How to boost your brain power while chilling

1. Meditation

Who can think clearly with a mind full of worries? If the ability to sit still and silent for more than 10 seconds isn't impressive enough, get this: Meditation helps improve memory, decision making, and attention span. Plus the more you practice meditation, the better you get at making decisions. Start off with a few minutes of meditative belly breathing to improve concentration. Om-my.

2. Video games

Guys who hang out in their basements playing Xbox games aren't just supercool—they may also be smarter than the rest of us. Some researchers suggest playing video games improves a number of cognitive skills, from vision to multitasking to spatial cognition. Tackle a game of Tetris for some mental exercise.

3. Watching TV

Turns out the tube may not be so terrible. One study found people who watched a half-hour TV show performed better on intelligence tests than people who listened to classical music, worked on crossword puzzles, or read books.

Researchers also suggest that a small amount of TV might help people relax more than other activities. But make sure to keep viewing time to a minimum—a permanent butt-print on the couch is never a good sign.

4. Lying down

'Perfect postures important—but there's no need to stand up nice and straight. Instead, make like a monkey and hang upside down: It's possible that memory improves when the head hangs lower than the rest of the body.

Yet another study found that people solved anagrams faster when they were lying down compared to when they were standing. Can certain body postures make us more insightful? Researchers certainly think so. Hwo eknw?