In the same way an athlete or a musician warms up for peak performance at their craft, you will enjoy better results with a quick warm up to get in the zone. Here are the top 10 creativity warm-up exercises:
1. The Beach Ball – Bring a beach ball to your next meeting, and toss it around for 90 seconds before you get to work. You’ll be amazed at how the energy changes in the room, and how this simple physical act can get the creative juices flowing.
2. Rock the House – Jam three minutes of your favorite music. LOUD. A fun alternative – ask each person in the room to suggest their favorite song, and make a quick playlist with 30-second cuts of a bunch of great music. You and your team will be pumped up and ready to create.
3. The Deep Breath – Have everyone close their eyes and do two minutes of deep breathing. After that, do two minutes of random stretching. The blood will be flowing, just like the creative ideas you are about to generate.
4. The Improv – Tell a story using this fun technique of comedians. One person starts and says a few words or a sentence. The next person has to continue the story where person one left off. Continue for 3-5 minutes or until your whole group is flat on the floor with laughter. Now watch the creativity explode!
5. The Field Trip – Get out of the office! Go to a museum, park, coffee shop, the Eiffel Tower, or anywhere else that is inspiring and outside the norm.
6. Games – Play a game (any game) for five minutes. A board game, riddle, puzzle, card game, even Xbox. Games get you in a different state of mind, helping you escape the daily grind and open up your imagination.
7. Practice Round – Before attacking your actual creative challenge, do a practice round. For example, “How could we win every medal at the Olympics?” Ask a broad and unusual question that has nothing to do with your company, and let the team have fun with it. By the time you get to your real creative challenge, you’ll be warmed up and ready to go.
8. Draw Your Neighbor – Sit in a circle and have everyone sketch the person to their right (FYI – do right instead of left because people will subconsciously be using the right / creative side of their brains). Give a 5 minute time limit and don’t label them. Tape to a wall and see if people can guess who’s who.
9. The Magazine Story – Take a magazine and flip to any random photograph. Ask the person to your right to tell a story about that picture in great detail using characters and emotion. Pass the magazine to the next person, pick a new picture, and repeat. By the time you go around the room, the team’s imagination will be primed and ready.
10. Inspirational Quotes – Print a list of relevant quotes (find dozens at CreativityGeneration.com), go around the room and have each person read one quote slowly and out loud. After reading all quotes, reflect on them. Have each person tell the group which was their favorite quote and why. By the end of this quick session, you and your team will be itching to let your creativity come out and play!
Note: These techniques are also very helpful mid-stream. Use liberally between creative bursts (every 45-90 min) to re-spark your team’s energy and continue to generate the best possible ideas.