To quote Steve Jobs, creativity is just connecting things. You may argue there’s more to it than that, but it has a lot to do with finding unique ways to connect the dots. Designer and researcher Balder Onarheim suggests boosting creativity with a simple word exercise. And you can try it while brushing your teeth.
In the above video, Onarheim says finding ways to connect randomness is what creativity (and problem-solving) is all about. To hone his creativity, he uses a word exercise while brushing his teeth. He thinks of a completely random word that has seemingly nothing to do with the process: camel is an example someone from the audience suggests.
From there, he finds a way to connect those seemingly random concepts. (Toothbrush to brush to camel hair, maybe?) It doesn’t have to be perfect; the idea is simply to flex your creative muscle. His overall point: connecting randomness can help with problem solving, because you learn to come up with creative solutions. And it’s an easy enough skill to practice. Check out his TED talk for more insight.
3 tools to becoming more creative [TEDx Talks]
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