Ploymint

Hard work and analytical skills will only get you so far in the world of business — new ideas and innovation are driven by creativity. So you better be flexing your creative muscles on a regular basis! This is especially true if you have dreams of climbing the corporate ladder all the way to the top; an IBM survey of CEOs found that 60 percent of CEOs cited creativity as the most important trait in a leader. So whenever you’re in a creativity glut while at work, turn to these tools to get your creative juices flowing.

1. Brainsparker: This cool app is like downing a big can of Red Bull — but instead of giving you energy, it gives you creativity. The free app has over 200 “prompt cards” that encourage creative thinking and trigger new ideas by prompting you with random images, quotes, and questions. You can even share “cards” with friends for fun group brainstorming sessions.

2. Doodle Buddy: Time to let your inner artist out via digital “finger painting.” Doodling isn’t just for daydreamers anymore: New studies have found that doodling can boost creativity by increasing our focus and our ability to understand new concepts. So let loose! The free app can be used on a phone or iPad, and you can even save and share your artistic creations with your friends.

3. Brainstormer: Calling all future novelists: Are you getting stuck on plot points? Take inspiration from the writing prompts delivered by Brainstormer. The app provides users with randomized plots, settings, and subjects to spark your writing.

4. Penultimate: For many people, typing on a keyboard crushes creativity — it seems like the physical act of handwriting helps suss out creative thoughts. But who keeps pen and paper handy these days? Use the Penultimate app instead, where you can take digital notes by “hand” and store them to your device. It’s powered by Evernote and works with the iPad.

5. Magic Piano: Listening to music has long been linked to sparking creativity, and there have even been studies that say playing an instrument may make you smarter. Get a boost of intelligence and creativity with Magic Piano, a free app that makes it easy to “play” the melodies of your favorite songs, like hits from Bruno Mars and Rihanna. No formal piano training required. Just remember to plug in headphones if you’re using the app at work!

Taking time to be creative each day is a smart strategy for reducing stress, triggering new ideas, and avoiding boredom while on the job. What tools do you use to get creative at work? Share them with us in the comments below!