Seriously High-IQ People Prefer To Be Alone For 11 Super Smart Reasons
Drazen Zigic | ShutterstockWhile many people believe spending a lot of time alone means being lonely, that couldn't be farther from the truth. By spending time with themselves, there are incredible benefits to reap, and high-IQ people truly understand this. But it's not to distract themselves, it's to feel fulfilled in new ways.
Whether it's boosting their creativity or giving them time to get in touch with their emotions, their preference for being alone is powerful. Yes, they can spend time with loved ones, but there's nothing like spending time with their closest ally: themselves.
People with a seriously high IQ prefer to be alone for some very smart reasons
1. Alone time assists emotional regulation
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Intelligent people are sensitive to their surroundings, so being in crowded places stimulates them and makes them feel overwhelmed. But by spending time on their own, they're able to better regulate their emotions.
Psychologist Virginia Thomas shared the results of two separate research studies, revealing that solitude is a powerful tool for self-regulation. Being alone allows us to go inward, which often means that the emotions or memories we've suppressed “suddenly rise to the surface.”
Thomas explained that “this change of attention can trigger the initial negative moods that come with solitude,” yet “experiencing these emotions prompts self-reflection, which is important for our mental health.”
Being alone isn’t always easy or enjoyable, but allows people to press pause and actually process how they feel. High-IQ individuals prefer to spend lots of time alone so they can pay attention to the quieter parts of their minds.
2. They use alone time to recharge
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Because being around other people drains their social battery, smart people use alone time as a way to reset. Psychology professor Thuy-vy Nguyen says that alone time “can be profoundly restorative, offering a much-needed break from the hustle of daily life.”
In fact, people who spend spend 15 minutes alone in a quiet room reported feeling less stressed and tense, which Nguyen described as “the deactivation effect.” She further explained, “Social moments... demand energy and attention... That is when solitude becomes valuable, allowing you to hit that reset button.”
3. Alone time enhances productivity
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Anyone who’s been part of a group project knows how hard it is to actually get any work done. Group work is a great way to crowdsource ideas, but it’s not helpful for everything that comes after brainstorming. So, in order to enhance their own productivity, smart individuals spend time alone.
Alone time actually does enhance productivity. High-IQ people take practical steps to be as productive as possible, putting their phone in a different room and clearing off their workspace to minimize distractions. They tune out the external world and tune into their internal world.
4. They don’t need external validation
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Some people base their self-worth on outside factors, like awards and accolades, but seriously high-IQ people know that true self-worth can only come from within. They don’t need validation from other people to feel good about themselves, so embracing alone time is a pathway to embrace their authenticity.
By chasing external validation, they would end up becoming a fake version of themselves. They become inauthentic in an effort to please others. But it's much better to chase the validation of yourself.
5. Being alone helps their memory
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Researchers from Harvard University found that being alone allows the brain to form stronger memories. In fact, people have an easier time recalling new information when they’re alone, as opposed to working alongside someone else.
Neuroscientist Dr. Heather Collins added that forming new memories takes serious focus. “The most common pitfall with a ‘bad memory’ isn’t actually memory itself, it’s attention. For your brain to make a memory, you first must pay attention to the thing you intend to remember,” she explained.
6. Solitude boosts creativity
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Like everything else in life, intelligent people see their creative practice as a balancing act. As much as they need outside stimulation to spark new ideas, they also need time in solitude to bring those ideas to life.
Solitude sparks creativity, as it allows people to make connections they might not notice otherwise. For someone with a high IQ, spending time alone is exactly what their imagination needs. They're free from any outside constraints and criticism, and can tap into their creativity on their own terms.
For them, solitude is an act of self-care that nourishes their spirit. When they’re alone, there’s no pressure to perform or prove how smart they are. They’re free to wander through a world of their own making as their truest selves.
7. Spending time alone increases self-awareness
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High-IQ individuals are highly self-aware because they spend a lot of time with themselves, away from the chaos of the world. When they're around other people, they may find it hard to focus on their own thoughts, but by staying in solitude, they have the opportunity to be introspective.
Spending lots of time alone gives super smart people a chance to discover who they really are, away from outside influence. Their innate curiosity is a driving force. They accept that self-awareness has no finite endpoint. They’ll never get all the answers, but they’ll never stop seeking out their truth.
8. They're able to think on a deeper level
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By staying clear of other people and being alone with themselves, intelligent people can think on a much deeper level. They have no interest in staying on the surface, instead preferring to dive headfirst into complicated problems and stay committed to finding solutions.
These people do deep work, which author Cal Newport defines as “the act of focusing without distraction on a cognitively demanding task.” Deep workers balance input and output for optimal results. They pick up new skills quickly, then channel their wealth of knowledge to “produce high-value output at a high rate.”
9. They’re more comfortable on their own
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Solitude is a source of comfort for some people, especially high-IQ people. When they’re on their own, there’s no need to dilute their intelligence or pretend to be someone they’re not.
Being around big crowds takes concerted effort. They don’t always understand why they’re expected to follow a long list of unspoken rules just to fit in. Instead, choosing to be alone cuts down on any social pressure they feel, so they can be fully themselves.
10. Spending time alone reduces stress
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Because the minds of intellectuals are always on, it makes stress relief a serious struggle. Alone time is an accessible and simple way for them to practice self-care, and, in fact, adequate alone time is a key part of prioritizing mental health.
Clinical psychologist Sophie Lazarus revealed that spending time alone can combat chronic stress. “By taking a brief pause alone, our nervous system can settle, our mind can settle, our body can settle,” she explained.
Time is a precious resource, which is why they’re careful not to overcommit. They carve out small moments for themselves over the course of a day because they understand that they can’t pour from an empty cup.
11. Being on their own fosters independence
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Rather than relying on others to fulfill their needs, intelligent people prefer alone time because it gives them a chance to foster independence. While there's nothing wrong with expecting a partner to help out and move through life with you together, independence is essential to keeping a relationship healthy and thriving.
They know that their identity isn't dependent on a relationship of any kind. As such, they make their own decisions and don't feel pressure to follow the crowd. It builds discipline and helps them manage their time. And these are all aspects that any truly independent, happy person has.
Alexandra Blogier, MFA, is a writer based in Boston, Massachusetts who covers psychology, social issues, relationships, self-help topics, and human interest stories.
