By Diego Cera
In case you don’t know it, Albert Einstein wasn’t that good at math, Bill Gates dropped out from college, and Thomas Alva Edison was told he was “too stupid to learn anything.” However, they and many others we consider exceptional thinkers managed to achieve amazing deeds despite the fact they didn’t follow exactly what society expected of them.
Now, facts like these could be easily taken to justify mediocrity, but the truth is these figures might not have excelled at certain subjects, but they surely didn’t spend entire afternoons eating chips and watching movies. They lived their lives and followed their interests as they saw fit. So, how to know if a person is a genius without having to wait for history to recognize it? Yeah, there are tests like those that check your IQ, but analyzing our bad habits could also be a way to know if you’re an intelligent person.
Procrastinating
It’s not just about leaving everything until the last minute or being proud of not doing what you need to do. We often see “wasting our time” as a way of avoiding our responsibilities. However, even if you’re unaware of it, what your brain is actually doing is looking for easier and more effective solutions for a specific problem.
Daydreaming
Leaving your mind to go wherever it wants while you’re working or studying could be a good thing despite what your boss or teachers might think. In fact, allowing yourself to think is ideal when you have a job that requires a lot of creativity, since it will help clear your mind and everything bothering you.
Being messy
Being messy at home or in your workplace doesn’t mean you’re the worst person on Earth. According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, people who are constantly surrounded by mess tend to have clearer goals and prefer reaching them than worrying about a clean space they know will get messy once again. In other words, they know how to prioritize what’s important for them.
Cursing
If you’re one of those people who can’t say a full sentence without adding a curse, you should know that behind those words might lie a profound and detailed knowledge of the language. Or at least that’s what a study made by researchers of the Marist College in the US claim.
Always running late
One of the most important traits intelligent people share is that they tend to be very optimistic. Being stuck in the traffic? Some extra time to work on their goals. So, if you’re one of those who are always late because you’re doing other things, it’s quite normal and understandable.
Oversleeping
Thanks to a study conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science, we know today that one of the main reasons why smart people sleep too much is because they tend to spend entire nights awake absorbed in their thoughts. Besides that, it’s also an evolutive matter. In the same study, which compares other generations, it reveals that ours engages in activities that can only be done at nighttime.
Being anxious
There’s no doubt that intelligent people see things from another perspective. And sometimes this perspective can be very complex, making them anxious about the future and where their lives are going, which is completely normal.
Drug use
Warning! We’re in no way saying that using drugs will make you more intelligent. Here’s the thing, according to Psychology Today, smart people tend to use psychoactive drugs because they’re constantly looking for ways to explore their mind in different ways.
Arguing a lot
Before saying anything, we’ve got to say that arguing is not the same as imposing your opinions on others. Those with a good IQ level will never engage in nonsensical discussions, since for them, arguing is a chance to know and understand other perspectives different from theirs about a subject they might know a lot about or are trying to dominate.
Drinking alcohol
Just like with drugs, drinking isn’t a very healthy habit. However, according to data from the British Cohort Study, people with a high IQ are more likely to face alcoholism issues in the future.
Using the term “bad habit” is probably unfair mainly because it refers to actions society doesn’t accept. What is true is that some of these can actually be normal and understandable habits for those who don’t really care about following social norms. Also, just because you do all of these doesn’t mean you’re a genius and that your laziness is now justified. We all have to work hard to achieve our goals no matter what they are, and as these geniuses from history show, our habits are the least important thing to do so.
Translated by María Isabel Carrasco Cara Chards
Read more:
The Worst Grammar Mistakes You Must Avoid If You Want To Sound Smart
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