7 Easy (And Fun!) Exercises to Boost Your Creativity

NOTE: This is Collective Inkwell’s first guest post, written by Sherice Jacob of ielectrify.

Are you stuck wondering how you can even think OUTSIDE the box when you’re stuck IN the box?  Whether you’re tackling a difficult problem or are suffering from complete burnout, these seven creative exercises are guaranteed to spark your creativity and give you a lot more brain with a lot less storm!

1. Doodle! Did you know that our random, seemingly “mindless” doodles actually reflect what our subconscious mind is thinking about?  Doodling is a great way to get in touch with that innovative side of your brain, so grab a pen and paper and go for it.  It doesn’t matter if you can’t draw a stick-man, no one is judging your artistic creativity here.  Mull your problem over in your mind and start sketching out what comes to mind.  You might be facing a blank page at first, but eventually ideas will start to flow more readily.

If it helps, you can also discuss your problem with a friend or colleague and doodle while you talk about it.  Do this exercise with someone who isn’t in your immediate brainstorming circle – who possibly has never heard of the issue you’re trying to address.  Sometimes two heads are better than one – and you may find an innovative solution you never would’ve uncovered!

2. Write it Down – This is my personal favorite and the one I use constantly.  Just like with a diary, sometimes it really does help to get it all out and “on paper” (or screen).  Start writing about your problem.  Write how it makes you feel, how you hate being stuck, what you wish you’d rather be doing.

Don’t stop to analyze or edit your writing – just write!  After a few minutes of venting, you’ll not only feel better, but real ideas will start to stick their heads out as you clear out all the stress and mental clutter that’s been jamming up your creative pipes.

3. Ask the Dictionary – This is a sure-fire idea generator.  Open up a dictionary and choose a random word.  Now think of new ideas around that word.  What images come to mind when you think about the word?  For the purpose of this article, I tried this myself and the word I ended up on was “chemical”.  What comes to mind?  Harmony (or explosions), interactions, science, beakers, teamwork.  Try it yourself!

4. Candy + Classical Music – I once had a math teacher who swore this worked, and, being “mathematically challenged” myself, I can say that I really did do better on tests when she used this method on the class.  Pop a piece of hard candy and turn on some Bach or Mozart.  That burst of sugar goes right to your brain as “quick energy”  (but don’t overdo it or it will go straight to your thighs!) and there are countless studies attesting to the positive results of classical music.  Put the two together and see what happens!  Try this with point #1 or #2 above!

5. Mix Up Your Routine – Let’s be honest.  How many times have you gotten up and gotten ready for work and actually stopped to THINK about what you were doing that very minute?  Even something as routine as making a cup of coffee seems so “automatic” these days.

To help bust out of your rut, try something different every day – or even several times a day to get the full effect.  Drive a different route to or from work, brush your teeth with your other hand, buy a random magazine from your local bookstore on a topic you know nothing about and read it.  You’d be surprised at how this can “reset” your brain and give you more interesting points of view you might not have considered before!

6. Explore Your Senses – Sometimes we’re so burnt out by a problem, we forget that we’re concentrating too hard on it.  To help loosen up your creative muscles, take time out to do something small for yourself, but instead of just “going through the motions” of it, explore it with all your senses.  Take time to enjoy the touch and smell of something you’re eating, for example.  If you’re doing point #6 above, take in everything about the new part of your routine.  Is there something you enjoy more or less about it?  Why?

7. Watch Other People – Go to a busy area such as a mall and watch people. Consider what they might be thinking about and make up a life story for them.  What would you do if you were in their shoes right now?  You may discover that your “big” problem was actually rather trivial compared to what someone else is going through – which gives you a renewed boost of energy to tackle it again with a fresh new perspective!

Give these creativity tips a try for yourself and do them often.  Then watch as ideas start to come more easily and new innovations you may never have considered before suddenly appear when you’re “turned in.”  It works!

Sherice Jacob is a web designer, copywriter, and author of Get Niche Quick! You can follow her @Sherice

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