Staying Up, Messiness And Swearing Are Signs Of Major Intelligence
Hell yes, they are!
photographee.eu / Shutterstock For the first time in the history of forever, our moms were wrong. Well, maybe not in your history, but scientifically they are.
Growing up I'm sure we've all had shared experiences about being demanded to clean our rooms, getting yelled out for muttering "shit" under our breath, and forced into bed at 9 p.m. Some of us even lost money to the deplorable swear jar that was always on top of the refrigerator, waiting to eat up your dollar after a bad day.
Collectively our parents told us that these things were bad, and we had to learn not to do them. Or, at least not around them.
Well, a few recent studies determined that those hour-long lectures were kinda full of crap.
Science has finally given us something to take back to our parents that isn't a C on a report card. Recent studies have shown that people who swear a lot, stay up late, and have messy desks are actually more intelligent than most (a.k.a you do-gooders with tidy rooms and clean mouths who never missed curfew). Who would have thought?
So if you were always accidentally dropping the f-bomb in front of mom and dad, it's not because you're the cool rebel you thought you were. A study last year found that people who swear actually have a greater vocabulary than people who don't AND tend to be more confident. Fuck yeah. No wonder I start swearing more when I drink.
Messy rooms that were once a sign of a disorganized and unproductive life, may be seen as a sign of intelligence. A few years ago, researchers found that people who worked at a messy desk generated more interesting and creative ideas and a willingness to break out of unconventional norms. No one wants to be clean and tidy all the time.
So next time someone tells you to clean up, politely remind them that the week-old bag of Doritos on your desk is necessary for your creative brain.
And finally, scientific tests proved that night owls showed the kind of smarts that lead to prestigious job titles and higher incomes. In other words, things you can brag about at your next high school reunion when everyone remembers you as the kid who was always sleeping in second period.
So if your mom is STILL trying to give you shit for just being the badass, foul-mouthed, messy, late-night babe you are, then it might be time to send her back to science class. You have every right to feel confident for being just who you are. She raised you after all, so what does she have to complain about?
Emily Blackwood is a freelance writer, editor, and journalist who covers pop culture, travel, health, and wellness.