The latest issue of Wired features Maxwell Smart on the cover and 12 ways to super charge your brain. Two of the 12 caught my eye:

• On Caffeine: They advocate caffeine but suggest that those monster extra large coffees are bad for your mental alertness. Instead, ‘keep those receptors covered with frequent small doses – like a mug of low-caf tea or half a cup of joe – rather than a onetime blast. Test subjects reported that periodic small shots made them feel clearheaded and calm, both of which enhance mental performance.’  Hydration works too.
• Think Positive: I am a big believer that a positive mind leads to a positive outcome and that you always need to be learning. Wired:

‘Learning new things actually strengthens your brain – especially when you believe you can learn new things …. when you think you’re getting smarter, you study harder, making more nerve cell connections which in turn makes you – smarter’

‘According to studies studies carried out by Stanford University .. volunteers with a so-called growth mindset about learning (‘persist in the face of setbacks’) have more bran plasticity. In other words, their noggins are more adaptable’

‘Many people  believe they have a fixed level of intelligence, and that’s that’ Dweck says ‘The cure is to change your mindset’

The last line sums it up. ‘Certain that we’re wrong? Enjoy stupidity!’ You can read all 12 here. The SuperMemo article is also fascinating, although it looks like too much work.

As an aside, I will absolutely see this movie. If nothing else, for nostalgia reasons. I watched Get Smart as a kid and loved it.