But intelligent women are not born that way. But smart women aren’t born that way.

Intelligence is more than just genetics and luck.

Habits, daily practices, and other things you do on a regular basis compound over time to form what people consider to be “smartness.”

I am not referring to IQ tests or the number of degrees you have.

I am talking about practical intelligence. 

The kind that helps you manage your life, make better decisions, accumulate wealth, and become someone who people want to listen to.

And if you’re willing to develop these habits, you can be that woman as well.

The one who walks into a room and everyone thinks, “She has it together.”

Here’s how smart women actually get smart.

7 Habits of Very Smart Women

Everyone aspires to be “that “girl”—the one who appears to have it all together and is sharp, knowledgeable, successful, and impressive.

1. They Read Like Their Life Depends on It, and It Does.

Wise women read. Smart women read.

Like, constantly and obsessively.

Not because it’s fashionable or appealing, but because reading is how you stay informed and knowledgeable.

I’ve been a bookworm my entire life.

Despite motherhood’s attempts to destroy my reading habit and social media’s demands for my attention, I still make time to read.

Reading is essential for developing intelligence.

Reading is more than just entertainment.

This is how you:

• Learn what you don’t know.
• Stay current and informed.
• Understand perspectives beyond your experience.
• Increase vocabulary and communication skills.
• Develop critical thinking.

Smart women speak with authority because they have a wealth of knowledge to share.

They add value to conversations because they have read about topics beyond their immediate experience. They contribute meaningfully to conversations because they’ve read about topics beyond their immediate experience.

The way people speak, the depth of their thoughts, and the quality of their contributions reveal who reads and who does not.

Because you cannot give what you don’t have.

You cannot withdraw from your knowledge bank unless you have filled it.

However, the majority of people dislike reading or are unable to maintain consistency.

So here’s how to actually develop the habit:

Read whatever interests you.

If you’re bored with the books everyone says you should read, don’t force yourself to read them.

Begin with topics you care about. Fiction, romance, finance, or whatever.

Just start reading.

You can read anywhere.

Don’t wait for the ideal reading spot and three hours of uninterrupted time.

Read in the restroom (I do my best reading there, honestly).

Read while on the bus. Read on the bus.

While you’re waiting in line, read.

Audiobooks also count.

Always have books available.

Ebooks on your phone provide you with a portable library.

There are no excuses.

Reading is not a gift or talent.

It’s a discipline, and discipline entails doing the right thing even when you don’t want to.

That’s what distinguishes intelligent women from everyone else. That’s what separates smart women from everyone else.

They are willing to adopt habits that others will not. They’re willing to cultivate habits that others won’t.

2. They Manage Their Time Like Money.

A white ceramic mug with coffee on top of a planner

Time is the only resource you can’t get more of. Time is the only resource you can’t get more of.

Smart women understand this and treat time as if it were precious.

They don’t simply go with the flow and hope things work out.

They plan, set goals with deadlines, and track how they spend their time.

Because if you don’t manage your time, others will.

Your job will take it, as will social media and other people’s priorities.

And you’ll come to the end of the week, month, or year wondering where all your time went and why you haven’t accomplished anything significant.

Smart women understand where their time goes.

They identified and eliminated time-wasters.

They decline opportunities that do not align with their goals.

That is how they accomplish so much while others are “busy” but unproductive.

3. They Network Strategically, Not Just Socially.

Smart women understand that your network equals your net worth. Smart women understand that your network is your net worth.

They don’t just make friends; they form strategic relationships with other intelligent women, industry professionals, and mentors who are already where they want to be.

Because you cannot rise above your associations.

If everyone else is mediocre, comfortable, or unambitious, you’ll follow suit.

Smart women are not afraid of other successful women.

In fact, they are energized by them.

They seek them out and build relationships that push them to the next level.

They recognize that “iron sharpens iron” and “birds of a feather flock together” are more than just catchphrases; they are reality.

Your five closest relationships will shape your future, and intelligent women choose them carefully.

4. They Make Constant Investments in Themselves.

Smart women never believe they have “arrived.” Smart women never think they’ve “arrived.”

There is always something new to learn.

A skill to develop, a weakness to improve, and knowledge to acquire.

That’s why they take classes, hire coaches, attend conferences, read books outside of their comfort zone, and push themselves to improve.

The world changes quickly, and if you don’t keep developing, you’ll become obsolete.

They do not wait for their employers to invest in them.

They invest in themselves because they understand it’s the best investment they’ll ever make.

5. They’re financially disciplined (even when they’re wealthy).

You can’t be smart if you don’t know how to handle money. You can’t be smart if you’re stupid with money.

Period.

Smart women do not play games with their money.

They:

• Save consistently.
• Invest wisely.
• Spend intentionally.
• Track where their money goes.
• Live below their means, even if they could afford more.

They aren’t trying to impress anyone with designer labels or luxurious lifestyles if they would jeopardize their financial security.

They understand that looking rich and being rich are not the same thing, and they would rather be wealthy than appear wealthy.

Financial discipline is not deprivation.

It’s about prioritizing and building wealth rather than simply spending money.

Smart women understand that money provides options, freedom, and security.

And they are unwilling to give up that for fleeting pleasures or other people’s approval.

6. They Think Before Acting and Speaking.

Smart women are deliberate; they avoid making rash decisions or saying things they will later regret.

They consider consequences, outcomes, and options.

They recognize that most problems stem from acting without thinking.

So they meditate, reflect, process, and give themselves time to think before committing.

And when they make a decision, it is informed and thoughtful.

That is why people trust their own judgment because it is reliable.

 

7. They Understand When Human Wisdom Isn’t Enough.

Here’s where I’ll lose some people, but it’s too important not to say:

The smartest women I know all have one thing in common: they are connected to something greater than themselves. The smartest women I know all have something in common—they’re connected to something bigger than themselves.

That, to me, is God. Divine intelligence. Spiritual guidance.

Because human intelligence has limitations.

There are some things you cannot figure out on your own.

Problems that cannot be solved with logic.

Situations in which you require wisdom beyond yourself.

Smart women understand this and do not rely solely on their own knowledge.

They pray and seek divine guidance.

They understand that there is more to life than what is visible.

This is not about being religious; it is about being spiritual and acknowledging that some of life’s most difficult questions require wisdom that cannot be obtained through books or experience.

The smartest thing you can do is admit when you need help from others.

Connect to the limitless source of wisdom.