Being smart is essential in life. Thankfully, it is something that can be learned and practiced. Here are the habits you can develop to be smart and successful.
- Curiosity
- Listening
- Adaptability
- Courage
- Persuasion
- Creativity
- Solitude
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Is intelligence synonymous with smartness?
The terms “smart” and “intelligent” are often used interchangeably. But, smartness and intelligence differ in that smartness can be learned and acquired, whereas intelligence is innate.
Furthermore, smartness is the application and use of previously learned information or knowledge. Whereas intelligence is the ability to quickly acquire knowledge.
So, while intelligence is advantageous, it is an innate quality that is not bestowed upon all of us. On the other hand, smartness is something we can all acquire on our own.
Simple and good habits to develop
Given that smartness is acquired, it is critical that we cultivate good habits that will allow us to become smart.
And, while the actions we must take to become smart are simple, they will be difficult to implement. But, with repetition, developing the habits for smartness will become easier.
Read on for the simple and good habits to develop to improve your smartness.
Curiosity
The first habit on the list is curiosity. Curiosity is the interest, eagerness, or desire in something that is unfamiliar.
It is an important habit to develop if you want to become smart. Because it allows you to ask relevant questions and conduct additional research to find an answer.
Also, curiosity also allows you to keep an open mind to new ideas, possibilities, or opportunities that may arise.
Additionally, you will never be bored in your life because your curiosity will always lead you to interesting things and ideas.
How to develop the habit of curiosity
So, how do you cultivate curiosity? Here are some suggestions you can try.
Ask questions
Ask questions, always. Even the most obvious, banal, or ordinary things originated from somewhere. And sometimes what you believe to be true might turn out to be false.
So, keep asking questions for clarification, additional information, and learning.
Keep reading
Definitely, reading is one of the simplest ways to pique your interest. Surely, reading about one subject will lead to another, and so on. Thus, you gain smartness that you will undoubtedly benefit from.
Keep learning
Additionally, make each day a learning experience. Look at things through the eyes of a child and don’t take anything for granted. Investigate how something works in greater depth.
Learn from subjects you don’t find interesting
While on the subject of learning, you should also check out subjects you have no particular interest in. Strive to learn about them, and you might discover a link to something you WILL find exciting.
Eliminate multitasking
And, stop trying to multitask. This limits your ability to pick up on things that could lead to a new possibility or opportunity.
Listening
Listening is a necessary step in the communication process. It is the stage at which information is received and considered in order to properly form a response.
Communication frequently breaks down because we only hear the words and do not listen. This underscores the reason why listening is an important habit to develop.
How to develop a listening habit
Take a look at the steps below to develop a good listening habit.
Stop multitasking
Again, doing multiple things at one time diminishes your focus, attention, and understanding. So pay close attention to the speaker and turn off your phone.
Let them speak
Give the speaker your undivided attention. And let him or her present his or her idea or proposal without interruption.
Ask questions
Asking questions will benefit both you and the speaker. It indicates to the speaker that you are paying attention. And it provides clarification or confirmation of your understanding for you, the listener.
Keep an open mind
It is definitely advantageous to maintain an open mind during a conversation. Even if you do not agree with their point of view.
Keeping an open mind will allow you to understand where they are coming from. It may provide you with a new perspective or cause you to form a new opinion.
Be mindful of non-verbal cues
Finally, pay attention to non-verbal cues. You can gain a better understanding of another person’s message by observing their body language.
Adaptability
Another habit for smartness is adaptability. It refers to the ability to thrive in a variety of situations. Furthermore, it is the ability to change in response to external changes or to adapt to a new environment.
How to develop adaptability as a habit
Truly, adaptability is a valuable skill to develop. Because it is one of the skills needed in today’s ever-changing world.
Here are a few key tips to help you improve your adaptability at work and in life:
Be observant
Be mindful of your surroundings and don’t be in a hurry. Take note of anything out of place, as well as any changes in attitude or behavior.
Being able to see and recognize these things will allow you to plan, prepare. And act on those that will result in the best outcome.
Be open to possibilities
Listen to what other people have to say about their ideas, information, knowledge, or opinions. It is a forum for discussion that will lead to an opportunity for you to learn, change, or teach.
Keep improving
Continue to improve. Make an effort to learn new things. Find out what new and useful information is available in your industry or field of interest.
Reflect
Take time to reflect. Taking the time to think and reflect enables you to become more aware. And in tune with changes, to take deliberate actions, and to be more creative with ideas and information.
Be accepting
Accept things as they come. Rather than resisting change, learn to embrace it. Recognize that change is unavoidable, and the best you can do to be successful is to be prepared and to change yourself.
Courage
Courage is the mental fortitude to persevere and strive in the face of fear, danger, or difficulty. Furthermore, courage is the ability to deal with unfamiliar things or situations.
Thus, it is an important character to develop in order to succeed in life. Because it is the one thing that will propel you to do something. Start something. And learn something new.
Fortunately, researchers believe that courage is a skill that can be learned. It can also be applied repeatedly, through small actions, until it becomes a habit.
How to develop the habit of courage
So, here are steps you can take to develop the habit of courage.
Identify your fear triggers
According to Kate Swoboda, author of the courage habit, fear manifests itself in our lives primarily through perfectionism, people-pleasing, self-sabotage. And pessimism in the form of behavioral patterns.
Fear is detrimental to health
Remind yourself that being paralyzed by fear can be detrimental to your overall health. So take a deep breath and relax. Calm down and figure out the smallest step you can take to get moving.
Take chances
Recognize that fear is a natural part of being human. So take it in stride and get started on that project, business, or venture you’ve been wanting to start.
Use fear to your advantage
You can use your fear to your advantage if you take it in stride. Allow a healthy dose of fear to motivate you and compel you to critically examine the quality of your output. Or consider the consequences of an action you are about to take.
Reframe your story
Reframe your narrative. Another point made by Kate Swoboda is that how you tell a story influences how you see yourself and the world. Whether you are a victim or a survivor. To counteract this, you must reframe your story.
There are, thankfully, ways to retell a limiting story. One approach is to question these negative perceptions of our abilities.
Another option is to look at a difficult situation through the eyes of an outsider. These things help us deal with the stress that fear and worry cause.
Persuasion
Persuasion is the ability to convince others to see or do things your way. It is an essential trait to cultivate because it allows you to get your point across and gain traction.
Improving your ability to persuade others will also boost your smarts. Because it allows you to connect with others. This enables you to figure out how to best present your ideas or projects so that they see it your way.
How to develop the habit of persuasion
Certainly, the habit of persuasion is a powerful habit to develop for success in life and career. Leaders have this ability, whether innate or learned. And you can, too.
Here are some ways you can develop persuasion:
Keep it simple
People do not need as much time to process and reject an idea when it is presented in its simplest form. The more easily something is understood, the more likely it is that they will agree with you.
Present a solution or plan visually
Create colorful descriptions or images to go along with the solution or plan you’re presenting. A picture that your audience can identify with. And that conjures up vivid imagery in their minds can help you get a positive start.
Gain your audience’s trust
Before you can persuade someone or an audience, you must first establish your credibility.
This can be accomplished by dressing the part, being confident, and engaging. You should also make an effort to connect with your audience. And make certain that everything is centered on what is best for them.
Anchor on familiarity
When it comes to persuasion, familiarity does not breed contempt. In fact, it IS helpful to identify or relate a new idea or concept to something familiar to your audience when presenting it.
This sense of familiarity will not activate your audience’s innate threat response. Making them less likely to reject or resist what you are presenting.
Use logic or feelings
The use of logic or feelings will depend on your audience. Some people will respond more positively to the use of feelings. While others will respond more positively to the use of logic.
When using feelings, it is preferable to use positive emotions such as joy, happiness. Or a sense of belonging to gain your audience’s approval.
Creativity
Creativity is not only about being artistic. It is also about being able to see opportunities or find solutions to a problem. Additionally, it’s about coming up with useful ideas for yourself, your business, or your job.
How to develop the habit of creativity
Here are practical ways you can start getting creative:
- Go out for long walks. And observe your surroundings.
- Schedule breaks in your daily schedule. It will allow the brain to relax and become more perceptive to new ideas.
- Exercise. Body movement, according to studies, improves your memory as well as creative thinking.
- Allow for different points of view. It might spark something in you.
- Know that there are various roads to the same destination. Hence, find them.
- Take it from Albert Einstein- Never lose a holy curiosity.
- Challenge yourself to get creative. Practice various creativity techniques to challenge your brain to get creative.
Solitude
Another way to improve your smartness is to make time for yourself. Solitude increases your creativity as well as your productivity.
By spending time with yourself, you will be able to focus on whatever you are working on. And are more likely to absorb the information.
Therefore, set aside regular time for reflection, meditation, or silence. You will undoubtedly reap numerous benefits, including increased self-awareness, relationships, and mental health, among others.
How to develop the habit of solitude
Here are some simple practices for cultivating the habit of solitude.
- Get up early. Early in the morning, when the world is generally quiet, is the best time to spend with yourself.
- Take a walk with nature. Spend time going for a walk, preferably in a natural setting such as a park, garden, or trail.
- Read in a quiet place where you can reflect on what you’re reading. Or, take a break and daydream.
- Spend the day alone with yourself. You can use this day to pamper yourself. Alternatively, go for a walk around your neighborhood and discover things or places you haven’t seen before.
Summary
The terms smartness and intelligence are often used interchangeably. But, the main distinction between the two is that intelligence is inherent. While smartness can be learned.
Obviously, smartness is an essential characteristic to have for success. Thankfully, there are habits you can develop to improve your smartness.
And these habits you need to develop for smartness are:
- Curiosity,
- Listening,
- Adaptability,
- Courage,
- Persuasion,
- Creativity, and
- Solitude.
Please share your thoughts or ideas about 7 Simple And Good Habits For A Smarter You in the comments below. And if you liked this article, you might be interested as well in these articles:
Why Good Habits Beat Motivation
How To Define Yourself By Your Habits
9 Simple Habits You Can Learn From Vampires
9 Effective Habits For A Happy Life
Building Good Habits For Your To Be
12 Good Habits From The Zodiac
12 Good Habits From The Animal Signs (Chinese Zodiac)
Outside references:
7 Effective Ways To Boost Your Courage
The Courage Habit: How To Be Brave And Be More Confident In Your Career
Master the Art of Influence — Persuasion as a Skill and Habit
6 Ways to Find Solitude, and Why It Matters