Mike’s

Ways to Deploy
Creative Thinking
in the Moment
Tactile Activity Doodling with Purpose
Legos or K’nex or building blocks – On a sheet of paper draw a random
keep some at your desk. The act of shape. Keep adding to it. Give the
making something with your hands thing a name. Rotate the doodle 180
can spark creative thoughts degrees and give it another name.
- Using your 'other' hand benefits Repeat. In this way you are forcing
your brain your brain to see things differently
- 3 Ways Doodling Will Help Your
Focus and Creativity

Word Play Do Something Boring or

By making portmanteau words or Tedious
scrambling words. You can either
use Scrabble letter tiles if you have Tidy a desk or a drawer, wash and dry
some or simply take any two words some dishes, sweep or vacuum the
that come to mind and find ways of floor – research shows that if we do
combining them directly - a something boring our brains want to
portmanteau word (such as Motor get busy with something else – it’s
and Hotel becoming Motel) – or why we sometimes have surprising
scrambling the pats completely to ideas at such times.
come up with either a real or a -How Being Bored Out of Your Mind
ridiculous word. Makes You More Creative
- How to generate original creative
ideas with random word stimulation

Stare Off Into Space Listen or Watch with

… on purpose – Master the art of Purpose
focusing off in the distance and Listen or watch EVERYTHING and
emptying your mind. Be careful this notice patterns. The simple act of
can be addictive and may be hyper observation forces the brain
frowned on by the boss. But it can to concentrate and notice things it
allow the mind freedom to wander normally glosses over.
to unexpected places. - How to Boost Your Observation
- Why Do We Zone Out? Skills and Learn to Pay Attention
- Do You Daydream? You May Be
Smarter and More Creative Than
Your Peers

Make Lists of Play Music You Don't Love

Opposites Make a playlist on your device of the
of the thing you want to resolve – music you have played the least. You
another way to force the brain to liked it enough to load it there, but
consider difference. For example, if by playing less familiar music you’re
you’re fixated on finding a name for forcing your brain into a place that is
something describe it in a word or less known and therefore more like
two and then list as many opposites to encourage creative thinking.
to that idea as you can. - How to Use Music to Boost Your
- When Opposites Attract Creativity

Use All Five Senses 10 Flip Through a Creativity

Notebook
to describe any object on your desk
– be prepared this may get you To be able to do this you’ll have to
some funny looks from co-workers. keep such a notebook (see the other
But, really, examine an everyday list called 15 Creativity Exercises For
object by using all five senses When You Have More Time for how
(preferably something that is clean if to start and keep one going)
you’re going to taste it)
- Using Your 5 Senses To Jump-Start
The Creative Process
SOURCE: SKILLS 103x Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
DEVELOPED BY: Mike Johansson, Rochester Institute of Technology , School of Communication for edX