Brainiac or Just Another Introvert? Psychologists Find That Intelligent People Are Happier When They Socialize Less

It’s Saturday night, most of your friends are heading out to the coolest restaurants and bars in town to have some fun. Meanwhile, you are alone at home, in a cozy outfit and finishing up the latest project that you have been working on for the past few weeks. You start to wonder if you were born to be a loner, even though you do enjoy every single moment spent with your friends.

But every time if you have to make a choice between work and socializing, you would go for the former one. Achieving a goal or completing a task always triggers an unmatched sense of fulfillment and excitement in you.

So, is something wrong with you? Psychologists do not think so.

Psychologists believe such mentality could be a sign of high intelligence.

In February, Satoshi Kanazawa of the London School of Economics, together with Norman Li of Singapore Management University, published a research in the British Journal of Psychology, suggesting that,

More intelligent individuals experience lower life satisfaction with more frequent socialization with friends.(Li & Kanazawa, 2016)

To put it in a nutshell, exceptionally smart people may feel happier when they are less socially active. The team also looked into the correlation between the level of satisfaction, population density and IQ performance.

In contrast, in a county with high population density (937 persons/km2 , one standard deviation above the mean), more intelligent individuals had higher mean life satisfaction than less intelligent individuals did. (Li & Kanazawa, 2016)

Average people enjoy greater satisfaction living in rural areas than in densely populated cities. But for the really smart ones? They are urban dwellers.

The difference could be caused by our response to the ancestral environment.

A possible explanation for such differences between average people and brainiacs is the “savanna theory of happiness”. Coined by Kanazawa in 2014, the theory argues that despite the evolution in humans, some of our behaviors still respond to the ancestral environment.

In other words, as our ancestors lived in an environment where social interaction was essential to survival, we humans living in the modern society still prefer frequent socializing even it is no longer for the purpose of survival. But highly intelligent people are able to adapt to an environment that is vastly different from the ancestral one, as Kanazawa proposed in his 2004 study that intelligence is actually the capability for adapting to novel conditions.

Although the theory needs further study and development, it is reasonable to believe that there is a certain relation between one’s level of intelligence and the status of his/her social life. Here are the three ways of how they could be related:

1. You are intelligent if you are able to cope with loneliness.

While we can yet be certain about the savanna theory of happiness now, there is no doubt that humans are social animals. Social interactions make up a crucial part of our lives. But you do not put too great of an emphasis on social life and genuinely enjoy yourself, it may indicate your ability to overcome the urge to socialize that is hard-wired in us. Your brain could be operating in a way that is different from the rest of us!

2. You believe in your own abilities because you are intelligent.

As we are all social animals, frequent interaction with those who are close to us could mean a source of happiness and emotional support. Many of us may spend a lot of time socializing, trying to build bonds with one another. But if you firmly believe that you are capable of tackling most of the situations on life on your own, it implies that you have confidence in your abilities. As a result, you may not dedicate as much time in socializing as we do!

3. You understand the meaning of priority because your intelligence teaches you how.

Since social interaction is not your main source of happiness, you probably would put other things, such as your work, above socializing. Inside your head, you may have got a clear list of priorities. That could make you stand out from a lot of us, who believe that having an active social life is just as important as pursuing our goals and career. You may be identified as a high achiever who is goal-oriented and committed to advancing your career. After all, you could be one of those experts in time management!

So next time when you turn down an invitation to a house party because of work, there is no need to feel guilty, as that could just be your intelligent brain functioning!

Featured photo credit: https://stocksnap.io via snap-photos.s3.amazonaws.com

The post Brainiac or Just Another Introvert? Psychologists Find That Intelligent People Are Happier When They Socialize Less appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2f7esXL

If You Need To Summarize Life In Five Words, What Would It Be?

The post If You Need To Summarize Life In Five Words, What Would It Be? appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2ecZBpR

5 Hacks Everyone with Invisalign Needs to Know

Invisalign is a fantastic treatment for correcting orthodontic problems discreetly and transforming your smile. It can produce really impressive results and is growing in popularity.

Not only are they almost invisible, the aligners are much more comfortable than the traditional fixed braces, and as they can be taken out, they are also much less restrictive to your lifestyle. You can still eat whatever you want comfortably, and even take them out temporarily for big events such as weddings.

If you are embarking upon an Invisalign journey, or even if you are part way through, here are some tips to make the process easier.

1. Travel Toothbrushes Are Your Friend

Carry a travel toothbrush and toothpaste with you wherever you go, if possible, and brush your teeth after every meal. If you can’t brush them right after a meal, chew some sugar-free gum, and brush them as soon as you are able. This may seem inconvenient at first, but you will soon get used to it, and your dentist will be happy with you.

Patients who take good care to clean their teeth during Invisalign treatment are very unlikely to develop cavities.

You are also less likely to have problems with bad breath throughout the day if you are on top of your oral hygiene.

2. Switch Aligners At Night Time

When you are switching to your next set of aligners, consider changing them at night time. Take some ibuprofen, and you should be able to sleep through the initial adjustment process and avoid having to deal with any discomfort during the day time.

There isn’t usually pain between sets anyway, but particularly in the first few aligners there may be some discomfort, which can be minimised this way.

3. Look After Your Aligners

Put them in a glass of water with a denture cleaning tablet in the morning. This will help keep them fresh and clean, and combat morning breath. It also helps to keep them looking nice and clear, and avoid discolouration.

Don’t use toothpaste to brush them, as it contains abrasive ingredients. This can actually cause the aligners to build up stains and odours. If you want to brush them, just use water or a mild soap.

Always carry your case with you. Don’t wrap them in a napkin when you’re out for a meal, as the risk of accidentally throwing them away is too high and they are expensive to replace!

4. Watch What You Drink

Drink plenty of water. Keeping hydrated will help avoid problems such as bad breath, and stop your mouth feeling uncomfortable.

Don’t drink hot drinks such as tea or coffee with your Invisalign in, as you could warp them. Avoid drinks such as red wine that can stain the plastic. You don’t want your stained aligners to make your teeth look yellow.

If you drink alcohol with the aligners in, opt for clear coloured drinks, such as white wine, gin, or vodka.

Avoid sugary mixers and opt for soda or tonic instead. Not only do you risk decay, but they can make your teeth feel a bit furry and unpleasant if you drink soft drinks with your aligners in.

Always brush your teeth after drinking anything other than water. You don’t have to do it after every single drink, but ideally at the end of a night out or coffee break.

5. Wear Your Retainer

Always be prepared to wear retainers after you are finished with your Invisalign braces. If you’re investing hard earned cash into your smile, the last thing you want is for your teeth to move back to their original positions once you’ve got your braces off.

Make the most of being used to wearing your aligners regularly, and stick to wearing your retainers once you’ve finished your Invisalign treatment. You will regret it if you don’t!

Featured photo credit: cincismiles.com via cincismiles.com

The post 5 Hacks Everyone with Invisalign Needs to Know appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2dKmQLU

7 Cool Crowdfunding Projects That Might Make Your Life Easier

Do you have an amazing idea for a product, service or invention? Well, if you answered yes, then you’re in luck since it’s easier more than ever to get support and funding to make it happen. Nowadays, you don’t need to audition to be on Shark Tank or seek investors, funding can be accomplished organically by people who support your idea or invention or ‘your backers/pledgers’ through crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding has become the new norm for many entrepreneurs (or wantrepreneurs) and businesses today, with many successfully getting their start or a major financial push by doing so. It’s been said that the easiest way to start a business or generate a business idea is to solve a problem – or to enhance and make one’s life easier.

Check out below, seven cool crowdfunding projects, that are the perfect example and will probably make your life easier.

1. Ransomly

We’re living in an age where people cannot disconnect from their phones – they’re addicted! So, nine times out of ten, you’ve probably been a victim of ‘phubbing’, which is the act of being totally ignored in the company of a person (usually a friend, co-worker or relative) because they’re too occupied with their phone! Not to worry, since a cool, affordable new device/app might be the solution to it all.

Ransomly is an app/device that goes by the motto, ‘disconnect to reconnect.’ By using the app/device, it can make a room ‘app free’, giving the user the power to hold a device ‘ransom’, preventing the use of certain apps. This is perfect for situations when you’re out with your friends and actually want to hang out with them or for parents, hold your children’s phone apps ransom until they complete their chores! Ransomly is currently available on only Android and will go live via kickstarter on November 15.

2. Fanight

The Fanight by ITIWANT serves many purposes, however, the main ones are to make you look stylish, protect you from harmful UV rays and use all visible light to self-illuminate. No batteries or electrical charge needed!

All you need to do is expose the jacket to any kind of a visible light for 20 minutes and this jacket will illuminate for 2 hours! The jacket is made of special fabric which is sweat-absorbent, as well, features a built-in headphone port and can fold down to the size of your palm.

The Fanight crowdfunding campaign has been live less than a week, and is half way close to their funding goals, meaning you still have a chance to get the World’s first self-illumating jacket.

3. One X

Are you still struggling with your New Year’s Resolution to get more healthier or to lose weight?

It’s never too late, and might be accomplished without the guesswork and with One X. One X is the world’s first handheld sensor that monitors the impact of your diet and lifestyle on your health.

The handheld device analyzes your daily habits (in real time) to know what’s working and what’s not to make changes to benefit your short term and long term health.

4. Candwich

Have you ever seen something and thought, I had that idea?! Well, the Candwich is an idea that is genius, delicious and perfect for hungry folks on the go according to it’s crowdfunding page.

Candwich is a convenient sandwich in a can that comes in a variety of flavors, including old fashioned peanut butter and jelly, bacon cheddar, honey bbq chicken and chocolate filled french toast. Once funded, the masterminds behind

Once funded, the masterminds behind Candwich plan to not only come out with additional yummy flavors, however, partner with various charities to donate to people in need.

5. Hudly

We hear it all the time, ‘don’t text in drive’, or generally, don’t even use your phone while on the road to prevent legal penalties and accidents. If you’re having a hard time keeping your eyes away from your phone, Hudly just may be the solution for you.

Hudly uses a projector to display your phone’s video output onto a transparent glass positioned on the car’s windshield. This means you can enjoy and use apps such as Google Maps or Waze, in your line of sight. No looking down or being distracted while driving, and perfect if you are a Uber or Lyft driver.

6. Blincam

Another cool item that wants you to truly be in the moment comes from Tokyo, Japan, called Blincam. This lightweight device attaches to one side of your glasses and you’re able to snap a photo (or two) with a simple wink of your eye!

Images that you capture will be transferred to your smartphone for sharing later. The crowdfunding campaign has been successfully crowd funded, however, you still have some time to reserve yours!

7. Maneuver Buddy

Whether you’re moving into your new home or for work, let’s face it, it’s a time consuming task that can be a hassle. If you despise moving like many others, you’re going to love Maneuver Buddy or ‘the uber of moving.’

Maneuver Buddy is a web and mobile app that allows users to hire other users in the area for their moving and pickup needs, both large and small. In addition, the users can not only help you transport your items, but also user can hire “organizers” who can help you pack, set-up, and even redesign your home! The crowdfunding campaign has only a few weeks left, so if you love the idea, get moving and go support it.

The post 7 Cool Crowdfunding Projects That Might Make Your Life Easier appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2dKlCQD

5 Tips To Make Your Bathroom Stand Out to Buyers

One of the rooms that can make or break the sale of your home is the bathroom. You can sell your home more quickly if you can create a bathroom that appeals to potential buyers. This means you will need to stage the space, at a minimum, or possibly put in some real elbow grease.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are some tips that are sure to help you sell your house fast!

1. Clean Everything

Your first step to creating a bathroom that potential buyers will be excited about is to make sure every nook and cranny is as clean as possible. This often requires more than your standard weekly cleaning, as you want to make sure there is nothing left that could deter buyers from making an offer. This can include wiping underneath your toilet tank, cleaning pipes under sinks, giving the walls a once over, and completely scrubbing all grout.

It is best to assume that a potential buyer will look absolutely everywhere. So look inside, under, and around every fixture and make sure there isn’t something unappealing. A few hairs stuck to the surface of the shower or bathtub can be visually unappealing, so make sure they are gone.

2. Replace What Can’t Be Cleaned

In some cases, such as with grout, you may find it easier to replace it instead of clean it. The same can go for bathroom rugs, towels, and shower curtains. While replacing items can be a bigger financial investment, it is better to spend the money than to leave the bathroom looking dingy.

3. Don’t Shy Away from Paint

If your paint has seen better days, this is another area where simply repainting can be preferable. Most bathrooms won’t require a lot of paint to coat the walls, so the investment is often quite reasonable. If your bathroom walls aren’t currently a neutral color, then you may want to even change the color when you repaint. Another thing you may consider painting to give the bathroom more of an uplift is your bathtub. Many bathtubs may have a few stains or discolorations that may be unappealing to look at. The bathtub can be easily fixed and can bring up your bathrooms appearance drastically.

4. Stage It Like A Spa

Now that everything is clean, it is time to consider how to stage your bathroom. It is easy for potential buyers to feel uncomfortable peering into your bathroom. To help them get past that initial reaction, you need to make the space look inviting. The easiest design to mimic for staging is anything that brings to mind a spa-like experience. Focus on soft colors and natural accent pieces. Wood, plants, and stones can work incredibly well. Candles are also a popular choice, though make sure the scent isn’t overpowering

Invest in sets of white towels simply for display. This helps increase the spa feel and makes the space seem cleaner, as most people equate bright white linens with cleanliness. You also want to make sure all bathroom supplies are in containers, and not just strewn about the counter. Additionally, anything that can be (neatly) put into a cabinet or drawer likely should be.

5. Keep Function With Form

Feel free to leave a few bathroom basics out as long as they are attractive. For example, a hand soap in its plastic supermarket dispenser does not have a lot of visual appeal. However, a glass dispenser with a nice pump can be very attractive and functions as a nice accessory. Focus on creating a space that speaks to idea of relaxation, and you likely can’t go wrong.

The post 5 Tips To Make Your Bathroom Stand Out to Buyers appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2ffgch4

Designing the Superior Man: 15 Powerful Qualities (Part 1)

This is Part One (of Three) describing 15 qualities of the ideal man. Each part will discuss 5 key qualities to embrace in order to design the superior man.

As a father to a beautiful two-year-old girl and a husband to an amazing woman, I am constantly seeking out ways to improve myself. There are a number of books and articles describing how to be a better man, however, there is one book that stands above the rest as the guide to being the ideal man or a Randian Hero – this book is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

In this fantastic novel, Howard Roark is the hero. He is a brilliant and innovative architect who never compromises or deviates from his principles. Just as a man similar to Roark in today’s society, he is criticized and persecuted by people who are willing to compromise personal integrity. Where Roark does not attempt to influence people, his enemies practice the art of manipulation and use their ability to control the weak. These people represent the parasites of the world and they exist all around us.

In order to be a better man, we can use Roark as our example of what every man should strive to become. Using examples from The Fountainhead and similar books, we can identify key traits of superior men. Here are the first five qualities of the ideal man.

1. Squash the Parasite

“No man can give another the capacity to think.” – Ayn Rand

Superior men move the world forward. Nothing is given to them, they ferociously work for everything they have. Ayn Rand described two types of men: those who survive by the independent work of his own mind or as a parasite fed by the minds of others. Strong men do not need others, where a parasite needs others and feeds off them like a leech.

Parasites fear strong and powerful men. They will never confront you but will use manipulation tactics to attack you behind your back. I work with a large number of them and have been attacked by multiple. These parasites feel entitled and push their work off on others, yet, still attempt to take credit.

I am a leader under attack in my organization. Those parasites I work with are peers and others in superior rank. I am not afraid to confront them. When I do, they use tactics you would expect from a cockroach. Recently, I had a couple of them use these tactics in an attempt to remove me from my post.

2. Start Counting When it Hurts

“I only start counting when it starts hurting, when I feel pain, that’s when I start counting, cause that’s when it really counts.” – Muhammed Ali

This quote was in response to a question directed at Muhammed Ali when he was asked how many sit-ups he could do. He provided the perfect response!

Superior men are black belts in the mind and body. They do not fear to attempt new things, even if those things leave them feeling awkward or embarrassed. These elite men are not afraid to enter the arena and do not start thinking about success until it hurts.

One of our greatest leaders once said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who at best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.” – Theodore Roosevelt (excerpt from Daring Greatly by Brene Brown)

3. Stop Caring

“Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings, and emotions.” – Will Smith

You can interpret #3 in two ways: stop caring about anything and give up, or you can use the correct interpretation and stop caring so much about what other people think of you.

Superior men take control of their life. It is an amazing feeling when you simply stop caring about what other people think. Start eliminating things in your life that do not matter, that add no value. Focus only on the things and people that add value to your life. In fact, immediately stop communicating with people who add no value, purposely ignore these parasites who try to bring you down. Be candid with these people if you do have to acknowledge them. If they ask you a question or confront you (in person, on the phone, or electronically) either ignore them or provide a simple response, regardless of the intent of the conversation – “No” – this is the perfect response.

4. Fight For and Defend Your Family

“The first rule about fight club is you don’t talk about fight club… The second rule about fight club is you don’t talk about fight club.” – Chuck Palahniuk

Just to be clear, I am not advocating the reenactment of the movie Fight Club (as fun as that might be), however, you must know how to fight and defend yourself. You do not have to become the next Jean-Claude Van Damme or Bruce Lee, but you must know enough to protect those you love. A man who cannot physically defend his family is not a man. That comment may rub some of you the wrong way, but I don’t care (see #3 and #5).

If your wife or daughter were in danger, could you live with yourself if you failed to defend them? Even if you attempted to defend them, could you? If you answered “No” then you need to man up and start training.

Women desire a man who is confident and not afraid to kick the crap out of someone if needed. They want a man who will defend them and treat them with respect. The ultimate man will fight for his wife and family when needed, yet treat his wife with the chivalrous respect she deserves… rewards will come!

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Piss People Off

“The secret to success is to offend the greatest number of people.” – George Bernard Shaw

Strong and confident men have a profound impact on people. They project confidence through their appearance, the way they speak their mind, and through bold innovations. Confident people propel the world forward. These people are also not afraid to piss people off. These men are assertive, candid, and they take risks.

High performing men are not afraid to break the rules… after all, rules are put into place so we can work around them. By possessing an unlimited confidence and not caring about pleasing other people, these men live for their own success. They do not allow or wait for other people to determine their success – if that means pissing people off on their way up, then so be it.

Featured photo credit: IMDB via imdb.com

The post Designing the Superior Man: 15 Powerful Qualities (Part 1) appeared first on Lifehack.

from Lifehack http://ift.tt/2ffhB7h