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5 Fun and Unexpected Ways to Get Out of a Business Rut

Elaine Pofeldt — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 08:30:08 +0000

Even the most innovative entrepreneurs feel "stuck" sometimes when solving business problems. Many small business owners who need some outside inspiration go to business events and mingle with other entrepreneurs, but that can backfire when you're feeling uncreative. Between all of the networking and hyperactive pitching, it's possible to leave feeling drained instead of inspired.

So what do you do if you feel like you've fallen into a creative rut in your business? Sometimes, turning to unconventional sources of inspiration can help. Here are five ways to regain your creative mojo.

1. Attend an event outside of your industry

When your schedule is packed, it can be hard to break away from the day-to-day to attend a conference or trade show, let alone one outside of your field. But spending time with people in other industries can be a good way to immerse yourself in new ideas you aren't likely to hear about from colleagues in your own field.

At least once a year, and preferably two or three, make time to attend an event for professionals in a field outside of your own. If you're in a traditional brick-and-mortar industry like real estate, head to an event for pros involved in artificial intelligence or automation. Run your own accounting business or a small law office? Pop into a trade show where you can immerse yourself in the latest fancy foods, tech gadgets, or fitness trends. The list of possibilities is endless, so pick one that seems interesting to you personally. The event doesn't have to be more than an hour to expose you to new ideas.

By paying attention to how people in other fields are solving problems and challenges in front of them — or solving problems for their customers — you'll get some fresh ideas on how to move your business forward. You may also meet some new potential clients you wouldn't ordinarily encounter. (See also: 11 Ways Freelancers and Telecommuters Can Make Friends and Network)

2. Immerse yourself in the arts

Reconnecting with your imagination by enjoying art, music, or theater can be a fantastic way to spark new solutions to your most vexing business problems — or help you come up with new products. One business owner told me that playing piano and visiting art galleries gave him inspiration when designing technology involved in streaming music, for instance. My hairstylist recently told me he gets his creative juices flowing sculpting and cooking.

3. Learn a new discipline

It's tempting when you feel "stuck" in your business to hunker down at your desk, but that can be counterproductive and tiring. Reboot your brain by doing a guided meditation (perhaps using an app like Headspace), trying a new yoga class, or signing up for a martial arts class. All of these activities will push you out of familiar patterns of thinking.

Ideally, pick an activity that requires so much focus and concentration you can't think about anything else. For me, hot yoga does the trick. I sometimes wonder whether I should take the time out of my day to drive to the studio, given how long my to-do list is, but after I've spent an hour in a 100-degree room doing downward dogs, my mind is completely clear. Often, I find that the answers to work-related challenges pop into my head on my ride home from the yoga studio — or I realize that a problem that was worrying me isn't as big of a deal as I thought and simply cross it off my "list."

4. Go back to school

Even if you don't have time to sit in a classroom, there are plenty of opportunities to take self-paced classes these days through online platforms such as edX and Coursera. Instead of taking the practical approach and taking a business course, consider studying a subject that interests you outside of your business. edX, for instance, offers classes such as the History of Chinese Architecture, Making Government Work in Hard Places, and The Science of Happiness. Studying almost any new subject will bring fresh ideas into your mind — and by extension, into your business. (See also: 10 Classes That Can Pay for Themselves)

5. Reconnect with your childhood

If there are kids in your life — whether they are your own or those of a friend who would appreciate some free baby-sitting — spend a couple of hours playing with them. Go to a park and let them dictate what you play, or bring over some crafts supplies or materials for a science experiment and put them in charge. Experiencing how they think, experiment, and solve problems will get you out of the "adult" mindset of doing everything efficiently and aiming for results. The more you can connect with the childlike side of yourself, the more willing you'll be to try new, possibly messy, approaches at work. That's a good recipe for getting unstuck.

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This article is from Elaine Pofeldt of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 More Cheap and Easy DIY Toys Kids Will Love

Ashley Marcin — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 11:15:18 +0000

Looking for a great birthday or Christmas gift for your child? There are lots of toys you can DIY to give a personal touch. Check out the projects below for some major inspiration. And share your favorite do-it-yourself toy projects in the comments. (Related: 15 Awesomely Fun Toys You Can DIY)

1. Colorful Crayons

Melt together a bunch of old crayons using silicone molds or cupcake tins. You'll be giving new life to something that might otherwise be tossed out — and even young kids can help with this project! Just take all the broken remnants, remove the paper labels, toss them in your molds, and bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 20 minutes.

2. Drum Set

Have a bunch of old paint cans you need to recycle? Try assembling this crazy drum kit. You'll clean your cans and then give them a coat of spray paint. Attach the cans together with bolts and screws. And don't forget to add some fancy stuff like cymbals. Grab a pair of sticks to start jamming.

3. Felt Food

Here's a quiet toy your kids will play with again and again: felt food. Find a stack of felt in assorted colors, print out the free template, and get cutting. Adhere everything together with hot glue and stuff some of the foods (like bread) will poly-fil. You'll make watermelon, bacon, pizza, and more.

4. Sand Blocks

Got an old Jenga game hanging around? Use the wooden pieces to make these cool rainbow sand blocks. Glue three of your blocks into an open-ended rectangle, then do it again. You'll make the rainbow sand using cornmeal and food coloring. Then, place the sand into a plastic bag and glue the bag in the middle of your blocks. Add two more blocks on top to finish the frame.

5. Nature Blocks

For kids who would rather be outdoors than anywhere else, you can make nature blocks. These blocks are inspired by the Waldorf toys and are simple to make if you have access to a hand saw. Go into your yard and find branches of different diameters. Then, let them dry someplace for a few weeks. To finish, just cut them into sections.

6. Kinetic Sand

Stop spending all that money on store-bought play sand. Try making your own with this kinetic sand tutorial. You'll need plain sand, corn starch, dish soap, and water. Mix everything together and consider adding some tea tree oil to the mix to keep it fresh.

7. Magnetic Fishing Set

If you have a sewing machine, you can whip up these DIY magnetic fish. Buy some round magnets, cut out fish shapes using scrap fabric and batting, and then sew the magnet into the fish. Make a quick pole using wooden dowels, spools, and rope. Don't forget the magnet at the end of the line so you can catch the fish!

8. Fruit Stand

Forget the play kitchen — try making a fruit stand. The maker of this project used an Ikea Rast table as the base. The rest is a creative mix of scrap wood, shelf supports, fabric, and little bins. Your finished product might not look exactly like the original, but the idea is to have plenty of places to stash play fruits and veggies.

9. Car Mat

This car mat is absolutely adorable. The only problem is that it took the author over 20 hours to cut, sew, and embroider everything together. You can make something similar by picking up some duck cloth (or other thick, sturdy fabric) at the hardware store, cutting it to size, and painting on a roadway, houses, and other cool spots with craft paints.

10. Hideaway Tent

Give your children a hideaway with this simple play tent. Create a foldable A-frame using 1" x 2" boards and dowels. Then use five yards of fabric to sew the cover that will tie onto the frame. This project takes around three hours from start to finish.

11. Painted Treasures

Don't feel like making a toy from scratch? Try finding something old and making it new again using spray paint. This Little Tikes car project is amazing and only took a couple cans of paint. Clean the toy well before disassembling and painting. You can try this makeover with play cars, houses, and anything else that needs freshening up.

12. Play Road

Before you toss out your old jeans, try using them in this DIY road project. After you trace a pattern for both curved and straight pieces, cut out your fabric from the old jeans. Then use glue and Mod Podge to fix everything together. Paint on some yellow lines and let the races begin!

13. Lego Table

Your kid will go crazy for this DIY Lego table. You'll need an old table (a square works wonderfully) and some of those Lego bases. Use glue to adhere the base plates to the table and give them some extra support with a few Lego bricks on the edges. Let the glue dry, and this project is done in around 20 minutes.

14. American Boy

Boys deserve dolls too! So, when I saw this American Boy doll in my Facebook feed, my jaw dropped. The mom took a standard girl doll (new or used would be fine), cut its hair, washed off its makeup, and dressed it in some clothes she found on Etsy. You can also sew your own for a personal touch.

15. Doll House

Make a super doll house using an old dresser. You'll need a relatively tall dresser as your base, and I recommended checking places like the Salvation Army and garage sales before buying new. Leave the bottom drawers on for storage. Then take the upper drawers out to make space for your rooms. Paint and fill with doll furniture to complete the project.

What are your kid's favorite DIY playthings?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

14 Free or Cheap Toys That Will Make Your Kid Smarter

Ashley Marcin — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:00:12 +0000

It may seem like you need to spend a fortune on educational toys for your kids these days. Heck, many stores have entire sections devoted to learning aids cleverly disguised as playthings. All that stuff is great, but you can beef up your child's smarts with some awesome DIY projects. You'll spend much less money making things at home, and frugality is a great lesson to teach children at any age.

1. Sensory Tables

Bring your child's preschool favorite to you own playroom with these DIY sensory tables. Construct a simple wooden base out of pallets and plop in a plastic bin. You can fill them with rice, dried beans, or whatever else you like. And if you're looking to do this project on a dime, skip the table and just place the plastic bin on a waist-high surface.

2. Alphabet Board

I love this alphabet board project because you could take it in so many different directions. Just mount a metal oil pan on your wall to create a magnetic surface. The author cut up an alphabet poster and glued it to the pan. Then her child used magnetic letters to match. You could repeat with numbers, maps, or anything else you're looking to teach your child.

3. Felt Board

Here's a similar idea making a felt board versus metal. Cut a piece of felt so it's a bit larger than a cork board. Then use an X-Acto knife to size it perfectly before spraying with adhesive and pressing onto the board. Once it has dried, you can use homemade felt cut-outs to explore a variety of subjects.

4. Emo Dolls

Teach your child about facial expressions, emotions, and even empathy with these DIY emo dolls. Making them couldn't be easier. Take two types of cardboard tubes that are different sizes (toilet paper and cling wrap, for example). Cut them to the same length. Then cut a circle (face) into the larger one. Draw different faces on the smaller one. Nest them together, and you're done!

5. Sight Word Rolls

Use a similar approach for these sight word rolls. Cut varying lengths of tubes in different diameters. On one tube, write the first part of a word. One the second, the rest of it. There are many different ways to form your words, and this author started with consonant blends and digraphs.

6. Sewn Letters

Those of you who sew will love this plush alphabet project you can make using leftover scraps of fabric. Simply cut squares of fabric, sandwich in some batting, and then sew around a stencil guide. Cut out the letters using pinking shears so there's no fraying at the edges.

7. Sponge Letters

Not so crafty? Try cutting letters from clean sponges instead. The advantage here is that you can take them into the bath. You could also use them as paint stamps. Here's a free alphabet template you can print off and use as a guide.

8. Inventor's Box

Older kids will go crazy for this inventor's box. Fill a plastic bin with old electronic items, like a flashlight, keyboard, clock, radio, or whatever else you can find at yard sales and thrift shops. Then let your child independently explore. The author suggested taking a flashlight apart and letting your kid put it back together.

9. Memory Game

This memory game is something fun you could scale up or down for your child depending on age. Take wooden disks (you can find them at most craft stores) and cut out wool felt shapes in all different colors. Adhere the shapes to the wood and play.

10. Tide Pool

Create your own ecosystem with this tide pool project. You'll fill a metal pan with rocks, mini plastic marine animals, and sand. Then add water to the pan, noting which animals are covered by the water as it rises. Then slowly remove water and watch the tide in reverse.

11. Geoboard

Work on fine motor skills and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning with this homemade geoboard. Grab a slab of wood at a craft or home improvement store, then mark off a grid in pencil. Hammer nails into the corner of each marked square. Then give your child some colorful rubber bands to create shapes, letters, or whatever else.

12. Giant Puzzle

Rainy days call for creativity. This giant block puzzle will come to your rescue and challenge your child's spatial and problem-solving skills. Take shaped blocks (or other toys) and trace a bunch on a large sheet of paper. Then give your kids the blocks and let them figure it out.

13. Handwriting Tray

If your little one is just starting to write, try this handwriting tray. The author recycled wooden toy packaging for the tray. The letter cards are made of thick watercolor paper. Once you've finished writing all the letters, fill the tray with salt or sand and let your child write using his or her finger or a q-tip.

14. Color Classifier

Work on advanced color recognition with this shades of color activity. Pick up a variety of paint chip cards at your local hardware store, cut them up, and store in a zip bag. Create a quick chart on a plain piece of paper and let you child try putting the chips in order based on gradation.

Do you have a great project to share? Leave a note in the comments!

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

20 Cheap Fun Things to Do With Kids This Weekend

Mikey Rox — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:00:10 +0000

School's out for summer for a few more weeks, which means the kids are about to tear your house apart in three… two… one. Unless, of course, you help them channel that boundless energy elsewhere with these cheap or free things to do with kids this weekend.

1. Investigate Summer Programs at Your Local Library

Believe it or not, your local library still exists — and it probably has a whole calendar of activities planned for the summer. Pop in on your ride home from work one day to pick up a schedule to see what programs your kid might like.

2. Take a Hike on Nearby Trails to Search for Wildlife

Even if you live in a big city like I do, you can find well-worn hiking trail that provides a bit of the great outdoors without going too far from civilization. On this hike, let the kids take a camera so they can capture the various wildlife and insects they might encounter along the way.

3. Set Off on a Playground Hopping Adventure

Take that bar-hopping concept you know so well, apply it to playgrounds, and you've got yourself a lively afternoon of exercise for the kids and a bit of bench relaxing for yourself.

4. Visit a Nearby Transportation Hub and Watch the Vehicles

When I was a kid, my grandparents would take me to all kinds of places to watch various kinds of transportation. We'd sit outside of airports to watch planes take off and land, hang out in Baltimore's Inner Harbor to watch the boats, or spend a couple hours at the B&O Railroad Museum learning about old trains and even taking a quick ride on one. Even though those examples are specific to my childhood, you can likely find some version of these activities in your neck of the woods that'll create lifetime memories for your brood.

5. Splash Around in a Public Fountain on a Hot Day

This is equally as fun for the kids as it is for parents — if the fountain allows adults to participate. A few summers ago I spent a hot day in Boston and headed straight for the Copley Square Fountain. I had a blast, and it looked like all the ankle-biters did too. Do a quick search online to see what your area has to offer.

6. Head to Your Local Lanes for Free Bowling

For several years now, KidsBowlFree has offered free bowling for kids at participating centers during the summer. It's actually a fairly generous program, which allows two hours of bowling per day per child. That's not to suggest that you should shuffle your kids off to the local alley every day to get them out of your hair, but, you know, when you've had enough it's not a bad way to let them wear themselves out.

7. Pop Into Your Town Cineplex for Low or No-Cost Movies

Legit — I kind of want to have a child (or at least borrow one part time in the summer) so I can take advantage of the low and no-cost movies available to kids and their parents. Lots of theaters — most national chains, actually — participate in this freebie program, and the screenings are titles in which your kids will definitely be interested. Find these cheap or free screenings at theater near you.

8. Beat the Heat at an Indoor Play Area at a Nearby Mall

Too hot outside? Let your kids burn off a few dozen summer junk food calories at the play area at the local mall. These areas are mostly for toddlers, so if you've got big kids give 'em a few bucks for a matinee or the food court so they can do their own thing.

9. Catch a Major or Minor League Baseball Game

One of my all-time favorite summer activities as a kid — and even now as an adult — is spending a few hours at the ballpark. Most MLB teams have inexpensive kids' tickets (or free tickets for kids younger than a certain age), and the price is even more affordable to watch MiLB in action. Wise Bread has more tips for saving at America's baseball stadiums.

10. Check the Air Show Schedule to Find One Near You

If you want more of a spectacle than watching airplanes take off and land at your nearby airport, find an air show in your area. These stunt flyers are sure to impress, and it's honest-to-goodness fun for the whole family. This air-show calendar will help you plan your trip.

11. Find a Fun Pool for Refreshing Playtime

Most neighborhoods have a public pool for the kids to cool off in during the summer months. If that's not an option, perhaps you have a friend or family member who's lucky enough to have a pool in their backyard and willing to let you use it.

12. Pack a Picnic and Enjoy it on the Beach

Beaches — both along the ocean or surrounding a lake — offer hours and hours of fun. Bring along all the sand essentials — shovels, pails, boogie boards, sunscreen — and let the kids run wild. Pack a picnic with their favorite lunch foods to keep them satiated and out of your hair.

13. Set Up Water Games in the Backyard

When splashing around in a pool isn't an option, get creative with backyard water fun. Turn on the sprinklers, set up a slip-and-slide apparatus, or have a water balloon battle. There are lots of great ways to get wet and have fun without ever leaving home.

14. Invite Your Kids' Friends Over for Crafts and Snacks

There's hot and then there's too hot, so it's not a bad idea to have a plan B if the temps outside are too much for your little ones to handle. On days like this, invite over your kids' friends, set up a couple craft projects, and serve a few snacks so everyone can stay occupied, creative, and cool.

15. Break Out the Board Games on a Rainy Day

You can almost bet that when the weather is unbearably hot, there's a storm a-brewin' to break the heat. When the skies open up, hunker down and introduce your kids to a few of your favorite childhood games that don't require batteries, plugs, or controllers.

16. Look Into What's Happening in Your Neighborhood Park

All the open space should be put to good use, and most areas take great advantage of its green space. Visit your town's website or stop by your local library or town hall to browse a calendar of what's coming up that your kids might like.

17. Visit Some of the Free Attractions Your Town Has to Offer

Do you know what's fun and free in your town? You may think that there's nothing to do that doesn't cost anything, but I can assure you there is. Dig into the Internet to find these special spots that'll entertain the kids while saving you dough.

18. Go on a Mini-Excursion to a Nearby Town You've Never Been

I love to explore, and sometimes I hop in the car with a friend and we visit a not-too-far-away town we've never been to check out the shops, have lunch, and just hang out. Kids can enjoy these mini-getaways too with advanced planning to find things to do that complement their interests.

19. Visit Your Local Retailers' Websites for Cheap Activities and Workshops

A few major retailers (and probably some of your mom-and-pop shops, too) understand that it's a full-time job trying to keep your kids occupied and out of trouble while school's out for summer. That's why they offer classes and workshops for kids to keep their little heads thinking and hands moving. Home Depot and Michaels craft stores are chief among the retailers that host these type of events, but you can find a bevy of more free classes.

20. Put Together a Backyard Campout

Save yourself all that hassle of packing and lugging your camping gear around this summer by setting up a campout in the backyard. The kids will have a blast because they can invite over a few of their friends to join in the fun, and you can rest a little easier since you'll have all the modern convenience of home to pull it off without a hitch. Ghost stories and s'mores will be required.

Have any other cheap fun things for kids to do this summer? Let us know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Awesomely Fun Toys You Can DIY

Ashley Marcin — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 13:00:11 +0000

Have you been to a toy store lately? There are gadgets and dolls and blocks and other stuff for every age and every stage. So many options, in fact, that it can get quite overwhelming to choose something for your child. Plus, the prices on most of these toys are absolutely outrageous.

So dig around the house for some raw materials and get back to the basics with this list of DIY toys will help you craft playthings your kids will enjoy for years to come.

1. Baby Gym

Cut a few boards and connect them with a dowel to make your own baby gym. The tutorial is pretty lax because you can make it to suit your individual needs. Once the base is constructed, use links to tie up store-bought (or homemade) toys for playing. The best part? When your child grows out of it, you can sew a cute tent cover for more fun.

2. Kinetic Sand

If you haven't discovered the sand craze yet, save yourself some cash by making kinetic sand at home. This stuff holds shape but doesn't make a mess, so it's easy to pick up. You'll need some fine sand from a craft or pet store. After you've baked it dry, add glue and liquid starch until the mixture sticks together but not to your hands.

3. Rag Doll

So many dolls on store shelves look the same. Give your little one something unique with this DIY rag doll. You'll find patterns for both girl and boy dolls with a detailed sewing tutorial. The difficulty is up to you. The dolls might take some work, but when they're done, you'll be glad you put in the effort.

4. House Blocks

Skip the pricey block sets and make your own stacking house blocks from scratch. You can cut blocks from 4x4 lumber, but I also recommend checking out your local craft store for cheap pre-cut blocks. Once they're all sanded, decorate with non-toxic acrylic paints and finish with beeswax polish.

5. Animal Spools

Or here's another stacking toy using wooden spools instead of blocks. Download the free animal template, cut out the parts, and then tape together. Your child will play for hours making different combinations with the heads, bodies, and legs.

6. Play Garden

Grab an old box and get "planting" with this DIY play garden. You'll use jersey fabric to make round tubes of pretend dirt filled with stuffing. The tutorial describes how to make a variety of colorful veggies from felt. When you've finished sewing, stuff everything together and let your child harvest.

7. Car Ramps

Your kid's cars will zoom faster than ever before with this super simple car ramps project. Cut a few wooden boards to around three feet long. Then paint each black like pavement. Add some yellow dashes for extra flair before placing your new roads on different level surfaces for downhill speed.

8. Toy Treehouse

My jaw dropped when I found this clever toy treehouse made from various found objects. The author of this project used a branch, cutting board, craft bird house, dowels, and some other thrift and Dollar Store trinkets. Better than spending nearly $200 for something similar.

9. Play Kitchen

Start combing Craigslist now! You can use an old entertainment center as a starting point for this adorable play kitchen. Depending on how your old furniture is configured, you can make a shelf the cooktop, the cabinet a pretend refrigerator, and add hooks for play plates or towels. Give the whole thing a bright coat of paint for looks.

10. Slime

Everyone loves oozy slime, especially in metallic colors. Mixing it together takes just a few minutes. You'll combine liquid starch, clear glue, gold powder, and glitter. Use different powder and glitter for different colors.

11. Cardboard Bed

Here's an awesome cardboard bed you can make with recycled cardboard and a handy PDF. In other words: It's free. You'll cut out different shapes to make the headboard, footboard, side supports, and more. Then use the slots to nest everything together.

12. Story Stones

I had never heard of story stones, but they seem like a genius way to get your kid's imagination going. Look around your house, backyard, or at a park for a few smooth stones. Clean them well, then paint with different pictures — preferably around a theme. For best results, paint a white background where your image will go. It will help the colors pop.

13. Mini Foosball Table

I want one of these mini foosball tables for myself. The idea is that cool. You just need an adult-sized shoebox, some dowels, clothespins, and paint. Once you've assembled the playing field, toss in a ping pong ball and keep score.

14. Rainbow Rocker

This rainbow rocker is a multipurpose toy for toddlers that gets wonderfully physical. And the author's inspiration was a toy that retails for $188! To build, you'll need some birch plywood, pocket hole screws, food coloring (to stain wood), and isopropyl alcohol. With materials and printing of plans ($7 at an office supply store), you'll only spend around $50 on this project. Just cut your pieces, sand, stain, and assemble.

15. Play Grill

You can make this pretend grill for around $20. The most important part is a plastic mixing bowl, so if you have one you're willing to part with, it might be even cheaper. Drill holes in the bowl, make a tripod base for it to rest on with thick dowels. The grate is also made from dowels. After a coat of spray paint, you're done.

What are your favorite DIY toys?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: