A genius doesn’t always look like you think they’ll look. You may not find them buried in a book or lecturing in front of a class. While it is possible to find geniuses in the library or lecture hall, it is also possible to find them on the couch or up late at night.

While there has been debate about how accurate current intelligence tests are in measuring how smart people are, scientists have found that geniuses do share many of the same habits. In fact, you may be surprised by some of these habits that geniuses share. From daydreaming to cold showers, here are the habits you may not expect from today’s geniuses.

1. They’re Pretty Messy

Many people think of geniuses as being highly regimented and ordered. While that may be true for their schedules, studies have shown that messy desks can be a sign of high intelligence.

One reason this could be is that order and neatness can restrict creative thinking, while a little disorder can spark creative thinking.

2. They Daydream

People with high intelligence tend to have very active imaginations. Letting their minds wander and daydream gives them the creative stimulation they need throughout the day. Scientists have also found that taking “brain breaks” and daydreaming allows people to continue working on solving difficult problems in the back of their minds.

3. They Love to Doodle

It’s time to look a little closer at those drawings in the margin you make during meetings. Doodling is a great way to process information and solve problems. It allows those with too many ideas at once to quickly get them down so that they can more fully process the ideas later.

4. Geniuses Stay Up Late

Not a morning person? Neither are geniuses! There are a few competing theories as to why this is. One says that it’s written in their genes, and the differences in brain chemistry mean people with higher IQs tend to work better late at night. The other posits that nighttime is better for more focused, creative work because there are fewer distractions.

5. They Take Cold Showers

No one can doubt the therapeutic value of a hot shower. However, there are many brain benefits to taking the occasional cold shower that many highly intelligent people take advantage of regularly. Regularly dousing yourself in cold water has been shown to pump fresh blood to our brains, which improves our mood, memory, and productivity.

6. They’re Forgetful

The cliche of the scatterbrained genius is one that is rooted in reality. Highly intelligent people tend to focus their thinking on abstract problem-solving and overlook smaller details, such as where they left their keys or what appointments they have that day. By forgetting these kinds of unrelated details, their minds stay uncluttered and focused on harder problems.

7. They Talk to Themselves

As embarrassing as it may be, talking to yourself is a sign of higher intelligence. Processing things out loud helps you to clarify and organize your thoughts. It also helps you remember things better and for longer periods of time.

8. They’re Critical of Themselves

While we tend to think of geniuses as very confident, the opposite is more likely to be true. Research has dubbed this the Dunning-Kruger effect, named after the two researchers who first documented the phenomenon.

According to Dunning and Kruger, poor performers are more likely to overestimate their skills because they lack the expertise to know what they don’t know. High performers, however, know they don’t know everything and are, therefore, more likely to underestimate their skills.

9. They Can Be Couch Potatoes

Geniuses don’t need to seek out activities for mental stimulation. Their active imaginations and problem-solving abilities mean they are perfectly content to get all the stimulation they need from the comfort of their own home.

And One Thing Geniuses Don’t Do…Waste Time

Exceptionally smart people focus on what they can change and accept what they can’t. They know that wasting time means missing out on opportunities.

9 Signs You’re Smarter Than Average and Three Signs You’re Not

Do you think you’re smarter than most of the population? Check out these signs to see if you make the cut or if you should go back to school. 

9 Signs You’re Smarter Than Average and Three Signs You’re Not

You May Think These Jobs Are Super Cool, but They Actually Stink

You never really know what a job is actually like unless you do it. The media and movies often sell romanticized versions of professions and leave out the bad and ugly processes involved. They might focus on these jobs that have excellent pay, have amazing slow-paced work environments, let you travel the world, or achieve your childhood goal. Whatever it is, the good side is not always the accurate and complete version of the job, as one internet post revealed.  

You May Think These Jobs Are Super Cool, but They Actually Stink

15 Legit Ways to Make Money in One Hour

Who wouldn’t like to find more ways to make some quick cash? Well, you’ve just hit the jackpot: here are fifteen tried and tested ways to build up some bank that takes sixty minutes or less.

15 Legit Ways to Make Money in One Hour