Ideate

Getting Unstuck

We are all stuck in some areas of our lives. That’s where ideation comes into play, which is just a fancy word for coming up with lots of ideas. To move past obstacles, you need to generate more ideas and options than you ever thought possible, keeping in mind that you choose better when you have lots of ideas to consider. You should never choose your first solution to any problem.

Mind-Mapping Exercise

• Start with a blank sheet of paper and a pen.
• Write the topic you wish to explore in the middle.
• Draw a short line outward and write the first thing that comes to mind at the end of it.
• Repeat 4-7 times from the middle point and keep branching the nodes until you expand the map 3-5 layers outward.
• Since this exercise relies on random cognitive association, it will help you generate new ideas.
• See Mind-Mapping Example below

Bucket List Exercise

Make a list of at least 12 things you want to do before graduating college (or, if you’ve already graduated, in the next five years). Make sure to list different types of activities (academic, social, cultural, etc.)

Go check out one of the items on your list this week – not necessarily taking to completion, but explore what completing it would involve. Keeping this list current can help ensure that you’re not always letting urgent tasks prevent you from doing what’s important to you.

Key Helpful Resources