The Habits of Smart People

When asked if they would rather be smart or dumb, surely everyone would answer smart! If you’re looking to improve your mental capabilities you can start by following in the footsteps of some of the smartest people in the world.

A person’s Intelligence Quotient indicates their mental abilities relative to others of approximately the same age.

Average IQ= 100
Above Average=115
Genius= 140
Extraordinary Genius=160

The Good Habits

They are persistent

Smart people don’t let failure stop them.

Albert Einstein (IQ=160) did not speak until he was 4
Bill Gates’ (IQ=160) first business failed
Thomas Edison (IQ=145) tried to make a lightbulb over 1,000 times
Benjamin Franklin (IQ=160) dropped out of school at age 10
Ludwig Van Beethoven (IQ=165) was told he would never succeed

They set goals

Students were given 4 weeks to accomplish a goalâ€¦

Students without written goals—>accomplish 43% of goals
Students with written goals—>accomplish 64% of goals
Students who share their goals with friends–> accomplish 76% of goals

They are avid readers

The benefits of reading includeâ€¦

Increases verbal skills
Helps articulate thoughts
Enhances problem solving skills
Improved memory
Increases concentration
Improves writing skills
Expands vocabulary

Just 15 minutes of reading a day exposes you to over 1,000,000 words a year.

They are self-disciplined

IQ level is a good indicator of rates of virginity amongst adolescents.

Teens with IQ 130
Every additional IQ point increases odds of virginity 2.7% for males/ 1.7% for females

87% of all undergrads students have had sex. Undergrads at top schools that have had sex:

Harvard= 59%
Princeton=56%
MIT=51%

This reflects a desire to safeguard educational and occupational plans by avoiding risk associated with adolescent sex.

They think about thinking

Metacognition is the self-awareness of one’s own knowledge, and affects critical thinking skills.
Cognitive skills include comparing, analyzing, and inferring
Metacognitive skills allow individuals to realize the best way to utilize their cognitive skills.

Being smart obviously has its’ advantages, but there can be a downsideâ€¦

The Bad Habits of Smart People

They tend to drink

Studies have shown that intelligent children are more likely to drink as adults, compared to their peers.
Adults with childhood IQ
Adults with childhood IQ > 125 engage in binge drinking once every other month.

They are at a greater risk for drug use

Boys with IQs > 107 were 2x more likely to use illegal drugs during adulthood than peers
Girls with IQs > 107 were 3x more likely to use illegal drugs during adulthood

They are night owls

Effects of sleep deprivation:

Increases risk of heart disease
Increases risk of obesity
3x more likely to suffer from depression
Impairs judgement

They are anxious

In a 2012 study patients with generic anxiety disorder exhibited higher IQ scores than healthy volunteers. Although experts speculate worrisome people are more equipped to for see troublesome situations, anxiety has clear consequences.

Chronic anxiety can lead to:

Smoking
Depression
Neuroticism

If you’re looking to improve your success at home, school, or work, you can start by working the positive habits of smart people into your daily routine. Remember, while extreme intelligence has some negative associations, exhibiting these traits won’t make you smarter!

The Good Habits

The Bad Habits of Smart People

SOURCES