Most people don’t know the difference between being intelligent and being smart. If you’re unsure, no worries – I was too, until someone explained it to me. Intelligence is genetically inherited while being smart is a skill you can develop. Intelligence is related to logic and reasoning, whereas being smart is when you act practically and successfully in social situations. When you’re intelligent, you may be able to study easily and pass exams, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make the right decision when faced with an interpersonal problem. Luckily for us, intelligent or not, we can work on being smarter versions of ourselves. So here are 10 habits of what smart people do normally.
1. They learn from failures.
Everyone fails at one point or another; we are only human. Smart people fail too. The difference is that they learn from their mistakes and keeps going. Sometimes failures happen that are out of our control, but smart people know how to analyze the situation and learn what they could do better next time. There is always room for improvement, and a smart habit is to continuously strive for it.
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2. They follow a schedule.
Smart people don’t leave things up to chance. Work, sleep, physical, and mental health, are all crucial to success. Smart people follow a schedule and stay punctual. They can sleep early or sleep late and that’s totally fine. It’s what works for them, and that doesn’t mean that if they take naps mid-day naps, they are considered lazy. Balance is key, and smart people stick to their balance like an agenda.
3. They surround themselves with smarter people.
There are a few famous sayings stating that you are the average of your closest friends. I mean, it makes sense, doesn’t it? Most of the time we surround ourselves with people we can relate to. Smart people, on the other hand, know it’s important to also surround yourself with people who inspire you. If all your friends talk about are the latest Netflix binges out there, you won’t be inspired to do much other than watch TV. If they’re going on about new and interesting subjects, though, you’re more likely to explore these and expand your knowledge. This doesn’t mean to dump your friends – just expand your circle!
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4. They check off their to-do list.
Lots of people set goals; intelligent people, smart people, and most people during New Year’s Eve. Do we all complete our goals? Probably not. Smart people change the game by sticking to their goals and making them into a plan. Their goals are broken down and added into their daily to-do lists. They then refer back to this list, multiple times, every day or every week. This gives them a higher success rate for completing goals and being a productive person. That’s all.
5. They read a lot and often.
Smart people are up to date about things they like to do or about their field of interest. They read and participate in current discussions and debates. But you don’t need to read 500-page novels to be smart; you just need to stay informed. Instead of browsing Instagram the next time you’re on the couch or the subway, skim your local online paper, books, magazine, and educate yourself on topics that you like!
6. They think of new ideas.
Smart people fuel their creativity. We are all creative, but we don’t all utilize our creativity. Being creative doesn’t just mean you are an artist; it means that you can challenge the norms and see alternative options for different problems and situations. Smart people are always trying to be innovative in their approaches, whether that be in professional situations or in their personal endeavors.
7. They are always advancing.
Smart people know that if you aren’t growing, you’re stagnant. You know what else is stagnant? Swamps. You tryin’ to be a swamp, or are you tryin’ to be the majestic flowing river? Follow the smart habit of flowing like the river and pursuing growth and advancement. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations; only when you are out of your comfort zone will you be pushed to grow.
8. They self-reflect.
Self-reflection is the act of looking back on your thoughts or actions, dissecting them, and learning from them. Maybe you learn more about yourself and your motives, or you learn what you could do differently to better the situation next time. Smart people take time to self-reflect and think about their experiences. You don’t just “do a good job” or “do a bad one”, you pinpoint what you did, why, and how your outcomes were affected.
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9. They try new things.
There’s nothing insane than doing the same thing every day and expecting different results. Smart people are always trying to grow, which means they know they must switch it up and constantly try new things. These could be hobbies, attending atypical events, or speaking to people who are different than them. Any new experience, as long as it aligns with your morals, is a good experience.
10. They are mindful of their surroundings.
Smart people note what they absorb and what they give their time to. If all I do is watch sad movies and listen to people complain, it’s to be expected that I wouldn’t have the most positive outlook on life. The same is true in the opposite situation. Smart people are picky about what gets their attention and they make sure it benefits them in the end but hopefully you don’t meet one of those smart people who are selfish.
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Conclusion:
Overall, not all smart people are alike. You can find a smart person doing something totally opposite of this. But in general, you’ll be able to spot a few of things in common that they’ll do. Plus, these are pretty good habits to stick with for self-improvement as well. So there you have it 10 habits of smart people.