Overcoming creative blocks: 8 brainstorming exercises that actually work

Feeling stuck?

Well, every creative person, whether you’re an artist, writer, designer, or student, has hit a creative wall at some point.

That frustrating feeling of a blank mind staring at a blank page can feel almost impossible to overcome.

The good news?

Creative blocks are normal, and with the right techniques, you can break through them and start generating fresh ideas.

Here are 8 brainstorming exercises that actually work. Let me help you regain your creative flow, spark new ideas, and feel energized to take on any project.

1. Mind Mapping: Visualize connections and ideas

Mind mapping is an excellent exercise for anyone needing to see their ideas laid out visually.

This technique helps you brainstorm related ideas, visualize connections, and create an organized structure that leads to new concepts.

Mind maps start with a central theme or question in the middle of a page. Branch out from there with keywords, phrases, and additional topics that connect back to the central idea.

How to do it:

• Write your main topic in the center of a large piece of paper or a digital whiteboard.
• Draw branches from the main topic and add related ideas or subtopics.
• Continue branching out from each subtopic, exploring as many angles as possible.

Note that mind mapping not only helps generate new ideas but also organizes your thoughts. Therefore, it’s ideal for projects that require a structured outline.

2. The 5 Whys: Get to the root of the problem

The 5 Whys technique is a simple but powerful brainstorming exercise designed to identify the root cause of a problem or creative block.

The thing is, when you repeatedly ask “why,” you dig deeper into an issue. As a result, you understand its origins and uncover solutions that you may not have initially considered.

How to do it:

1. State the problem or issue you’re trying to address.
2. Ask yourself, “Why does this happen?”
3. Write down the answer, then ask “Why?” again.
4. Repeat this process five times or until you reach a deeper understanding.

This exercise is helpful when you’re feeling blocked because it helps identify underlying obstacles. It makes it easier to overcome them and move forward with clarity.

3. Reverse brainstorming: Flip the problem

Feeling like your creative block is especially stubborn?

Well, then, you should try reverse brainstorming.

Instead of brainstorming solutions, reverse brainstorming asks you to brainstorm ways to make the problem worse. Odd as it sounds, this approach often reveals overlooked solutions by forcing you to think in reverse.

How to do it:

1. Define the problem you’re trying to solve.
2. Ask, “How could we make this problem worse?”
3. List all the possible ways to increase the issue.
4. Review each idea and consider the opposite, turning problems into solutions.

For example, if you’re brainstorming ways to improve customer satisfaction, think about what would make customers the most dissatisfied.

If “slow response times” comes up, one solution might be to implement faster, more responsive customer service.

Why it works: Approaching the problem backward removes the pressure of finding “good” ideas and opens the door to creative, out-of-the-box thinking.

4. Freewriting: Unleash ideas without restrictions

The next technique is probably one of the simplest things you can do:

Set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and write down everything that comes to mind about your topic without stopping. Even if your thoughts seem random, keep going.

Freewriting releases your mind from self-editing, allowing raw ideas to flow.

For example, if you’re preparing for a presentation, start by writing everything you know about your topic.

Basically, let yourself explore tangents and unrelated thoughts — they might spark unexpected, valuable insights.

Why it works: Freewriting silences the inner critic, giving you a space to generate ideas freely without worrying about quality.

5. Use the SCAMPER technique for structured creativity

The SCAMPER method uses action-oriented prompts to expand on an idea:

• Substitute: What materials, processes, or people can you substitute?
• Combine: Can you combine ideas or resources in a new way?
• Adapt: How can you adapt this idea to suit a different purpose?
• Modify: What can you modify to make it more effective?
• Put to another use: Is there another way to use this idea?
• Eliminate: What can you eliminate to simplify the concept?
• Reverse: How would it work if you reversed the process?

Say you’re developing a new app.

SCAMPER encourages you to explore new features by asking questions like, “What if we combined two features?” or “What if we reversed the order of the user steps?”

These questions help you tweak and refine ideas.

Why it works: SCAMPER’s structure helps you look at your idea from various angles. This, in turn, leads to creative solutions that may not surface otherwise.

6. Brainwriting: Write, don’t talk

If you’re brainstorming with a team, try brainwriting instead of speaking out loud.

Have each person write down an idea, pass the paper to the next person, and build on each other’s ideas silently.

After a few rounds, review everyone’s ideas as a group.

This technique works well in person with paper, but you can also do it digitally using shared documents. Brainwriting gives everyone a chance to contribute, even those who may be quieter in traditional brainstorming.

How to do it:

• Set a timer for about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Have each person in a group write down three ideas related to the topic.
• After the timer goes off, everyone passes their ideas to the person next to them.
• Each person reads the ideas they received and adds three more.

This continues until everyone has added ideas to each sheet, resulting in a diverse collection of thoughts.

7. Role Storming: Brainstorm from different perspectives

Role storming is a fun exercise where you put yourself in someone else’s shoes to brainstorm solutions or ideas.

This technique is effective because it removes personal biases and allows you to approach the problem from different perspectives.

How to do it:

• Choose a role or persona that fits your project, such as a customer, a famous innovator, or even an inanimate object relevant to your project.
• Think about how this person or object would approach your problem.
• Brainstorm ideas as if you were that character, considering their perspective and priorities.

For example, if you’re designing a product, imagine yourself as the end user and brainstorm what you want and need.

This technique is great for challenging assumptions and generating more empathetic, user-centered ideas.

8. Take a purposeful mental break

A short mental break is often the best way to regain your creativity. Step away for a walk, grab a coffee, or do a different activity.

According to the National Institutes of Health, brief breaks help reset the brain, allowing it to process ideas subconsciously.

Next time you’re stuck, give yourself permission to step away. After a break, come back to your project with fresh energy. You might be surprised by the clarity and new ideas that pop up.

Why it works: A break allows your mind to rest and regroup, often leading to “aha!” moments when you least expect them.