Identify the 2-3 main takeaways and ask, ‘’How can I apply this in real life?”

This may sound very simple but trust me, it will make you remember, recall, and better use the material of that book.

  1. Give lateral-thinking puzzles a shot

It`s crazy how much you can learn from the puzzles and riddles found in Lateral Thinking books. They will test your brain capacity and teach you how to think outside the box. Besides, you can use the riddles in these books in social situations with friends and dates.

  1. Study past mistakes

Richard Dawkins once called learning by trial and error “the worst way for learning.” He believes so because learning from your mistakes is more painful and costs much time and money than if you learn from other people`s mistakes. For that, I want you to grab a pen and do the following:

  • List the top three mistakes you`ve made before —or are still making. Why you made them, what they say about you and how to change them. (List everything).
  • List three key figures in your life whom you don`t want to follow their steps; an abusive parent, an annoying boss, or a promising friend who couldn`t live up to his potential. What mistakes they`ve made? And what will you do to avoid them?
  • List the three common mistakes people make in business, health, and relationships. How would you prevent those mistakes?

Finally, you can start reading history books for fun. If you want something that is both enjoyable and fun, then you can read stuff for Robert Greene, Matthew White as well as the likes of “The Art of War.”

  1. Spend more time sharpening the saw

Seeking clarity in everything you do is probably one of the easiest ways to become smart. Many smart people are famous for spending quite a long time on solving problems.

A company once hired Jordan Belfort to sell them stuff, and they noticed that he spent more time studying his material than anyone on their sales team. The same thing goes for Einstein who was quoted for spending 55 minutes of a given 60 to define a problem before solving it.

These people realized that because most problems are more complicated than they seem to be, it`s essential to pause, seek clarity and plan before making a move. And you should do the same. Schedule times where you can analyze your life and think of better ways to do things.

Invest at least 30 minutes in planning your week, and around 5-10 minutes of planning your day. It may sound boring but will improve the way you make decisions.

Marwan Jamal is a fitness and health blogger at Healthline and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, the gym, and a healthy life. He loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.

You’ve read 6 Practices That Will Definitely Make You Smarter, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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