Quick trick to boost creativity

Next time a mental block interrupts your brainstorming, try getting more physical by putting ideas on note cards and rearranging them on your desk. In a new study in the Journal of

Experimental Psychology: General, researchers assigned problems to people who either tried solving them strictly in their head or used objects to help them think. Those who moved objects around while problem-solving showed an 88 percent increase in success compared with those who sat still. Shuffling items helps you see issues from different angles, inspiring fresh insights.