Brutethink
Difficulty: 7 out of 10

Time: 30 minutes

Take any word from your problem (or associated with it associatively).
Think about the things that are associated with this word.
Strengthen the relationship between the random word and the problem, and between the associated words and the problem.
Write down all decisions.
The first step is to give several definitions to your problem from different points of view. The more words, metaphors and analogies, the better. If you find words like "money", "love", "self-development", "health", put them in the center of the page and apply the method of mental maps, drawing arrows in different directions, getting new associations, from which draw arrows and get new associations. Use verbs and look for related ones.

![network-2932991_1280.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQM39mtwqqgg1Knw8ibvujbfzbtzN85kJ8EvdpVrG6hM2/network-2932991_1280.jpg)

The more complex and important the problem, the more time it should be allocated. The wording is important, because that's where the solution lies. There is one quote, the author of which I could not establish: "The answer is always in the question, he has nowhere else to be." Therefore, the more questions and formulations, the more chances to get something valuable.

What is useful for this exercise?

This exercise is especially useful for writers, businessmen, designers and all creative personalities. It develops associative memory, logic, fantasy and concentration.

100 use cases for the subject
Difficulty: 8 out of 10

The simpler it is, the better. For example: a pillow, a nail, a brick, a pen, a mug, a boomerang. The condition is to come up with not ten, not fifty, but one hundred or more variants of its use. The best, hard-won decisions come to mind after all the obvious options are exhausted.

I managed to come up with 120 options for using bricks. I crushed it, drilled holes in it, reduced it and enlarged it, painted it, threw it, broke it, applied it in all hypothetical situations - from space to advertising (all these words, naturally, in quotes). Absurdity and humor are particularly welcome.

What is useful for this exercise?

Previously, people were able to invent entertainment for themselves on an equal place, because they had nothing else, now this ability is lost. You will develop creative thinking, sense of humor and learn to reflect. As it was said: the simpler the object, the better. These restrictions awaken fantasy and allow us to see completely unexpected applications. The brick is so simple that you, one way or another, will start to think about changing its shape or using it in an unusual situation.

Combination of two objects
Difficulty: 6 out of 10

Time: 45 minutes

Surely you know that all new ideas are created on the basis of the old. The same thing happens with objects: the inventors combine them with each other and get a completely new product. You do not need to be real inventors.

The combination of objects can be anything: a bottle of kefir and a sewer hatch, a microwave and a book, a fishing pole and a mirror. As in the previous exercise, you can do anything with these objects. It is not necessary to use a whole microwave oven, it's enough of its parts or properties. For example, heat, volume, weight, color.

Specify a specific topic. Use a combined object for space exploration, self-education, environmental protection, survival.

What is useful for this exercise?

First of all, this is associative thinking. Objects - not objects in the pure state, but the application that they can find. You will stop looking at the table as an object for a meal, if you start thinking about it differently. And when combining several, you can find something new and unique. Also this exercise will allow you to remember physics, chemistry and apply this knowledge (albeit small) for creativity.

Smilies
Difficulty: 4 out of 10

Timing: 20 minutes

Find all possible smilies in Google (Vayer, Vkontakte).
Combine them in the number of two, three or four.
Try to understand what this picture means.
For example, you chose a sad smiley, dancing and dazed. What could this mean? What's going on here? Birthday, lecture, rock concert or sale? Find about 20 explanations. Then select the other emoticons and repeat the process.