This is why smart people are often a bit lazier
Are you already crying at the thought of having to leave the couch? And can you intensely enjoy a whole day lying like a starfish under the blankets in your bed? Very good. Being lazy is actually not a bad thing at all.
In fact: it’s almost something to be proud of. People who are lazier than others are generally often a lot smarter. Ha! Previous research published in the Journal of Health Psychology already states that people who exercise a lot and are therefore physically active often want to seek less mental challenges.
It’s either-or
So it’s a matter of either-or: either you love physical activity and are less into crossword puzzles or you hate the gym with every fiber of your being and you enjoy reading one literary masterpiece after another.
Conversely, it also applies: if you are a bit lazier, it’s probably because you prefer to use your brain a bit more. If you like to be cognitively challenged, you simply feel better doing that instead of cycling around half the city to have coffee with this or that friend. And then you also pause when a colleague suggests participating in a running competition, and you gladly skip those 7 dinners a week.
It’s not that you can’t be social, you know, if you’re smart. You just have different needs, and you only get to those when you’re lounging on your couch. You want to read, write, email, think about world peace, worry, and work out future plans.
Look, I can work with this, on a Friday afternoon. And you can also use this ace for a nice anecdote in the pub; perfect for when you leave earlier than the rest. “I’m going home because I’m SMART.” That idea. I’m comfortably curling up – with my glasses on – on the couch. Without any shame. À bientôt and hello couch.
FACTS
The average IQ in the world – and thus also in the Netherlands – is 100.
Put on your smarty pants: with an IQ of 130 or higher, you are gifted.
The American William James Sidis (1898-1944) may be the smartest person ever. His IQ is said to be between 250 and 300 – a true wonder child.
Source: Sage Journals
Written by: Tessa Heinhuis
