Stimulate Creativity in Yourself and Others

A few exercises and thoughts on being more creative:


1. Think of and write down as many uses as possible for an everyday object or define the function of something and then find other things that do or could perform a similar function.


2. Given a stack of similar shapes like squares or triangles, make as many things out of them as possible


3. Given an unfinished shape like an incomplete triangle or circle or stick house etc. complete the image.


4. Given three unrelated words try to discover a fourth that would connect all three.


5. Choose a random object word and connect it with a problem. Can this be used to solve or elaborate on the problem?


6. Six Thinking Hats - view a problem from different perspectives:

a. Managing - what is the subject? what are we thinking about? what is the goal?

b. Information - considering purely what information is available, what are the facts?

c. Emotions - intuitive or instinctive gut reactions or statements of emotional feeling (but not any justification)

d. Discernment - logic applied to identifying reasons to be cautious and conservative

e. Optimistic response - logic applied to identifying benefits, seeking harmony

f. Creativity - statements of provocation and investigation, seeing where a thought goes


7. Don't judge things right away, let them stew before making a conclusion


8. If you can't follow what makes you curious when it happens, take note of your own questions to be investigated later


9. Make mistakes and learn from failures, both yours and others, sound out crazy or absurd ideas


10. Make sure to define problems correctly, dissect the problem.


11. What can be modified, rearranged, and/or removed to fix something or find a solution?


12. Re-frame ideas within another context or situation.


13. Ask why something is done the way it’s done.


14. Challenge traditional views and constantly ask "What if" or "Why not"


15. Create new mindsets by being open to new experiences like new foods, tastes, music, arts, languages, crafts, fields of study, exercises, sports, locations.





Some material gathered from:

Todd Anderson, http://99u.com/articles/7160/test-your-creativity-5-classic-creative-challenges

Saga Briggs, From: http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/divergent-thinking/#ixzz3HgRpFnKW

Edward de Bon and Wikipedia "Six Thinking Hats"

Science Channel - "Hack My Brain"