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When you are trying to solve a problem, it is typical to start running around in mental circles trying to rehash what you already have into something that will work. The problem is that the good stuff is a lot deeper than that and your normal thought patterns aren’t going to dredge up more than what you have already. The trick is to get a sprinkling of new input to shake things up and let the good stuff rise to the surface.
Here are 10 suggestions for breaking out of your patterns:
- Take in a show or book that you wouldn’t ordinarily consider. Granted, you may not like it as much as your usual fare. But more importantly, it will get you thinking.
- Go and see sights that you haven’t before or haven’t recently. A change of scenery is universally recognized as a good thing. New scenery can work even better. Haven’t been to that lake or mountain that you’ve lived near your whole life? Go check it out!
- Hit the books. Find a reference book (the more general the better), and flip to a random page and see what leaps out at you. Wikipedia has a wonderful link that takes you to a random article. Definitely good for some stimulation.
- Play word-association. Better in multiplayer, but you can use this one solo as well. Start with a word, and keep associating them. Keeping track is more important in solo mode than multiplayer, but it’s still a good idea. Eventually, something will catch and you’ll have a new perspective for attacking the problem.
- Word smash. A variation on the one above. Take two words at random, and force some connection between the two in regards to your problem. Silly, yes. But very good for stirring up those good ideas you’re keeping down deep.
- Play the Devil’s Advocate. If you can’t work forwards, then work backwards. Pick an opinion or stance that is generally accepted, and write up an opposition paper on it. How much you write doesn’t matter as much as the shift in thinking.
- What would your hero do? Step into the shoes of your hero and see how they would handle it. Is there something that you’re overlooking, or something that your focusing on too much?
- Blast from the past. Imagine that someone out of the past shows up to take a look at the problem. Are you making things over-complicated?
- Advance Intelligence. What would someone from the future do about the problem? Is there a totally different track you could be taking?
- The Emperor has no clothes. What would a child or a newbie think about the problem. Is it such a problem after all? Does the true problem lie somewhere else, perhaps?
Have any more ideas to jump start your problem-solving? Please share them in the comments!
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