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Activity Ideas 1 Oct 24 0 Comments

What Is A Fun Brain Break?

By
Experiential Trainer, Author & Speaker

The Power of Brain Breaks

Energizing Your Group with Fun & Focus

When working with groups, whether in a classroom, workshop, or meeting setting, there often comes a time when focus starts to drift, energy wanes, or engagement falters.

What do you do in those moments?

Enter the concept of a brain break. It’s a simple and powerful tool that can reset the energy, improve focus, and bring the group back into alignment.

In this post, I’ll walk you through some great examples of energizers that require no props, are quick to implement, and – best of all – are guaranteed to re-engage your group.

In this Post…

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Bored student in class who would benefit from energisers

What Is a ‘Brain Break’ & Why Do You Need It?

You may be wondering, what is the purpose of a brain break?

The primary goal of a brain break is simple: to create a shift in the group’s focus and energy.

Brain breaks can wake up participants who’ve been sitting too long, or calm them down if they’re overly energetic. They’re designed to reset the mind and body, so the group is better prepared for what’s next.

For example, you might notice that participants are mentally drifting off. A quick brain break helps snap them back into the present moment.

It could be physical, like a movement activity, or it could be mindful—a moment of calm reflection. The key is that it changes the energy of the room in some way.

Top 5 Brain Breaks

One Two Three thumbnail

1. One Two Three – An Hilarious Energizer

One of the easiest, yet most powerful brain breaks is a game called “One Two Three.” It’s one of my all-time favourites because it never fails to spark laughter and energy. Here’s how it works:

  1. Ask participants to find a partner.
  2. One person says “1,” the second says “2,” and the first person responds with “3.”
  3. The goal is to continue counting back and forth as fast and accurately as possible: 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, etc.

This sounds ridiculously simple, but trust me—it’s not long before someone makes a mistake, and the room bursts into laughter. The beauty of this exercise is that it immediately shifts the focus away from whatever came before. The mistakes, the speed, and the silliness quickly lighten the mood, energize participants, and improve focus.

Looking for more variations? The One Two Three game can evolve into using non-verbal actions or sounds, adding even more fun and complexity. For more detailed instructions and variations, click here.

Count to Six thumbnail

2. Count to Six – A Coordination Challenge

The next brain break builds off of the 1-2-3 concept but adds a fun physical challenge. It’s called “Count to Six,” and it’s great for getting participants moving.

First, use one arm to count up and down: raise your arm for 1, lower it for 2, and so on until you reach 6. Then, use the other arm to perform a different motion: this arm moves up on 1, out to the side for 2, down for 3 and repeat until you have counted to 6.

The real challenge? Doing both at the same time. The group will be so focused on trying to coordinate their movements that they’ll forget whatever came before, leaving them refreshed and ready for the next activity.

This activity is a great example of how a brain break can use physical movement to shift focus and energy – essentially waking up both the mind and body.

Buy EMOJI Cards

3. EMOJI Cards to Engage Emotions

Looking for a mindful brain break? A simple yet effective option is the use of EMOJI Cards. These cards feature a wide variety of emotions and are perfect for reflection or emotional awareness exercises. Here’s how you can use them:

  • Distribute emoji cards randomly to your group.
  • Ask participants to select a card that represents their feelings after the last activity.
  • Alternatively, have them pick a card that reflects how they saw someone else reacting.

This exercise helps shift focus and brings awareness to the emotional energy in the room, making it a powerful mindful brain break. The act of reflection combined with a bit of movement (picking up and looking at the cards) is an ideal way to re-center your group.

Mark Collard playing Your Add group activity as part of professional development workshop with ACA conference 2017

4. Your Add – A Fast-Paced Math Energiser

This is another favourite energizer that challenges participants’ mental speed and agility. Here’s how it works:

  1. Participants partner up and hide their hands behind their backs.
  2. One person says “Set” and chooses a random number of fingers to extend on both hands (behind their back.)
  3. The other person says “GO” and both reveal their hands at the same time.
  4. The goal is to be the first to add up the total number of fingers extended by both partners.

The fast-paced nature of this game makes it a quick and fun way to re-engage your group’s minds and energy.

Building connections before content as seen by Thumb Wrestling in Trio

5. Thumb Wrestling in Stereo – Classic Partner Game with a Twist

If you think thumb wrestling is outdated, think again. It’s a classic energizer but with a modern twist.

Once participants have paired up and are thumb wrestling as usual, introduce “stereo thumb wrestling.” One person crosses their arms, and their partner grabs their hands. Now they’ve got two thumbs working in stereo!

This twist brings new energy to a familiar game, and it’s guaranteed to spark laughter and excitement in just 30 seconds.

Why Brain Breaks Matter

Brain breaks, like those mentioned here, are essential for maintaining the focus and energy of your group.

Whether you need a quick burst of energy or a moment of mindful reflection, these simple activities will do the trick. So, what is the purpose of a brain break? Ultimately, it’s to change the pace, reset attention, and refresh the group’s mindset.

Looking for more brain break examples?

Click the button below to unlock 100+ energizers and activities that will help you create meaningful, engaging group experiences. Best of all, no registration or opt-in is required!

Browse 100+ Energisers

Final Thoughts

The next time you notice your group’s energy dropping, don’t wait—pull out one of these quick and easy brain breaks.

Whether it’s something light-hearted like the One Two Three game or a mindful brain break with EMOJI Cards, you’ll see immediate results.

And remember, playmeo is your go-to resource for all things group facilitation.

Happy energising!

Original post October 2024, last updated October 2024.

By - Experiential Trainer, Author & Speaker

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