It seems like every year there’s a new niche hobby that people brag about on social media. Mahjong and crochet have both had their time in the spotlight, along with pickleball and various fitness trends. But women with a high IQ often have a different view of their hobbies.
For highly intelligent women, hobbies are about much more than something that looks good on their social media timelines. They know that Having an authentic hobby is a great way to build happiness. And they don’t care what anyone else thinks of their favorites.
The niche interests of women with high IQ that average people their age usually don’t even take into account:
1. History
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Being interested in history and learning about different cultures increases our tangible intelligence, something women with a high IQ already know. But what they really like about history is how it helps people understand their current place in the world.
In many ways, an interest in history can help mediate the stresses of today’s world. None of this is new, even though it is in new packaging. It reminds us that the same things we’re experiencing have already happened, which means we can learn from those mistakes (or successes) and make the world a better place.
2. Travel to little-known places
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There are so many reasons why smart women love to travel, and they don’t just stop at the hotspots. They explore small towns in their own country and content they have never visited before. They visit places where few people speak their language, and they find a way to make it work.
That’s because traveling opens up a world of learning opportunities. Meeting new people teaches us about other cultures, how different we are while we are all motivated by the same things.
Women with high IQs also take the opportunity to practice navigating unfamiliar environments and doing new things. This helps them stay mentally flexiblekeeping them sharp for years to come.
3. Reading
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While reading books used to be an almost universal experience for adults, people who read for pleasure are becoming increasingly rare. Women who are still passionate about books are unique and very intelligent.
Research not only shows that reading offers the opportunity to grow and learn it also protects brain health well into old age.
That is why highly intelligent women who read learn more and entertain themselves with a healthy form of entertainment, they keep themselves interesting. There’s always something to talk about with an avid reader!
4. Volunteer work
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While you may be a young woman now, everyone is getting older and will (hopefully!) reach our older years one day. That’s why so many highly intelligent women focus on niche interests that others might overlook, like volunteer work.
According to a study of Geriatric Nursingthere is a positive relationship between cognition and intelligence and the practice of volunteering. In addition to all the social benefits that come from helping others, experiencing new environments and perspectives keeps people sharp and connected to others.
5. All kinds of different types of culture
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People who are interested in culture tend to have a better idea of what’s going on in the world, which keeps them interested (and therefore more interesting to others!).
Whether it’s pop culture or world cultures from an anthropological perspective, they stay informed and continue to learn new things about people and humanity.
Learning about culture can help people with high IQs stay connected and have something to talk about with just about anyone. This helps them keep relationships interesting and gives them the opportunity to make new friends.
Furthermore, these intelligent women do not feed into our culture of ‘otherness’ because they know that there is not just one right or right way to be.
6. Debates and in-depth conversations
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Conversational intelligence, the ability to effectively communicate our thoughts and feelings to others, helps strengthen our relationships. It too contributes to our emotional well-being. Women with a high IQ love communication, even if it is a good-natured debate.
Whether it’s a personality trait or a facet of their education or work, women who enjoy debates are also more intelligent. Studies even show that debating can improve critical thinking, communication, and overall team and collaboration skills.
Intelligent women know how valuable these skills are, so it’s no wonder they enjoy deep and analytical conversations.
7. Art
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Whether enjoying art museums or creating works of art of their own, women who are exceptionally smart love to look at art and think about the meaning and intention behind it.
According to a study published in Intelligenceintelligence and creativity are linked. Intelligent women have an innate curiosity about life and a general curiosity about people and how they think. They know that art and other creative expressions are a great way to learn more about people and humanity.
8. Collecting things
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Very intelligent women often have small niche collections. Some collect vintage toys, while others may have a more esoteric interest, such as first editions of classic pulp novels. Some collect antiques do this to feel connected to historyspecific communities, or even their families in profound ways.
Collecting things is a great way to feel a small, minor purpose in life. No, it won’t change the world or give your life a sense of meaning, but it can offer a small perspective on success. For example, finding a little piece of sea glass to add to the bowl on your counter on a bad day can be a bright spot, and those little things go a long way.
9. Video games
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People who grew up playing video games are said to have benefits as adults, including better cognition a study published by the National Institute of Health. When combined with a healthy amount of IRL activity and interactions, video games can help kids get smarter to mitigate the effects of too much time on a screen.
If continued into adulthood, video games can be a de-stressing activity, which is why so many women with high IQs love them. Whether they’re played on your phone, console, or computer, a passion for video games can be a good thing.
10. Gardening
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While not everyone starts out with a passion for plants, many women with high IQs fall completely in love with the hobby when they get the chance to dive into the world of gardening. To get good at it, one must be curious, willing to adapt when necessary, and committed to always learning more, and these are things that highly intelligent women really enjoy.
A study published in Clinical medicine found that tending plants and growing food is associated with better cognitive and physical outcomes. It also gives people time to get outside and spend time somewhere away from screens.
11. Board games
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People associate chess as the game most people with a high IQ play, but the benefits of playing games extend far beyond this classic. According to a study published by PLOS OnePlaying board games can improve intelligence, cognitive skills such as memory, communication and social performance.
When games involving friends and family become a regular part of a person’s routine, they stay connected to the people they love while distancing themselves from habits that drain them emotionally. After all, spending time with people you love and doing something challenging makes you less likely to doomscroll or become isolated.
The smartest women know the value of having passions. They know that their lives are better when they have something to look forward to, which is why they develop so many diverse (and sometimes even niche) interests.
Zayda Slabbekoorn is a staff writer with a bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy and gender studies, focusing on psychology, relationships, self-help, and human interest stories.
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