Creativity is needed to solve complex problems and it leads us to many new inspirational ideas that can change our life.
Here a few activities you can do even within a short time to deploy creative thinking:
- Doodling With Purpose
Draw on a sheet of paper a random shape. Keep adding to it. Give the thing a name. Rotate the doodle 180 degrees and give it another name. Repeat. In this way you are forcing your brain to see things differently.
2. Do Something Boring Or Tedious
Tidy a desk or a drawer, wash and dry some dishes, sweep or vacuum the floor — research shows that if we do something boring our brains want to get busy with something else — it’s why we sometimes have surprising ideas at such times.
3. Make Lists Of Opposites
Make a list of opposites of the thing you want to resolve — another way to force the brain to consider difference. For example, if you’re fixated on finding a name for something; describe it in a word or two and then list as many opposites to that idea as you can.
4. Play Music You Don’t Love
Make a playlist on your device of the music you have played the least. You liked it enough to load it there, but by playing less familiar music you’re forcing your brain into a place that is less known and therefore more like to encourage creative thinking.
5. Use All Five Senses
Use all five senses to describe any object on your desk — be prepared this may get you some funny looks from co-workers. Examine an everyday object by using all five senses (preferably something that is clean if you’re going to taste it).
6. Flip Through Different Magazines
Take a few random magazines and just flip through it, e. g. Interior-, fashion- , sports- , art- and agriculture magazine (make sure there are different types of magazines). You will be surprised about new ideas you suddenly get by just looking at random things.
7. Listen Or Watch With Purpose
Listen or watch EVERYTHING and notice patterns. The simple act of hyper observation forces the brain to concentrate and notice things it normally glosses over.
8. Stare Off Into Space On Purpose
Master the art of focusing off in the distance and emptying your mind. Be careful this can be addictive and may be frowned on by the boss. But it can allow the mind freedom to wander to unexpected places.
