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I would like to get smarter this year. Wouldn't everyone? But—and I don't mean to brag—I have been feeling exceptionally stupid lately. I have young children, which is enough to make anyone feel a little brain-sapped. There are days when I don't leave the building and my longest conversation is with a 2-year-old and concerns the exploits of Dollhouse Grandpa, who keeps his vest in the fridge. So any tips on intellectual edification are very welcome. Particularly if they are kind of easy. I mean, let's be realistic here: I have about 15 minutes of free time a day, assuming I ignore all household chores.

Behold: The Daily Beast's 31 Ways to Get Smarter in 2012. Click through the slide show for some encouraging, invigorating tips. Eating dark chocolate and drinking coffee? Yes, please. Also recommended are checking out iTunes U and Shakespeare plays, learning a new language, and playing violent video games (really!). Some of the suggestions we've all heard before, like playing word games to increase your mind's agility, and some (writing reviews online!) are unexpected. Take a sip of coffee and click on over. That's right. We're getting smarter already.

Boost Your Brain By:
Sleeping Better
Eating Smarter
Exercising More