Here are six simple tools to help you think creatively and come up with new ideas right now
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2025 4:26 pm
Seek Inspiration Outside Your Field
Read at least once a week about topics unrelated to your work or personal life—like inventions, discoveries, or new technologies. Think: Can this idea help solve my problems? Can I use it in my life or work?
Create a Idea Bank
Make a notebook or document with different categories—like "Business," "Marketing," "Hobbies," or "Fitness." Write down interesting ideas, notes, or solutions you come across. Once a month, review what you've collected. This helps you learn and find new opportunities.
Practice Mental Gymnastics (Neurobics)
Do activities that awaken your senses and brain:
Change your surroundings when thinking about a problem—go to a park or café.
Smell something new and notice how it feels.
Use your non-dominant hand for daily tasks like brushing your teeth.
Touch different objects to feel their textures.
These activities help your brain think in new ways.
Combine Unrelated Things (The Medici Effect)
Pick two different objects or ideas—like a bathroom and a hammock. Think about how they are different and how they are similar—both help you relax. Then imagine combining them to create something new. This sparks fresh ideas through unexpected combinations.
Play with Visual Puzzles (Drudles)
Look at strange pictures or drawings that don’t make sense. Try to imagine what they are or tell a story about them. You can also do this with kids—it boosts your imagination.
Read at least once a week about topics unrelated to your work or personal life—like inventions, discoveries, or new technologies. Think: Can this idea help solve my problems? Can I use it in my life or work?
Create a Idea Bank
Make a notebook or document with different categories—like "Business," "Marketing," "Hobbies," or "Fitness." Write down interesting ideas, notes, or solutions you come across. Once a month, review what you've collected. This helps you learn and find new opportunities.
Practice Mental Gymnastics (Neurobics)
Do activities that awaken your senses and brain:
Change your surroundings when thinking about a problem—go to a park or café.
Smell something new and notice how it feels.
Use your non-dominant hand for daily tasks like brushing your teeth.
Touch different objects to feel their textures.
These activities help your brain think in new ways.
Combine Unrelated Things (The Medici Effect)
Pick two different objects or ideas—like a bathroom and a hammock. Think about how they are different and how they are similar—both help you relax. Then imagine combining them to create something new. This sparks fresh ideas through unexpected combinations.
Play with Visual Puzzles (Drudles)
Look at strange pictures or drawings that don’t make sense. Try to imagine what they are or tell a story about them. You can also do this with kids—it boosts your imagination.