Key to better problem solving

Next time your volunteer group gets stuck while coming up with an idea for your next big fund-raiser, try turning the brainstorming session into a game

(like whoever lists the most ideas in 5 minutes wins). A new study in the journal Personality and Individual Differences analyzed surveys of more than 3,000 people and found that playfulness fosters creativity and brings about more innovative solutions to complex issues. That’s because being playful allows us to approach problems with less stress, a fresh perspective and sharper powers of observation.