5 Creative Right-Brain Warm-Ups You Can Do Virtually
“If you want to have good ideas, you must have many ideas.” - Linus Pauling.
Idea generation is not the end all be all. You may be creative and harbor many ideas, but you still need to take action. And when you take action, a successful outcome isn’t always guaranteed. But, as Adam Grant points out, the more ideas you have, the more likely one of those ideas will spark a revelation.
Carving out time during the day for creativity prompts is one way to make room for more, better ideas.
One way we do this at Cultivate is by hosting 15-minute virtual right-brain warm-ups. These exercises spark your imagination during the workday with something completely separate from work.
Here, five right brain warm-ups you can do with your team today.
1. Six-Word Memoirs
Instructions:
Take 2 minutes to brainstorm a list of words that describe you and your life right now in some way, try to list at least a dozen words that come to mind.
Take five minutes to write your six-word memoir, drawing from your brainstormed list of words as a starting point.
We were banned from wal-mart forever.
My dreams are stranger than fiction.
Still pretending to be a vegetarian.
Why do this?
Source: Six-Word Memoirs
2. Imaginary Words
Instructions:
Write down three random adjectives or adverbs
Combine the first syllable of each word in any order to create a new, made-up word.*
Take 2 minutes to write a clear, plausible description of the product (in two sentences or less).
*You just named a fantastic new product!
Why do this?
3. Complete the Picture
Instructions:
Find a Post-It, or draw a square on a piece of paper.
Copy the shape shown on the image to the left into your square.
You have two minutes to complete the image inside of your square!
What did you draw?
Why do this?
4. 3-Minute Haiku
Instructions:
Look outside a window nearby, and choose one element of nature that you can see.
Take the next three minutes to write a haiku that includes the natural element you chose.
Qualities of a Haiku:
Three lines with a specific number of syllables per line (5,7,5)
Usually includes references to nature
No rhyme
Why do this?
5. Paper Airplane Contest
Instructions:
Make a paper airplane.
Choose a target. Take a few steps back and throw your first-draft airplane at the chosen destination.
How close were you to the target?
Make some adjustments to your design, and try again. Did you get any closer?
Why do this?
