You may not see it, and intelligent people rarely do, but there are plenty of signs that separate an intelligent person from an average one, and that’s why we’ve put together this list. If you feel like you’re harboring a secret genius or just want a little ego boost that you’re brighter than most, see how many signs you can check off.
1. You have a strong sense of curiosity.
Intelligent people have a unique way of looking at the world. They often find themselves picking apart things and wanting to understand their inner workings. They want to know the who, what, when, where, and why of everything because it interests and challenges them. These individuals love to learn and further flesh out their knowledge; where some might be overwhelmed, smart people thrive.
2. You get bored easily.
Intelligent people have spent most of their lives understimulated. It’s human nature to want to push our limits and do things that allow us to show our best, and when we don’t seek out those opportunities, it’s easy to get demotivated. If you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for, you’ll often find yourself drifting from one activity to another, looking for something that sparks interest.
3. You’re a worrier.
Smart people look at the world deeply, so it’s no surprise they can become incredibly invested in the details. You might feel worried when those around you don’t share your attachment to narratives and ability to see things from many angles. What if they don’t realize this important detail? What if they forgot that one specific thing? Thinking like this and constantly worrying about your friends and family could be a sign you’re smarter than you think.
4. You can see things from many angles.
If you find yourself being the referee when your friends disagree or often play devil’s advocate, you might be more intelligent than you think. Smart people can consider a wider variety of angles, details, and points of view than average people. Your ability to understand what people think and feel even when they don’t express it directly is invaluable when dealing with conflict. Your ability to see all the possibilities and understand everyone’s point is your superpower.
5. You make decisions fast.
Even though intelligent people can see various possibilities, they don’t let it slow down their decision-making. They can reference all the information and choose quickly and efficiently. This shows a higher level of cognitive functioning related to higher IQ. It can even be frustrating in collaborative settings because most intelligent people will have already finished by the time their more average cohorts start. If you are the type of person to turn in your test first or finish assignments in half the time your peers need, it’s a sign.
6. You’re messy.
An interesting study published by the University of Minnesota discovered an unusual link between messier surroundings and creativity. Another study from the Netherlands, published in 2015, suggests that untidy surroundings can lead people to be more goal-oriented. Creativity and goal-orientedness are both traits that are often associated with intelligence. Moreover, being in a messy space can be another way that intelligent people challenge their active minds. The mess can make finding things challenging, and these people revel in the obstacle of making order out of chaos.
7. You take on more than you probably should.
Intelligent people can look at a pile of tasks and think, “Yeah, I can do this.” However, they may not realize that just because they can doesn’t mean they should. Intelligent people are known for overcommitting and overtaxing themselves because they have extra bandwidth that their cohorts don’t. You might often take on others’ responsibilities because you see yourself as more capable or want to help. Be warned, you don’t have to do everything just because you can; doing so might result in unwanted resentment from those you want to help.
8. You decided to wait to experiment.
Nowadays, it’s a rarity for kids to wait until after high school to experiment with intimacy—however, those who do may have higher intelligence. There are studies from the University of North Carolina and the Journal of Developmental Psychology that link having a higher IQ and better memory with a lower likelihood of being intimate between 7th and 12th grade. If you’re a late bloomer who decided to wait until you were a bit older to mess around, here’s a new reason not to regret that choice.
9. You’re left-handed.
This sign may not apply to everyone, but lefties have a definitive leg up on predominantly right-handed people. You may be in the minority, but take comfort in the fact that you are considered more divergent thinkers. In other words, you are freeform problem solvers who are great at coming up with out-of-the-box solutions on the spot, and that seems pretty smart to me.
12. You have a lot of self-control.
Self-control is also a trait that is more likely to manifest in intelligent people. In a Yale study, those with a higher IQ were more likely to take a higher-value delayed reward than an instant lesser reward. Intelligent people were considered more likely to think through consequences and make difficult decisions based on overall gain rather than short-term gratification. Resisting impulses because you recognize the damage they can do might signal you’re brighter than others.
11. You undersell yourself.
Have you ever heard of the Dunning-Kruger effect? It’s a psychological assertion that less competent or bright people are likelier to overestimate themselves. In contrast, those with higher-than-average intelligence are more likely to underestimate themselves. This phenomenon may be why the one with the least to say is always the loudest in the room. Being intelligent shows up in a lot of ways, so you might not realize the things that make you bright, but one thing is sure: Those who are wise are less likely to make a fuss about it.
12. You’re open-minded.
A Yale study shows that highly intelligent people tend to be more open to other people’s points of view. This mindset could be partly due to the natural curiosity or desire to learn possessed by those with a higher IQ. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll constantly be changing your mind. The same study mentioned that once an intelligent person makes up their mind, they are more secure in their beliefs and less likely to be manipulated.
13. You’re more of a night owl.
Those more active at night tend to have higher IQs and be more creative and innovative than their early-rising counterparts. Also, going to sleep later and waking up later means that night owls release fewer sleep hormones throughout the day, meaning they are more alert and able to take on information. Night owls of the world, rejoice! Your late-night tendencies may be an indicator that you are more intelligent.
14. You like your alone time.
It may be a sign of intelligence if you would rather spend your weekend on the couch reading than out at the club. Intelligent people are less likely to rely on external sources for validation, which could mean they’re not as likely to seek out constant companionship. Plus, they enjoy their alone time, allowing them to tap into their curiosity and problem-solving skills to process things at their own pace. Intelligent people have a lot of big ideas to think through, and it can be more important to them to have time to process things in a private setting.
15. You’re the oldest sibling.
The old cliche “older and wiser” may be true after all. Older siblings are more likely to have higher IQs and score higher in reading comprehension, giving them an advantage over their younger siblings. Older siblings are also more likely to go on to secondary education and, therefore, can get better, higher-earning jobs down the line. Most researchers believe this is due to the “only child effect,” which means they got extra support during their formative years because they had less competition for attention from mom and dad.
16. You took music lessons as a kid.
Music is a constant of childhood; nursery rhymes are a great example. However, beyond the benefits of helping retain core concepts, it can also improve many other mental abilities. Children who learned an instrument in childhood have better verbal intelligence, planning, and inhibition than those who didn’t. They have even done studies that show increases in IQ just from learning an instrument during our developmental years. So, our baby Beethovens can safely boast that those grade-school piano lessons weren’t a total waste.
17. You struggle to fit in.
It’s unfortunate that intelligent people are often misunderstood, judged, or targeted by bullies. Your nuanced point of view may make it more difficult for you to relate to your peer group, but it’s not always bad. You may not blend into the crowd, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with being your authentic, intelligent self. If you were an outcast in your youth, or otherwise a little strange compared to classmates, it’s a sign you might have been smarter than them.
18. Find love with the power of your mind — our sister site, Sweetn, shows you how.
Take their fun quiz and try their research-powered tools to transform your love life in weeks. They’ll help you change your perspective on love and relationships and restore your belief that your ideal partner is out there. Click here to start.
