Psychology suggests there are certain things in life that only smart people find exhausting.
It’s not about being arrogant, or thinking you’re superior. It’s about the unique way your brain operates, the constant analyzing, the deep thinking that never stops – it can get tiring.
We’re going to delve into these 8 things that, according to psychology, smart people find wearing.
This isn’t to discourage you but to help you understand why you feel drained sometimes and how to navigate through it.
Let’s dive in.
1) Small talk
According to psychology, smart people tend to find small talk mind-numbingly exhausting.
It’s not that they’re antisocial or don’t appreciate a good conversation. Quite the contrary, smart people love conversations – just not the superficial ones.
Engaging in deep, meaningful discussions is what gets their mental gears turning. Discussing the weather or the latest celebrity gossip just doesn’t cut it for them.
They crave intellectual stimulation, and when they’re stuck in an endless loop of small talk, it can feel like running on a treadmill – lots of effort, but going nowhere.
It’s not about being snobbish or looking down on others. It’s just the way their minds work. They thirst for knowledge and depth, and small talk simply doesn’t quench that thirst.
2) Repetitive tasks
Here’s a confession: I find repetitive tasks soul-crushing.
And apparently, according to psychology, this is a common sentiment among smart people. It’s not about being lazy or unwilling to put in the work. It’s about the sheer monotony of doing the same thing over and over again.
Take filing paperwork, for example. I once had a job where I had to file documents all day long. Same process, over and over again. It didn’t take long for the task to become mind-numbingly tedious.
For smart people, their minds are always racing, looking for new ideas and connections. And when they’re stuck in a loop of repetition, it feels like their intellect is being wasted.
It’s not that they can’t do repetitive tasks – they can, and often do so very efficiently. It’s just that these tasks drain them, making them feel like they’re stuck in a mental traffic jam.
3) Ignorance
Smart people have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. They’re constantly seeking to learn and grow, and this drive can make them particularly sensitive to ignorance.
It’s not just the ignorance of others that bothers them, but their own as well. Not knowing something can feel like a personal affront, a challenge that needs to be overcome.
Did you know the word “philomath” means “lover of learning”? It’s derived from two Greek words – ‘philos’ meaning loving, and ‘math’, which comes from ‘manthanein’, meaning to learn.
Many smart people are true philomaths. They find ignorance exhausting because it stands in direct opposition to their innate desire to know and understand the world around them.
So if you ever find yourself feeling frustrated by the things you don’t know, take heart. It’s a sign of your intelligence, not a flaw.
4) Inefficiency
For smart people, inefficiency is like a stone in their shoe – annoying, uncomfortable and something they just can’t ignore.
They are natural problem-solvers, always looking for the most effective and efficient way to do things. So when they encounter a system, process or method that is inefficient, it can be incredibly frustrating.
Imagine being a skilled chef, forced to cook in a disorganized kitchen with blunt knives and a broken stove. That’s how smart people feel when forced to work in an inefficient environment.
It’s not just about saving time or energy. It’s about the principle of the thing. They believe in doing things right – and that means doing them efficiently.
5) Injustice
There’s something deeply unsettling about injustice to smart people. They have a keen sense of fairness and a strong belief in the value of truth and equity.
Watching injustice unfold, whether on a global scale or in their personal lives, can be incredibly draining for them. It’s not just about empathy or compassion, although those certainly play a part.
It’s about the fact that they understand the world could be better, should be better. And seeing it fall short of that ideal can feel like a punch in the gut.
Injustice goes against their fundamental belief in fairness and respect for all. It’s not something they can easily ignore or brush aside.
6) Unfulfilled potential
It’s like a ticking time bomb in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of what could be if only I pushed a little harder, strived a little further.
Unfulfilled potential. For smart people, it’s an exhausting reality.
We see the possibilities, the opportunities that lie just beyond our reach. And it’s not just about ambition or the desire to succeed. It’s about the gnawing feeling that we’re not living up to our full potential.
We understand that life is short, and the thought of wasting it is unbearable. So we push ourselves, often to the brink of exhaustion, in an endless pursuit of our true potential.
7) Lack of intellectual stimulation
Smart people thrive on intellectual stimulation. They crave it like oxygen. The thrill of a new idea, the satisfaction of solving a complex problem, the joy of learning something new – these are the things that get their neurons firing.
So when they find themselves in an environment that lacks this stimulation, it can feel like they’re slowly suffocating. It’s not about being elitist or looking down on others. It’s about their need for mental nourishment.
Picture a marathon runner forced to walk. That’s how smart people feel when they’re starved of intellectual stimulation.
8) Pretending to be less intelligent
The most exhausting thing for smart people? Pretending to be less intelligent than they are.
Smart people often find themselves downplaying their intelligence in an effort to fit in or to avoid intimidating others. The mental gymnastics required to do this can be incredibly draining.
It’s like wearing a mask all day, every day. It’s uncomfortable, it’s stifling and over time, it can become unbearable.
There’s no shame in being intelligent. It’s not something you need to hide or apologize for. So if you’re smart, own it. It’s one of the greatest gifts you could ever have.
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