Some creative thinking strategies

There is no limit to ways there are of thinking creatively. Some techniques you can begin with are listed hereunder.

• Brainstorm ideas on one topic onto a large piece of paper: don't edit these. Just write them down as soon as they come into your head.
• Allow yourself to play with an idea while you go for a walk or engage in other activities
• Draw or paint a theory on paper.
• Ask the same question at least twenty times and give a different answer each time.
• Combine some of the features of two different objects or ideas to see if you can create several more.
• Change your routine. Do things a different way. Walk a different route to college.
• Let your mind be influenced by new stimuli such as music you do not usually listen to.
• Be open to ideas when they are still new: look for ways of making things work and pushing the idea to its limits.
• Cultivate creative serendipity.
• Ask questions such as 'what if….?' Or 'supposing….?'.
• Keep an ideas book. Inspiration can strike at any time! Ideas can also slip away very easily. If you keep a small notebook to hand you can jot down your ideas straight away and return to them later. Alternatively, you could use the voice recorder on your mobile phone, or send yourself a text message! For example, you may think of a really good idea for an assignment/project while you are listening to a lecture. You should record it as soon as you can after the lecture: otherwise, you could forget it entirely.