I have written a number of posts on creativity and it’s importance to the trainer. To be creative you do have to have a creative brain. Fortunately you can exercise your brain just like any muscle in your body. You can become more creative as well as increase you overall intelligence. Most of us now acknowledge that we also need to keep our brains active as we get older to ward off degeneration, senility and a very long list of associated problems.
As a trainer or educator the one thing we use the most and place a great deal of stress on is the brain. We are thinking constantly. We use it to develop detailed but simple explanations and we use it to choose the most appropriate words and communication styles that will work with our participants. I could go on and on here but I think your getting the point. With a brain that is slow, sluggish and losing it’s old abilities you will struggle to be an effective trainer as you gradually age.
So get started today. Keep that brain active. How? Here are few simple tips:
1. You could use a website like this one which has many brain training games and activities.
2. Read 30 minutes at least a day.
3. Read a variety of different material not just your favourite such as fiction.
4. Subscribe to some good blog posts (like this one) and spend a small amount of time each day reading through the articles you like.
5. Do a puzzle of some description each day. I do a sudoku each day but you could do a crossword etc.
6. When sitting in front of the TV, do puzzles, doodle, draw, anything really to keep your brain active. Crap TV does not promote any brain activity. Skip the TV altogether but I know that it is difficult for many. Limit the number of useless shows even though a bit of crap at times is relaxing.
7. Spend some time each week working on a new idea. Plan out how it would work. Draw a diagram of it. Who knows it could be the next big thing!
8. Listen to some music but really listen to the music. Try to pick out the different instruments. Find out what the words are and read them, try to understand them.
9. Listen to podcasts and vodcast when you go for a walk, run or just driving in the car. It took a little while for me but I can now listen very easily and follow an interesting subject while running and driving. The bonus is I am learning so many interesting things when I would normally be daydreaming.
10. Stretch your brain when training. Break up your familiar patterns and try out new activities, techniques, content and resources. You’ll enjoy it more and your audience will really appreciate it.
That’s just a couple of ideas. What ideas do you have. Let us know by commenting below.
Leave a Reply