“Material for our work surrounds us at every turn. It’s woven into conversation, nature, chance encounters, and existing works of art… You might imagine that the outside world is a conveyor belt with a stream of small packages on it, always going by. The first step is to notice the conveyor belt is there. And then, anytime you want, you can pick up one of those packages, unwrap it, and see what’s inside.” – Rick Rubin
Creativity is a fundamental component of human cognition that enhances various professional domains, including engineering, the arts, mathematics, architecture, writing, medicine, dance, carpentry, and computer science. Regardless of one’s career path, innovative thinking plays a crucial role in driving advancements and fostering novel discoveries. The cultivation of creativity can thus be seen as essential for success across all disciplines.
I personally love to seek out creativity exercises that can be performed anytime and anywhere, as they offer a flexible way to stimulate imaginative thinking in everyday life. Engaging in these activities not only enhances problem-solving skills but also promotes mental well-being by allowing us to break free from routine patterns of thought. Creativity is a habit. Whether it’s brainstorming new ideas during a walk or using mindfulness techniques to spark inspiration, these exercises can be integrated into daily routines, making creativity an accessible resource for personal and professional growth.
In my class, I utilize a slide show that showcases a variety of creativity-inspiring activities, some of which are conducted collaboratively with the group, while others encourage individual exploration. If students would like to revisit these exercises, they are listed below with abbreviated directions. Readers of the blog can feel free to try them as well.
1. Set Limits to Unleash Creativity (Ernest Hemingway Style)
Your Turn:
- Write a story using only 6 words
- Pick a completely different topic and write another story
- Still time? Do it again!
Sometimes endless possibilities can feel overwhelming, and it’s hard to make choices. Making decisions when you are being creative can be helped by setting some limits. For example, setting limits forces you to be decisive and take action. Ernest Hemingway is a famous writer who had an exercise where he would challenge himself to write a complete story using only six words. Sometimes these six words would turn into a powerful title. Sometimes they would just be a short story, almost like a poem.
2. What Would — Do? (Seek Inspiration and Role Models)
Your Turn:
- Think of a creative person you look up to
- Imagine how they would behave for the day
- Where do they go?
- What creative thing do they do?
- What books do they read or what exercises do they do?
- Draw yourself doing these things (or try to recreate a piece of artwork/song of theirs)
Act like someone who inspires you. We learn quickly when we try to do what someone else is doing. For example a lot of us look at our parents or our caregivers in order to learn what to do each day. I bet you didn’t think of brushing your teeth on your own or tying your shoes on your own. First someone did it with you! For this exercise, think of someone you want to be like or someone who has made art or music that you like and enjoy. Spend time thinking about how they did it and how you could do it too.
3. If Your Shoes Could Talk (Change Perspective For Instant Creativity)
Your Turn:
- Write yourself a quick letter from the perspective of your shoes
- Where have they been?
- Where do they want to go?
- Do they like where they take you each day?
- Do they think they are treated well?
- Do they want to be used more or less?
Writing ourselves a note from our shoes involves changing our perspective. In this case we’re not trying to see the point of view of someone else, we’re trying to see the point of view of our own shoes. This is going to help you notice or think about things you normally wouldn’t notice or think about even though your feet are with you all the time.
4. Help Others (University of Missouri Research)
Your Turn:
- Think of a friend or family member who has a problem (or a project they are working on).
- Brainstorm ways you could offer help.
- Make a list of useful ideas you could show them
Researchers have found that our modern-day brains grew to be the size they are because of social problem-solving.
- We think of what others might do.
- We think of what others might say.
- We think of how others might react to us.
All of these have allowed humans to have exceptional mental gifts. Sometimes we can even understand what is going on in other people’s minds (on a good day). In this activity, we will step away from our own perspective and our own problems in order to think of someone else. As we try to see from someone else’s perspective how we can help them, it might help us gain perspective on our own creative activity.
5. Build Links With Words (eg. Howard Jones Study With Fish, Paper, Wheel)
Your Turn:
- Find one word in a book/magazine/poster nearby
- I will find a different word!
- Let’s discuss until you find a way the two words could be connected.
- Our brains love to connect random associations!
Your Turn:
- Connect a beginning and an ending.
- Have a partner read the first sentence of their book, you read the last sentence of yours.
- Can you connect it with a new creative story?
- It’s OK if it’s absurd! The stranger the better!
“Build Links With Words” is a creative exercise inspired by Howard Jones’s study, which examines the connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, such as a fish, paper, and a wheel. This activity encourages participants to explore how these diverse elements can be linked through imaginative associations and narrative thinking. By engaging in this exercise, individuals can enhance their cognitive flexibility, foster innovative problem-solving skills, and uncover new perspectives that transcend conventional boundaries. The process not only stimulates creativity but also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in generating novel ideas.
6. Think Big to Small (Experience an Object Differently by Looking For Details)
Your Turn:
- Find a picture you like and have seen before
- Make the longest list you possibly can of small details in the picture
- Focus on colors, shapes, shadows, textures, etc.
- Did you notice anything new?
We all go through our days without noticing tiny details that make up a large picture. If we stopped to notice the details of what we’re looking at, we will make discoveries about something. You can do this outside too. Sit on a hill overlooking your town and you’ll see roads and buildings. But look harder and you might see the street lights or maybe a glass window or maybe even a window sill and colors or the movement of a truck. Breaking something down smaller helps us understand reality better.
7. Write a Mock Interview (Be Both Sides to Stretch Your Thinking)
Your Turn:
- Think of a famous artist, performer, sports hero, or favorite person who has passed away
- Brainstorm 5 open-ended questions for them
- What do you like most about….?
- What is the hardest part of….?
- Who, what, where, when, why…
- Then try to answer the questions as them
Conversations usually arise as a back and forth between you and another person. Oftentimes it is very hard to read that other person’s thoughts! Sometimes you can use an imaginary interview to look at things from a new perspective. Since the interview here is made up (it’s a mock interview), you will get to see both sides of whatever you decide to write about. Developing this skill can help you be a better writer, especially if you have characters in your stories who are very different from one another.
Go Deeper/Resources:
Book – Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills by David Sherwin
Book – The Creativity Challenge by Tanner Christensen
Book – The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
Posted in Creative Thinking, Reading/Writing
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