Actions To Increase Your Creative Thinking (And Unstick You Too...)

Tuesday 2nd March 2010 | 4 comments

Last week's post on asking questions to develop your curiosity seems to have struck a chord (thanks for all the emails and comments...). So I thought I'd follow up with the other half, which is about actions you can take to stimulate your creative thinking. These also work brilliantly to help you get unstuck when the inspiration dries up or your project is just going round and round in circles.

In my 4 Cornerstones model, these fit in 'Make Connections'. It's about linking something that was previously unconnected to your idea - some would say that this is in fact the essence of creative thinking.

You can't lose with these actions - it's not often you see business advice suggesting you visit a café or watch kids' TV. (Oh, and if you can't find a real alien for number 6, just pick someone from a very different field or with a perspective unlike your own...)

Here they are:

  1. Draw a picture of your project.
  2. Spend the next 10 minutes daydreaming.
  3. Spend the next 10 minutes listening to music.
  4. Phone a friend.
  5. Model your project in plasticine.
  6. Describe your project to an alien.
  7. Visit a local café: link something there to your project.
  8. Pick a random image: link it to your project
  9. Pick a random word: link it to your project
  10. Pick a random object: link it to your project
  11. Discuss your project with an expert from another field.
  12. Discuss your project with a 10 year-old child.
  13. Watch kids' TV for at least 30 minutes.
  14. Build a prototype of your project / act it out / make an ad for it.
  15. Find 30 minutes uninterrupted time TODAY to work on your project.
  16. List 5 people who support your project...and 5 people who don't.
  17. Imagine your ideal creative environment - place, circumstances, people, resources, support...
  18. Create a vision for your finished project - see it, describe it, feel it, taste it, know what is will be like.
  19. Write about your project for the next 10 minutes: don't stop
  20. Spend 10 minutes every day this week thinking about your project.
  21. List 5 ways you are procrastinating: do something about one of them NOW.
  22. List 5 ways you could simplify your project.

Any other ideas? What works for you?

Tags: thinking, creativity, tips, actions

Comments

  1. That is certainly quite a comprehensive list. For me I have to have completed all those things which are making me procrastinate and giving me the excuse not to work (within reason). Once done, with a coffee in hand, I just sit down and commence the project. The initial ideas may not reflect the final result but it is a start!

    Posted by Michelle | Thursday 4th March 2010 @ 3:14am

  2. Michelle, thanks for the comment. Your approach sounds admirably disciplined! And reminds me of one more action I should have added: make a cup of coffee and drink it! Thanks

    Posted by Joanna Maxwell | Thursday 4th March 2010 @ 7:38am

  3. Great post, Joanna. I particularly like #12.

    If I'm chatting with someone in a field about which I know nothing, I ask them to explain their profession as if I were a four year old.

    This freaks out most people. But for those who can hack it, they get a great kick out of distilling ethereal theoretics into down-to-earth building blocks.

    So, from a 'customer' point of view, I can vouch for this effective yet volatile method.

    Best regards, P. :)

    Posted by Paul Hassing | Tuesday 9th March 2010 @ 9:34am

  4. Paul, I love this take on my list. I will definitely start grilling prospective clients as if they were in primary school. A great tactic for cutting to the chase! Thank you...

    Posted by Joanna Maxwell | Tuesday 9th March 2010 @ 12:03pm

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