It is a blessing and a curse. Being a knowledgeable person comes with its perks, but the downside can be so gloomy that people often want to be average. Their experiences are usually unique, which makes them appear weird or isolated. But what are the most common things for highly intelligent people that make them different from others? The list is long, but here are some of the most interesting, including the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Intellectual loneliness
It is a less-known yet widespread experience for people with high IQ. They are knowledgeable and need intellectual stimulation, but often, the environment does not provide fulfilling outlets, leading to intellectual loneliness. Having like-minded people is not always as easy as it appears, so a person feels isolated and even misunderstood.
Getting bored easily
While it might appear that brilliant people are lazy, studies have proven that they simply get bored quickly because the world is made for ordinary people, and it doesn’t fit the pace of a person with a high IQ. That can also feel like an isolating experience, though many people with high IQs find peace in thinking, which brings us to the next trait.
Overthinking
Highly intelligent people are immensely curious and highly skeptical and spend time overanalyzing people, situations, or problems. It can lead to anxiety and make the decision-making process more challenging. While questioning the world around you comes naturally to them, the problem is that they don’t have an off switch, so people with high IQs often feel trapped in their overactive minds.
Socially awkward
A person with a higher-than-average IQ may appear socially awkward for several reasons. First, they are not great at small talk because they have other things on their minds. Secondly, highly intelligent people can feel intimidated by others because they always feel different. While it may seem paradoxical, many people with high IQ struggle with inferiority and imposter syndrome.
Living messy
A cluttered space might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of someone with a high IQ. However, numerous studies have found links between messy spaces and creative genius. Sloppy and disorderly spaces reflect unconventional ways of thinking, but they do not help their social lives.
Struggles with perfectionism
Highly intelligent people know there is so much more to learn that they may set up often unachievable expectations. Many are so invested in their mistakes, instead of celebrating their successes, that they have trouble with self-esteem and can even feel worthless.
Indulging in daydreaming
One might think that highly intelligent people are focused, but they are known to drift away and indulge in daydreaming. They usually don’t have trouble concentrating, and daydreaming is where their brains go to take a break. It helps them solve problems and gives them an escape into their little worlds, where they feel most at home.
Enjoying solitude
While they often struggle with loneliness, highly intelligent people frequently need their “me” time. This is in part because they get easily overwhelmed by the outside world. Additionally, brilliant people do not get satisfaction from everyday interactions, so solitude gives them an escape to fuel their always-active minds.
Practicing empathy
Most people with high IQs are empathetic toward others, which is another reason they need solitude to recharge. They have great power to connect to people, what they’re going through, and how their behaviors impact others. Highly knowledgeable people might almost feel what others are going through, which can be pretty overwhelming on a day-to-day basis.
Self-talk on another level
Highly intelligent people are likelier to talk to themselves out loud, which helps with problem-solving and decision-making. Saying things out loud helps them organize their thoughts and ideas, and while it may appear strange, it is not a great mystery. Still, it does not stop people from wondering what’s on their minds.
Staying up late
Many brilliant people are night owls, and this was established many decades ago. The reasoning is simple: there are fewer distractions at night, so they have more time to be with their thoughts without interruptions. It is their time to tackle problems, read, or get artistic.
Insatiable curiosity
Intelligent people are known to be fascinated by things others find ordinary, and that’s thanks to their endless and insatiable curiosity. Almost everything can be a learning opportunity, which can be exhausting, but it is a form of soul food for a highly intelligent person.
Open-mindedness
While people with high IQs are open-minded, which comes from their curiosity and openness to experience, they are also careful about adopting new ideas. In part, this is because every idea can be challenged. Additionally, they do not want to be attached to a thought unsupported by evidence.
Good sense of humor
Funny people are known to be highly intelligent. Many studies linked intelligence with a high sense of humor, especially dark humor. They have excellent “comebacks” because of their quick wit and a sense of timing, and it helps them cope with everyday stresses and struggles.
Highly adaptable
People from stable homes who are knowledgeable tend to be highly adaptable. Intelligence depends on the ability to alter behaviors to cope effectively with the environment or to make changes to the environment.
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Kate Smith, a self-proclaimed word nerd who relishes the power of language to inform, entertain, and inspire. Kate's passion for sharing knowledge and sparking meaningful conversations fuels her every word.