Problem solving is one of the greatest adventures in creativity. We often don’t appreciate how big a part creativity plays in our ability to find solutions to every day problems, and even more complex problems we encounter at work or in our communities. 

The first step of problem solving is, of course, to clearly identify the problem. Then,  you have to start brainstorming possible solutions. This is the step we’re going to focus on. One of the hardest parts of brainstorming is to learn not to limit your ideas. Brainstorming is not the time to be questioning the validity of solutions; it’s simply for identifying as many possibilities as you can. 

One popular brainstorming challenge is to take a classic paperclip and place it in the center of a piece of paper. You can create a brainstorming web if you’d like, or just make a list, and start writing down as many uses for a paperclip as you can. Use whatever method works for your brain to write down the ideas as quickly as you can. Some people prefer an orderly list, others like the image of a web of connected ideas. Besides the obvious, holding paper together, what else could you use a paperclip for? Try to use your imagination in this and write down every single thing you think of, without judgement. No one cares if it’s a good idea or not, it’s simply an idea at this point. Sometimes the worst ideas lead to the best ones anyways. You can be as creative as you like with the scenarios around the uses.

 You can repeat the activity with a fork, a key, or any other everyday household item.