It is always flattering when people think that you are smart, but how do you know if you actually count as one? Let us first emphasize the fact that there are different types of intelligence. Even though genes play a factor in our cognitive abilities, you can actually do things that will improve your IQ. Not all hope is lost if you do not have a naturally curious mind. You know what they say – fake it until you make it! Check out this list to see what you can do to improve yourselves. If you naturally do these things already, you should feel proud of yourself.
Taking Music Lessons
Studies have shown that people who took music lessons in the past score higher on the IQ test. It is ideal to introduce music to children when they are four to six years old to take advantage of this fact. Until now, scientists are seeing promising results by looking into the link between brain activity and music. It might be time for you to pick up an instrument if you do not know how to play one just yet!
Taking Music Lessons
The Eldest Sibling
The truth is that older siblings often have it worse than their younger counterparts. Fortunately for them, they tend to be more intelligent as well. As children, they often receive more attention from adults. On the other hand, they also shoulder more responsibilities and look out for the younger kids! Lastly, they experience new experiences first and tend to make more mistakes and set an example.
The Eldest Sibling
They Stay In Shape
If you keep your body healthy, you are also keeping your mind in tip-top shape. Studies have shown us that a lower BMI might be an indicator of high intelligence. There is another possible explanation for this. A family with more money can often feed their children better and healthier food. Not only that, but a wealthier family often has better access to gym memberships and healthcare plans. With fewer worries, they can focus on cultivating their minds!
They Stay In Shape
They Own A Cat
People argue about dogs and cats all the time. However, there seems to be evidence that people who favor feline fur babies tend to have higher intelligence. The grapevine says that dog lovers are more outgoing, whereas cat owners tend to be more extroverted. In 2014, a study said that “cat people” often show better cognitive abilities. Researchers say that they often spend more time reading and the like.
They Own A Cat
The Left-Handed People
Lefties rejoice! In 1995, The New Yorker quoted Maria Konnikova: “Researchers found that the more marked the left-handed preference in a group of males, the better they were at tests of divergent thought…” Most of the world has a dominant right hand, while only a tenth of the population is left-handed. We can see why they would have a different perspective of the world thanks to this.
The Left Handed People
If You Are Taller Than Most
Did you know that some believe that height is a factor when it comes to intelligence? Studies say that the height of a child before entering school could be an indicator. Rumor has it that taller kids tend to get higher scores on cognitive tests. This does not necessarily mean they are smarter, although it must play some part in the development of their intelligence.
If You Are Taller Than Most
They Never Run Out Of Curiosity
It makes sense that curious people are intelligent! After all, they are always eager to know more about the world. They tend to ask questions about all sorts of things even though there is no guarantee that they would get an answer. By formulating these questions, they are already stimulating the mind.
They Never Run Out Of Curiosity
Avid Readers Since They Were Young
People who developed a love of reading when they were young often have more vivid imaginations and better problem-solving skills. They have a bigger advantage than those who pick up the habit later on. Reading is a great way to pass the time since it improves vocabulary and lets you look at the world from a different perspective. In 2012, a study showed that in identical twins, those who read earlier scored higher in cognitive ability tests when it comes to both verbal and nonverbal skills.
Avid Readers Since They Were Young
Anxious All The Time
It is not always fun to be intelligent! Folks with higher IQs suffer from anxiety more than those with lower scores. When you have a broader mind, you tend to study things more closely and understand the negative possibilities. Some of them also deal with the burden of existential questions. Did you know that people with anxiety tend to do better at verbal intelligence tests?
Anxious All The Time
Those With A Good Sense Of Humor
We doubt that this comes as a huge surprise! People who make us laugh are aware of the surroundings, have a way with words, and know how to read the room. Comedians often have high intelligence! In a study, 400 psychology students were asked to write captions for cartoons in the New Yorker. After an assessment from an independent group, it showed that the funniest ones came from those with higher intelligence levels.
Those With A Good Sense Of Humor
They Keep Their Minds Busy
It is not rare for curious people to stimulate their minds. They are always on a quest to learn and do more things. A business psychology professor by the name of Tomas Chamorro-Prezumi said, “[Curiosity] leads to higher levels of intellectual investment and knowledge acquisition over time, especially in formal domains of education, such as science and art.” Curious people always try to get the answers to their questions by doing research and acquiring more knowledge!
They Keep Their Minds Busy
They Are Disorganized
Who would have thought that messier people tend to be smarter? You were wrong if you thought that they would be more organized! The truth is that even Albert Einstein was a messy fellow. A cluttered desk does not always mean that you are lazy. The truth is that smart people are usually just too busy doing something else!
They Are Disorganized
They Do Not Believe In Luck
Rumor has it that intelligent people do not believe in luck. For them, ‘luck’ is nothing more than the result of prior preparation, hard work, coincidence, and planning. A smart person does not wait for an idea to rain down from the sky. Instead, they will go out there and make things happen! In essence, intelligent people tend to create their own luck.
They Do Not Believe In Luck
Their Mothers Breastfed Them
Did you know that how we were fed as children could have a significant effect on our intelligence? It is said that babies who were breastfed often wind up with higher IQ scores. In 2007, a study showed that breastfed kids scored around seven more points than those who were not. However, keep in mind that this was only true for people who had a specific version of something called the FADS2 gene.
Their Mothers Breastfed Them
They Are Night Owls
A lot of people look down on people who consider themselves night owls. However, research has shown us that people who stay up later and sleep during the day have higher cognitive abilities. According to the researchers, these people like to stay up at night since there are fewer distractions than in the day.
They Are Night Owls
You Might Think They Are Lazy
Who would have thought that there was a correlation between laziness and intelligence? It is said that smart people prefer to be lazy since they tend to solve problems quickly. They can often do something by exerting less effort. This also explains what we said earlier about how intelligent folks are messier.
You Might Think They Are Lazy
They Are Focused
You are in luck if you are a focused person. In 2013, Current Biology published an article that attests to this. Frank Zhu said, “People who can focus for long stretches at a time and tune out distractions” are highly intelligent.” Those with higher IQs can focus on just one thing at a given time. They will keep their attention on it and do the job properly until the task is over.
They Are Focused
Admitting What They Do Not Know
You should not be ashamed if you do not know something. Intelligent people are aware of this. If they do not know it, they would ask and learn more about it instead. An expert by the name of Jim Winer said that intelligent people “are not afraid to say: ‘I don’t know.’ If they don’t know it, they can learn it.”
Admitting What They Do Not Know
The Silent Type
A lot of intelligent people can be described as introverts, but this is not always true. At any rate, smart people tend to behave based on the situation at hand. They would take the time to assess what needs to be done and act accordingly. Often, they would stay quiet as they survey what needs to be done.
The Silent Type
Lovers Of Challenges
It is not unusual for intelligent people to enjoy challenges. They like to think outside the box and have no problems with different methods. They know that a better solution always exists. They like to focus on problems and find ways to resolve them. This lowers their stress levels to let them focus on other things.
Lovers Of Challenges
Often Surrounded By Other Smart People
There is a quote that claims that every single one of us is the average of the people that we spend a lot of time with. You need to be picky when it comes to choosing your friends and companions! It goes without saying that intelligent people tend to attract other intelligent people. Let us not forget that book smart is not the only way to possess intelligence! It comes in other forms as well.
Often Surrounded By Other Smart People
Perfectionism Is Their Middle Name
Do you consider yourself a perfectionist? If so, you can take this to be a sign of intelligence. Smart people are said to understand the order of things and prioritize optimization more than anything else. The most important thing about this is that these people do not stop trying! This is an important aspect of intelligence that is often overlooked.
Perfectionism Is Their Middle Name
Questioning Themselves All The Time
Intelligent folks understand that there is a need for improvement. This is the reason they continue to question the way the world works. On top of that, they tend to doubt themselves as well. It is important to ask yourself the right questions if you want to grow into the best version of yourself. Of course, this goes hand in hand with working on your faults and taking advantage of the room for growth.
Questioning Themselves All The Time
They Keep Up With The News
It is said that intelligent people like to keep up to date with what is going on in the world. They tend to read or watch the news. They do this in an effort to know what they should do next! This helps them understand their place in the world. On top of that, it is just good to be informed as much as possible.
They Keep Up With The News
Working On Multiple Projects
They say that intelligent people enjoy being a busybody. They know their capabilities and have no problems with working on several projects at the same time. You might think that they are not doing anything, but the truth is that they have several things on their mind. As curious people, the sky is the limit for them. Do not be surprised to hear about them learning a new language or making a bookshelf!
Working On Multiple Projects
They Do Not Believe They Are Smart
The Dunning-Kruger effect says that those with lower intelligence have a tendency to think more highly of themselves. On the other hand, the opposite is true for smart people. Even when they do not talk about their intellect, it is impossible to take it away from them. Smart people often stay humble and avoid bringing attention to their cognitive abilities.
They Do Not Believe They Are Smart
They Use Fewer Electronics
It might feel impossible to do this in the digital age, but intelligent people understand that it comes with benefits. They prefer to control the amount of information that they take in. This is why they prefer to do with fewer gadgets and devices. It does not mean that they do not own them, but they avoid using them too often. Hewlett Packard ran a study on this and found out that workers who received a lot of information tend to be more distracted and less productive!
They Use Fewer Electronics
They Love Facts
Rumor has it that intelligent people like to talk to experts, do their research, analyze the facts, and reach a conclusion. They do all of these things before they make up their mind. They like to be well-informed and rely on facts. When you are in a debate, they will always present arguments based on facts.
They Love Facts
They Are Empaths
Intelligent folks tend to be more empathetic as well. This is an important trait because it shows how they deal with other people. It is also the reason why they tend to be good leaders who can handle working with a diverse group. Empathy is demonstrated by caring about how others feel. This includes reading the room and understanding what to do about it.
They Are Empaths
More Internet Savvy
It is truly amazing that we are one click away from learning new things. However, this does not necessarily make us smarter. The internet offers plenty of learning opportunities, but we have to do our due diligence and ensure that the information comes from the right source. Intelligent people are often equipped with internet savviness and media literacy. They often spend less time on the internet since they are familiar with how to retrieve the information that they need!
More Internet Savvy
You worry A Lot
A study was done in which scientists asked 126 students to fill in questionnaires regarding how often they feel worried. Or how often they think about situations that worry them. The kids who worried more than the rest got more points in the other intelligence tests. Scientists have concluded that those who worry more tend to work in a more thorough way, leading to better results. In fact, people who are overall more anxious might be smarter than others in certain ways.
You Worry A Lot
Easily Distracted
If you happen to be someone who gets distracted by all kinds of things like notifications, tea, or coffee breaks, or even in the middle of conversations, we have good news. You might be smarter than others. At least, scientists say so. According to a new study, the more difficult it is for someone to stay focused, the smarter they actually are. It’s explained that it’s more difficult to keep high levels of brain activity under control.
Easily Distracted
Lots Of Walking
In the United States, studies have shown that people who happen to live in pedestrian-oriented cities are more intelligent than those who live in cities that have more transportation. It might sound rather unbelievable, but the same results were reached when they researched the pedestrian districts of bigger cities. In short, the more you walk on a regular basis, the smarter you probably are.
Lots Of Walking
Great Self-Control
It’s been found that smart people are able to manage impulsivity and can be good at suppressing emotions. On top of that, they tend to think of consequences before they even begin doing something. One study asked people to choose between two options: either get less money immediately or get more money throughout the year. Those who chose the latter got more points in other tests and also achieved more success in the future.
Great Self Control
Procrastination
According to research, people who postpone their tasks more often are smarter. This can be said for many famous scientists like Adam Grant. He said procrastination is key to innovation. Steve Jobs used procrastination strategically in order to allow his brain to rest by switching tasks. Adam Grant said, “The time Steve Jobs was putting things off and noodling on possibilities was time well spent in letting more divergent ideas come to the table, as opposed to diving right in with the most conventional, the most obvious, the most familiar.”
Procrastination
Constant Snacking
It’s no secret that chewing gum increases brain activity and focus. However, it only lasts for 20 minutes, unfortunately. All the same, scientists recently discovered that smarter people tend to have a habit of chewing something constantly. It’s explained that when a person chews, it allows the brain to be more open to reflection as well as self-analysis. So, if you’re one to snack throughout the day, that means you’re thinking more.
Constant Snacking
Daytime Sleeping
It’s a known fact that Leonardo da Vinco used to practice polyphasic sleep. This means that he slept 20-30 minutes every 4 hours throughout the day. Why would he do such a thing? Smart people’s brains work more intensively in general, meaning that they tire out sooner as well. However, they can recharge quickly too. To keep tiredness at bay, you need to “reload” your brain and sleep a little. 20-minute power naps work best.
Daytime Sleeping
Creative Mind
A clinical neuropsychologist by the name of Dr. Katie Davis has said that creativity is a sure sign of intelligence. This is due to the fact that it requires thinking in a flexible way. It also forces a person to shift and change their patterns of thinking from one way to the next. It seems to be that creative people’s brains simply work in a different way than most, leading them to be more intelligent.
Creative Mind
Talking To Yourself
Talking to yourself isn’t a sign of being crazy – on the contrary. A study has found that talking out loud to yourself improves self-control which is an important form of intelligence. In the study, participants were given a set of tasks along with written instructions, asking them to read them out loud or silently. Those who read aloud turned out to be far better at the tasks. This is why there are many professional athletes who talk to themselves out loud during games.
Talking To Yourself
Alone Is Good
If you are someone who enjoys their own company and isn’t constantly needing to be surrounded by people, that is a sign of intelligence. A psychological study has shown a link between the enjoyment of being alone and intelligence. Being on your own allows you more time to think, prioritize, and plan – this too reinforces self-control. This study suggested that smart people get less satisfaction from socializing with friends as others do.
Alone Is Good
You’re Open-Minded
In 2008, Yale University released a psychology study that showed highly intelligent people tend to have open-minded points of view. They didn’t formulate their own opinion until they’ve heard multiple voices on the subject. This doesn’t mean they’re indecisive. This means they’re more likely to be confident about their opinion since it was properly formed rather than manipulated. In short, smarter people don’t close themselves off to new ideas or opinions.
You’re Open-Minded
Adaptable And Flexible
It has been noted that intelligent people are flexible and able to thrive in all kinds of different settings. They’re more adaptable. They show what can be done no matter what complications or restrictions stand in their way. Recent psychological research backs this idea. Intelligence largely depends on the ability to change your behaviors to cope with your environment or make changes to the environment you’re in.
Adaptable And Flexible
Drug Use
A study done in 2012 found that children with a high IQ grow up to use illegal drugs as adults. “In our large population-based cohort study, IQ at 11 years was associated with a greater likelihood of using selected illegal drugs 31 years later,” wrote researchers James W. White, Catharine R. Gale, and David Batty. They concluded by saying, “in contrast to most studies on the association between childhood IQ and later health, a high childhood IQ may prompt the adoption of behaviors that are potentially harmful to health (i.e., excess alcohol consumption and drug use) in adulthood.”
Drug Use
Quiet And Observant
While there are many people who talk loudly and are always drawing attention to themselves, it’s starting to seem like highly intelligent people are quite the opposite. Instead of boasting about all their accomplishments or talking about their opinions, they are typically quiet and observant. They have the ability to take everything in rather than contributing. This leads to being able to see things that others have missed, like subtle patterns.
Quiet And Observant
A Good Memory
Generally, a good working memory is linked to high intelligence. When a person has a good working memory, they normally have great functioning skills, good short-term memory, and the ability to focus and pay attention to their surroundings. This also means they have cognitive flexibility. As we’ve mentioned, this too is a sign of high intelligence since they can transition from one thing to another with ease.
A Good Memory
Going With The Flow
If you’re someone who is flexible and goes with the flow, there’s a good chance you’re very intelligent. People who are smarter are mentally flexible and open-minded, easily adjusting to life – no matter what gets thrown in their way. Essentially, this shows you can solve problems and find solutions quickly. It’s not all about being book-smart. People who are empathetic, compassionate, and curious are also seen as highly intelligent.
Going With The Flow
Simplicity Is Key
It can be simple to look and sound smart to others. A lot of people have a lot of general knowledge. However, the truth comes out when you ask them a simple question. If they overly complicate things, it’s not the best thing. According to Albert Einstein, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Additionally, Steve Jobs said, “Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.”
Simplicity Is Key
True Self
While 70% of American employees hate their jobs and only a third of Americans have said they’re happy, very intelligent people tend to love their lives. This is because they’ve come to the realization that no one can compete against them other than themselves. They don’t try to fit in. They don’t try impressing anyone. Instead, all they try to do is live a life they’re impressed by the most. So, they’re completely themselves.
True Self
Unafraid To Ask For Help
Highly intelligent people know full-well that they don’t have all the answers. As a result, they have no problem asking for help. If they get lost, they don’t stay that way for long. They simply ask for directions to where they need to be. If they’re going through a hard time, they aren’t too proud to say so. All they do is seek the help they need. On the other hand, most people seem to rather suffering than asking for help. Getting help requires a vulnerability that many don’t want to admit.
Unafraid To Ask For Help
Blue Eyes
A professor at the University of Louisville claims that people who have blue eyes have a higher IQ level than those who don’t. A lot of famous geniuses like Stephen Hawking had blue eyes. It’s said that people with light-colored eyes can handle difficult situations by focusing and taking their time to make a rational decision, while dark-eyed people show better results when a fast reaction is needed.
Blue Eyes
Overly Sensitive To Sounds
Anything from creaking floors, chips crunching, to loud breathing can distract people with a higher IQ. The University of Helsinki conducted a study that found a strong link between a person’s ability to find unconventional solutions to problems to the inability to ignore noises. In fact, there is a real diagnosis for a condition like this. It’s called misophonia. Those who have it have changes in brain activity when a sound plays next to them, such as someone eating.
Overly Sensitive To Sounds
Longer Ring Finger
Karl Pinsk, a Norwegian physician, has spoken about determining the inclination of a person based on the ratio of the length of their fingers. According to this observation, the longer the ring finger is, the more the person can handle math problems. However, verbal assignments can be a challenge. Another small study found that those who had ring fingers that were longer than their index fingers had a higher income. Make of that information what you will.
Longer Ring Finger
Often Swearing
This might sound weird, but people who use more curse words and swears are more intelligent. It’s most likely that intelligent people have mastered their vocabulary and use a wider range of words to express their emotions in the most accurate way. Until recently, it was believed that those who swear are less educated people. However, a study done by psychologists found just the opposite: the more educated a person is, the more they swear.
Often Swearing
Blondes Have More Fun
We’ve all heard the old stereotype that blondes are less intelligent. Not to mention, all the jokes. Well, a study of nearly 10,000 Americans found that blonds have slightly higher IQs than darker-haired people. However, it turns out that the difference was too small to be statistically significant. All the same, one thing can be said with certainty: blondes are not the least bit dumber than darker-haired people.
Blondes Have More Fun
Existential Crises
Intelligent people tend to wonder a lot more about the universe and the meaning of life in general. What’s more, they always wonder what the point of everything is. This existential confusion might be one of the reasons smart people are more anxious overall. They might be equipped to deal with more complicated situations, but this also means they’re more aware of all that could go wrong.
Existential Crises