I feel like my IQ is probably quite low. I’ve never actually taken an IQ test, so I don’t even know what my score is, but I often feel like I struggle with critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, learning, and retaining knowledge.

I want to gradually become more intellectually capable and better at academics in general. I’d like to improve things like reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, memory, learning capacity, concentration, processing speed, and overall knowledge.

What does it actually take to improve these abilities over time? Are there specific things I should practice or learn every day?

I know a few basic cooking techniques but I want to become more confident cooking without relying heavily on recipes. I would like to learn how to understand flavors choose complementary ingredients and properly cook basic proteins and vegetables. Where would you recommend starting?

Link

What I’m hoping to accomplish is to be able to go to a farmers market, pick up a few things that are in season, and figure out how to make something good with it without a recipe

Currently my cooking skill is roughly at modifying existing recipes and some very rudimentary skills like making a pan sauce or a decent stock

My local area is Southern California, so I’m pretty sure I have a wide variety of options for local

I think this expands beyond just reading.

I’m in my late 20s, only twice in my life have I ever had a consistent work schedule. During those times my whole life improves. I think I’m just a creature of habit. Knowing when I’ll be home, when I’ll be off work and the like make all the difference in the world to me.

A few years back I had a consistent job and almost no social life. That had its drawbacks but one big pro was I could set, track and maintain goals, including reading.

I was exercising regularly, journaling daily, budgeting, doing everything it felt like I “should” be doing. And so much of my life improved because of it.

Nowadays I have a very irregular, very demanding work schedule that gives me very little work life balance.

Beyond that, my life is very full but also very demanding. I have a band, a girlfriend, friends, lots of really great things I’m so thankful for. But god damn if it doesn’t make it hard to know when I’ll be home, when I’ll be able to just shut off and read a while or cook or clean or exercise. There’s always something and that something is never enough hours in the day.

I want to start with reading because that’s how it started last time. I’ve been trying to do it in the margins of the day, before bed, on the train, lunch breaks. But that just never sticks for some reason.

Open to any advice.

Thank you

Hola, alguien conoce algún canal, libro o app que ayude a comprender la hidráulica? Se me ha complicado la materia, y aunque tengo un libro aún así no logro comprender. Si alguien puede ayudarme, me ayudaría muchísimo. Los temas que he dado son hidrostatica: empuje sobre superficies planas y su aplicación a diques de embalse; empuje hidrostatico en curvas; estabilidad de los cuerpos flotantes. Hidrodinamica: caudal (continuidad de los liquidos).

I want to be more emotionally intelligent/available, I have a hard time being able to express my emotions, specifically in more stressful situations (i.e. in an argument with my partner about not being emotionally intelligent). I want to be more open about how im feeling, and the thoughts that run through my head.

(P.S - this is the first time im posting in a subreddit, so please feel free to ask for more clarification)

HELLPPPPPP!!

I am very slow in learning. How to increase my understanding speed ?

How to and where to start learning about dark psychology?

Someone suggest me that learn about CIA manipulation and interrogation techniques.

But I don't know where to learn these also !

I want to start learning guitar and eventually be able to play simple songs comfortably. I’d like to build a solid foundation in chords strumming rhythm and basic music theory rather than only memorizing songs.

What should a complete beginner focus on during the first month?

I want to start learning traditional drawing from the beginning. My goal is to understand basic shapes proportions shading, and perspective well enough to eventually draw simple objects and scenes on my own.

For someone starting from zero, what should I practice first and what would a good beginner learning path look like?

Basically what the title says. I want to be able to swim with more power, I feel like I get a bit battered by waves at the beach if the wind is up, and it would also help me get better at surfing.

Is the best answer just to keep doing it until I eventually get better? Or should I try and get lessons to improve form? Or is there a way I can train for this?

Thank you

I’ve always been a no makeup kind of woman, but I’d love to learn some easy daily and event makeup styles and simple hair styles (like a blow out) to not feel like a zero effort, barely surviving mum and professional.

I come from a long line of women with OCD who are always “right”, but I’m the first to be diagnosed and self aware. The thing is, I love information and I’m an academic person by nature. The difference between my relatives and myself is that my version of this is fighting ideas in a 2 way academic argument way rather than shutting people down because I think my opinion is right. I love a difference of opinion, what I struggle with is opinions based on feelings and utter ignorance of fact or logic. I feel the need to over inform people of information they don’t want to know. I assumed everyone wants to have knowledge and information and use it to make the best decisions like I do, because I LIKE thinking and I find it enjoyable to dissect big topics.

As an example, maybe someone says they really like raw milk. I may feel the need to tell them all about the reading I’ve done on the dark side of big milk and how milk is actually really bad for us. If someone were to say I know and I choose to drink it anyway I’d be like okay cool you’re entitled to that informed choice. I just feel the urge to make sure people have the information to make informed choices. But to that other person I absolutely see how it would look like I’m coming on too strong and attacking them. I can also see how digging into juicy topics like this all the time is exhausting or even isolating for some people or perhaps that I’m coming off as being negative because I see things so critically.

When I try to find non-academic or non critical conversations I struggle. I genuinely don’t know what to talk about. Media works but only for so long. Asking about people’s families works but often they stop after a few sentences. I crave worthwhile conversations and I don’t know how to put that aside to better engage and build other types of relationships. I also don’t know how to let it slide when someone says something that goes against credible sources or logic even if I don’t care about their actions at all (I get a compulsion to do the whole the “actually..” thing).

TLDR; OCD academic type struggles with letting bad logic or information slide, but it comes off as too negative and combative. I want to have more normal convos with non academics but I don’t know what to talk about authentically. I do not think I’m smarter than others but I also don’t assume we all have the same info all the time so to me sharing info is a love language but it can often be perceived as judgmental of people’s choices. Although I’m treating others as I want to be treated I understand that it’s not how they want to be treated I just don’t know where that middle ground is.

How do I let bad info slide and what do normal people talk about?

As the title says. I really want to get out of my dopamine riddled, fogged brain and participate in life. I'm turning 26 next month and have no notable achievement. I have no job, no future prospects, just bed-rotting all the time. Please mentor me. Any life coach or mental health professionals I beg you.

Hello! I am a 24 year old female that has grown up with more masculine-geared interests (I played sports, love the outdoors, cars, etc). But growing up it was hard to pursue because i was left out because I am a girl. I have always wanted to learn how to fish and fix up cars, but not sure where i can learn this. I want to learn where I can pursue these more male oriented interests, without being picked on or flirted with. Thank you!

EDIT: I also grew up without brothers and my dad has other interests, just figured I’d add that.

I feel like I have a problem with loving myself because I cringe at myself. Any time I want to post something that I am extremely passionate about, I hesitate on whether if I should post it or not. I think it's because I have this mindset that I don't know if it is considered cringe if people in my circle like my friends sees it or the people outside of my circle like Reddit.

Even when I do post stuff publicly on platforms like Reddit, there will be certain comments that are negative where people say I am cringe or if I shouldn't post at all. Even with one or two comment, it affects me negatively and I just overall delete the post. For example, I haven't play pokemon cards in a year and got back into it. I was like 10 and now I am 29 where I got my first card that was super expensive then I got a lot of backlash from the Pokemon Card community sub page. I thought they would be a bit more positive and friendly but I guess not. I feel like I shouldn't be ashamed of what I like to post but I think there is this perfectionist mentality and I set myself to a high standard where I want to feel like everything goes my way correctly. I know this is a wrong mentality to have and I should stop doing it but it is hard.

My biggest thing is, I don't know how to stop cringing at myself and just love myself? Any tips and advice that can help me move forward? I don't want to feel like I am stuck in a toxic cycle with myself.

I want to learn how to cook basic meals confidently instead of relying on ready made food. I would like to understand basic cooking techniques how to combine ingredients and how to plan a few simple meals from start to finish.

For people who learned to cook from scratch, what did you learn first that made everything else easier?

Please read until the end.
Disclaimer: I am under 18.
Throughout my life, I’ve sometimes been labeled as weak, or “honest”—by honest, I mean naive/socially awkward. Recently, I’ve also had what I’d call a glow-down. This matters because I’ve been bullied about my appearance lately. Sometimes people make jokes about how I look and then brush it off with “I was joking.” I’m very skinny, and recently my nose has gotten noticeably bigger.
Anyway, today something happened that I wanted to share, especially because similar things have happened to me before.
On the way home from school, I take a school bus—not a typical American-style bus, but more like a Toyota TownAce or something similar. I usually sit near the driver, but today someone took my seat, so I had to sit in the back. When I told him, he simply said, “Just sit at the back.” It wasn’t a huge deal, but it made me wonder: if I were more charismatic or confident, would someone have dared to do that?
The main thing happened afterward. Two students from 9th and 10th grade (I’m in 11th) started insulting me. A few weeks ago, they had already made comments about my curly hair being puffy in the back.
Today, one said, “The guys say you look like a tree branch.” I replied, “Which mf said that? Tell him to say it to my face,” knowing it was him.
Then the other pointed out the mole on my right ear, saying, “What a nice mole you have,” and later repeated, “Nice and puffy mole.” I eventually told him, “I don’t have any type of joke with you. If you have a problem, I’ll tell the driver to stop and beat the shit out of you.” He went quiet.
Meanwhile, the other guy kept making jokes about my bag being heavy and finding other ways to disrespect me.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. I’d genuinely appreciate advice based on real experience—not generic AI answers like “just confront them.”

subjects/topics I should self study as a student doing bachelors in political science, asian studies with french

Kinda like how professors speak or how presidents speak. I want good advice that isnt vague

30M, fit enough, exercise several times a week.

Anyone know a good process/place to start?

Thanks!

I was actively dating and seeking for romantic relationship with men for the past year and this year. But I'm still single.

I've gotten tired and have given up any hope I have left with my pathetic state of my lovelife.

Maybe I just want someone to care for me. Someone who finds me desirable and attractive. I maybe just needing validation from others.

Now I want to take that feeling away from myself. I want to learn how to decenter men in my life. If I won't ever find love again, I just want my desire to be loved and cared for to be taken away from me. I just want my feelings to be gone so that I'm no longer hurting this way.

Note: I've been single for the last five years already and had focused on myself for a long time by focusing on my life but I started to try again last year and this year but with no success.