Did you know that there is an actual science to ideas? It is called Ideonomy and is taught at many universities, including MIT. Many people want to know how to have not only more ideas but quality ones as well so it is no wonder that there is a science devoted to ideas. What sort of things are we learning from this field of science?

Be Open to Bad Ideas…
It seems counterproductive at first, but actually being open to bad ideas is a good idea! This is based on the theory that there is a natural balance between good and bad ideas. Therefore, it stands to reason that the more bad ideas you have, the more good ones you will produce as well. This theory advises you to not squelch bad ideas but rather accept them and move on.

There’s A Time and A Place To Be Realistic…
Just like you should not try to hold back “bad” ideas, you also should not try to be too realistic while brainstorming. Brainstorming is the time to come up with all possible avenues. Being too realistic might hinder your creative juices from flowing and this will keep the most creative ideas from coming to you.

Get Feedback But Ultimately…
It’s important when we are following through on an idea or project that we receive educated feedback at necessary times. However, it is ultimately up to us whether or not to proceed and the best indicator as to whether or not you should is your gut or intuition. How you feel deep down about the project will yield a better answer as to the likelihood of its success.

Sometimes You Just Need To Walk Away
Really, sometimes you actually have to go for a walk. Or take a shower. While other times it is good to hit the gym and get your cardio rate up and going. Based on the research I could find there were two schools of thought about this. One theory stated that one would have better quality ideas if they were in a state of arousal (alert, aware and ready to go) and that relaxation was actually a deterrent to creativity. While the other theory stated that relaxation may just be the thing you need if you are tense and that is keeping you from having ideas. I think it is wise to say that if you are feeling bored than stimulation will probably boost your brain power and if you are feeling stressed relaxing activities will soothe you into a place where you can think straight again.

Remember these are all simply just suggestions and theories. What works for someone else might not work for you and vice versa. The fun part is trying out different techniques and building your own personal creativity health regimen!