Top 15 Simple Methods to Boost Your Intelligence and Creativity

Brainstorming, often referred to as 'brainstorming,' is a creative thinking technique used in teamwork to generate ideas and find the most effective and common solutions. This term was coined by advertising mogul Alex Faickney Osborn, who, after facing a creative block with his advertising team, decided to gather everyone into one room and 'milk' any ideas that could come up.

In brainstorming, each team member is encouraged to think of as many ideas as possible, no matter how outlandish or unfeasible they might seem. Through this approach, team members fully utilize their creative potential, building off each other’s ideas and engaging in discussions to find the most innovative and suitable solution. However, there are a few ground rules for brainstorming to prevent it from descending into chaos:

• The ideal team size is 5-7 people
• A neutral, decisive facilitator should lead the session
• Ideas should not be criticized or rejected during the ideation phase; feedback on pros/cons should only occur afterward.

Another activity that stimulates creativity is traveling and exploring. Traveling not only helps clear your mind and relax, but it also provides a temporary escape from work, allowing you the freedom to think and create. It offers a fresh perspective and helps you discover new ideas and solutions. Traveling and exploring exposes you to various experiences, people, and cultures, and inspiration flows from the natural landscapes, traditions, and local customs you encounter. These are rich and unique sources of creative inspiration that you won’t get by staying in one place.

In creative work, coffee is almost an essential drink. Why? Because coffee contains caffeine, which stimulates the brain, helping us feel more alert, energized, and improving mood, reaction time, memory, and creativity. When the mind is awake, energized, and full of energy, creativity and new ideas come more easily. Sipping a cup of coffee in the morning or early afternoon can keep you sharp, energized, and ready to create. However, it’s important to remember not to overconsume coffee. Excessive caffeine can cause sleeplessness at night, and lack of rest will make the next day tiring, reducing your creativity. Additionally, caffeine is addictive; overusing it can make your nervous system dependent, making it difficult to function without it.

Working in a familiar environment can sometimes be a barrier to creativity. Therefore, it’s a good idea to change your work environment from time to time to refresh your mind. There are two main ways to do this: The first is to clean up and reorganize your workspace. Tidy up the piles of papers on your desk, rearrange your workstation, reorganize the bookshelf, and change the decorations on the wall. These changes will create a new atmosphere, sparking creativity and fresh ideas. The second method is to leave your office and work in public spaces like parks or coffee shops. In these open spaces, the new surroundings, the hustle and bustle of the cafe, and the change in scenery can significantly improve your mood and provide a burst of creative inspiration.

Imagination is an essential component of creativity. Sometimes, our imagination can seem overly whimsical, dreamy, or unrealistic. But don’t worry, it’s time to break the limits of your imagination. By doing so, you’ll come up with the wildest, most surreal, and absurd ideas — but also the most creative and amazing ones. One of the key factors behind Walt Disney’s success was his ability to retain the childlike creativity and imagination that led him to create timeless animated films like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. So, break the limits of your imagination and think like a child to "think outside the box" and become more creative.

Engaging with creative people is somewhat like brainstorming but in a more open and relaxed manner. In casual "coffee chat" sessions, creative individuals often discuss seemingly absurd or far-fetched ideas, but these conversations can ignite our own creativity. After all, innovation often comes from new ideas inspired by older ones. Engaging with creative people fosters an energetic, enthusiastic, and creative atmosphere, where each participant can learn and draw inspiration from others, allowing the mind to create spontaneously and naturally.

Another crucial element in the creative process is to read a lot. Explore every genre, from any medium, whether it's books, newspapers, or online articles. Written words are a repository of knowledge, and the more you read, the more knowledge you accumulate, fueling inspiration and new ideas. Reading extensively also broadens your understanding, and the broader your knowledge, the stronger your foundation for creativity. Sometimes, a random fact from a morning newspaper could spark a brilliant idea. Many creative individuals are avid readers, constantly seeking new knowledge. Reading can be likened to a journey of exploration within the mind—so make sure to read a lot to unlock more creativity.

The technique of connecting objects and ideas originates from Japan, a country renowned for its hardworking, diligent, and highly creative people. In essence, this approach falls under the realm of logic. It's often said that logic belongs to the left brain and creativity to the right, but this isn't entirely accurate. Creativity is about linking old objects and ideas together to form new concepts, as explained by Jack Foster, a highly successful figure in the advertising industry.

For instance, consider these two seemingly unrelated items:

• A toothbrush
• A guitar

By linking these together, we might envision a toothbrush that plays music, perfect for children or teenage girls.

Throughout history, connecting objects and ideas has led to innovations that changed the world, such as combining a mobile phone and a camera, or a music player and a computer, which eventually resulted in the smartphone we use today.

It’s well-known that Albert Einstein came up with many of his ideas while shaving, or that Archimedes discovered the principle of buoyancy while taking a bath. Even Ludwig van Beethoven often composed music in the bathroom. The truth is, when we do simple tasks, our hands and body remain occupied, allowing our minds to wander and think more freely. However, keep in mind that this only applies to tasks that don't require intense focus. So, if you’re looking for a creative idea, consider doing something like shaving, washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, cycling, or even taking a shower.

Curiosity is an excellent trait in children, though often it annoys adults. Steve Jobs once said: "Stay hungry, stay foolish," and just like that, you should always ask positive questions to boost your creativity. These are questions like, "Why...?", "Why not...?", and "What if...?" These questions will guide your thinking towards uncovering the essence of problems and generating new hypotheses that encourage innovation and help you "think outside the box." However, avoid negative questions like "What if... happens?" that only block creativity.

Attending events, workshops, and courses is incredibly beneficial for fostering creativity and discovering new ideas. These gatherings often feature a diverse group of people, including experts from various fields, depending on the event’s theme. By attending events, workshops, and courses, we gain new knowledge, experiences, and skills across different areas, enriching our personal and professional knowledge base. This accumulation of information allows us to make connections and come up with fresh, creative ideas.

Lastly, don’t forget to maintain a balanced diet and engage in healthy physical activity to ensure good health. A healthy body and a clear mind are essential for creativity, as they enable your brain to function effectively. Health is the most important asset; with good health, you have everything. Therefore, taking care of your health is not only a foundation for well-being but also a simple yet crucial method to enhance your creative potential.

Creativity is all about generating new ideas, and these "eureka" moments can strike us at any time, anywhere, and in any situation. Always carry a notebook or sticky notes with you, along with a pen, to capture those fleeting thoughts. If you don’t write them down, there’s a good chance the brilliant ideas will slip away, lost amidst the daily hustle. With a notebook and pen, you can jot down or sketch freely, without any constraints. No need for proper sentences, punctuation, or a set structure—just write and draw as ideas come to you. These spontaneous thoughts, recorded without restriction, allow you to capture them in the most creative way. Some ideas might be useful right away, while others might seem trivial. But one day, when you revisit your notes, they may spark something new. Remember, always keep a notebook or sticky notes with you and write or sketch anything that crosses your mind to preserve those ideas before they fade away.

Much like writing or sketching anything that crosses your mind, recording your dreams is another way to capture those sudden flashes of inspiration. While most of our body is resting during sleep, part of our brain is still active. In REM sleep, our brain generates vivid images, sounds, colors, smells, sensations, and emotions that break free from the logical boundaries of daily life. Dreams are a natural, objective, and unintentional creative product of the mind. They can be thought of as a goldmine of ideas waiting to be discovered and explored for extraordinary creative breakthroughs.

In fact, many writers, artists, and scientists acknowledge that their greatest ideas originated from their dreams. Paul McCartney of The Beatles said that he woke up with the melody of *Yesterday* playing in his head. Author Mary Shelley dreamed of a scientist using machines to create a living being, which led her to write *Frankenstein*.

Music is an art form that deeply influences the brain. Typically, each person has their own music preferences and idols, often sticking to these tastes. For instance, some may enjoy V-Pop and follow Sơn Tùng MTP, others may prefer K-Pop, or US-UK music. Some lean towards classical music, others rock, rap, or jazz. Research suggests that people who enjoy the same genre of music often share similarities in lifestyle, thinking, behavior, and creativity. Thus, listening to new songs allows us to step outside the familiar confines of our usual musical choices. We can discover new melodies, lyrics, and perhaps find a spark of creativity in songs we've never heard before.

Similarly, watching new movies provides fresh experiences. Each film reflects the perspectives and meanings of different directors, set in varied social contexts, featuring unique characters and dialogues. Engaging with new songs and movies exposes our minds to new ideas, allowing our creativity to flourish.