Get Inspired! 6 Creativity Exercises to Spark Innovation at Work

In a world where every office task can feel like it's on repeat, sparking new ideas can be a challenge. But a few fun and quirky exercises might be all it takes to shake things up and help you see things from a fresh perspective. Here are six creative exercises you can try solo, with your team, or even in your coworking office space to reignite that innovative spark.

First up, the Incomplete Figure Test! It’s simple but powerful: everyone starts with the same basic scribble, like a half-circle or loop, and the goal is to turn it into a full drawing. The fun part? When done in a group, each drawing looks totally different! In a flex workspace with people from various backgrounds, this exercise really shines. You get a peek into everyone’s unique thinking, which can spark fresh ideas for your own projects.

Grab a sheet of paper with 30 blank circles on it, and set a timer for about 10 minutes. Your mission: turn each circle into something unique as fast as you can. The point here is to go for quantity, not quality. Draw anything that comes to mind, from smiley faces to planets to fruit. When you’re done, share your designs with others and notice any common themes or surprises. This exercise is perfect for brainstorming, especially in a collaborative space like a coworking office, where you can get inspiration from seeing how others interpret the same blank canvas.

Sometimes, all you need is a good soundtrack to get the creative juices flowing. This exercise is simple but effective: put on some music, and let your mind wander. It could be a concert, a playlist, or even a live band at a social event. While you listen, jot down any ideas or insights that come to mind. Music shifts your mental space and can unlock ideas you hadn’t considered. Plus, if you’re working in an open meeting room or a shared space, you can even try playing different types of music and see how each one influences your ideas!

Here’s a quirky one: take a compound word like “toothbrush” or “starfish” and switch out one of the words with something completely unrelated. For example, change "sunflower" to "moonflower" or “butterfly” to “cloudfly.” Then, take your new word and create a quick story, a drawing, or even a short presentation around it. This exercise helps your brain find unexpected connections, which is the same skill you use when brainstorming innovative solutions to work challenges.

Remember how fun building blocks were as a kid? Turns out, they can also be a fantastic creativity exercise for adults. Grab some blocks and start building anything that comes to mind, maybe a skyscraper, a bridge, or even a new product design. When done as a team, it becomes a fun challenge to see who can build the most detailed or unique creation.

This exercise boosts spatial awareness, which can be really helpful for visualizing ideas. And if you’re in a flex workspace, you’ll probably have lots of room to spread out and let your creativity take over.

If you’re working on a new project or trying to streamline a process, try storyboarding it instead of writing it out. Imagine each step as a little comic strip panel, with sketches and short captions. Storyboarding lets you see the flow of an idea visually, and it often reveals steps or details you might’ve missed. When everyone’s looking at the process as a whole, it’s easier to spot areas for improvement and brainstorm innovative steps.

Spark Innovation with These Exercises Anywhere

Whether you’re in a traditional office or a coworking office space, these exercises are easy, quick, and effective ways to keep ideas fresh. They help you see things differently, come up with unexpected solutions, and connect with others in a new way. So the next time you or your team feels stuck, try one of these creativity exercises and watch the inspiration start flowing!