One of life’s greatest mysteries is the origin of extraordinary intelligence. Is it really genetic or just an acquired trait? Are creative geniuses born smart or are they made that way by environmental factors?
Whatever the answer is, one cannot deny that some men have walked this earth, and some are still among us, who think differently and operate at a level far higher than the rest of us pedestrians.
Thankfully, there are a couple of interesting habits of some famous geniuses that regular folks like us can adopt (with caution) and hopefully, we too can start doing awesome stuff and exhibiting genius-level performances.
Take Notes Like Leonardo Da Vinci
The artist always carried a notebook (a smartphone will be more appropriate in 2015) everywhere he went, noting down his thoughts and ideas about life, jokes, fables, financial records, and even theories on anatomy, flight, and botany.
Be Out And About Like Pablo Picasso
Much of the painter’s inspiration came from outside his studio. He was well known for spending hours in the dance halls, brasseries, cafés, and galleries of Paris, soaking in his environment and letting the world around him be his muse.
Drink Coffee Like Honoré de Balzac
The French author who published several masterpieces during the 1800’s drank as many as 50 cups of coffee a day as he worked! (Other notable coffee addicts include the likes Marcel Proust, Sir Francis Bacon, and Jean-Paul Sartre)
WARNING: Caffeine is a powerful ‘drug’. Unless it’s LOVE, every addiction is a bad thing.
Sleep All Day, Work All Night Like Marcel Proust
Proust slept in until 4 o’clock in the afternoon, ate a breakfast of croissants and coffee, and wrote late into the night. Maybe waking up early morning to hustle with the rest of humanity is actually a hindrance to deep creative thinking.
Be A Pack Rat Like Andy Warhol
The “pop art” pioneer was a notorious pack rat. He was known for hoarding things such as stamps, souvenirs, photos, food, and all kinds of random items in a cardboard box that sat next to his desk. Many of these items inspired him to create great art worth millions today.
Take Quick Naps Like Salvador Dali
The surrealist painter took “micro naps” that lasted no longer than one quarter of a second (huh?). He would usually hold a metal key, so that when he drifted off, he’d drop the key on a plate, and the noise would wake him up immediately. This practice supposedly gave him a sudden surge in creativity. Now, Dali’s micro-napping style may be a little extreme, but afternoon and evening naps always help in assimilation and creative thinking.
Stand On Your Head Like Igor Stravinsky
This legendary Russian composer would stand on his head when he felt creative block. He believed the act helps “clear the brain”, leaving his mind open to create more masterpieces.
WARNING: Ensure you protect your neck by keeping a cushion / soft mattress nearby.
Avoid Sex and Romance Like Nikola Tesla
A man of many eccentricities, Tesla was known to work from 9am – 3am every day, never sleeping for more than 2 hours! He was also celibate and had no known lover, apart from a strange relationship with an injured female pigeon!
Tesla never married, believing that his chastity was very helpful to his scientific abilities.
Brainstorm Underwater Like Yoshiro Nakamatsu
The Japanese inventor loves to think underwater, staying without oxygen till he is 0.5 seconds away from dying, at which point he usually “visualizes” great inventions. He also thinks in a strange room he likes to call “The Calm Room”, tiled with 24-karat gold, which he believes blocks out radio and TV waves that affect his thinking.
Photos from Biography.com, Teslasociety & Technoccult.net