If you are doing training for your team or trainees, I often talk about making your activities relevant to the topics in your training program. I am not changing my stance on this in fact, I encourage it very much. These activities after all will benefit your learners in the long run. I do encourage that you give them some variety sometimes, insert a non-relevant short activity like a game especially after the lunch break. Your learners (and even you – some times) are in that siesta mood state after having lunch and therefore, have not exactly shifted to the learning mode just yet. So what do you do? You need to wake them up and shake them up back to that learning mood and mode. Something as simple as a “Bring Me” game and give them prizes – I usually give them a candy or chocolate bar or some toy from the dollar store like a stress ball or those squiggly balls. You can be silly or be creative on the prizes there are no rules. Do keep in mind that these intermission games or activities are very short, will not take more than 10 minutes and be sure will not take most of your training time for the rest of the day. Once you have succeeded that your learners are awake and out of that siesta mode and ready to learn, segue on to the next topic in your training schedule. Be very wary though when inserting a non-relevant activity or game in your training day. Some trainers make the mistake of using non-relevant games way too much during their training day that they end up not being able to finish the topics scheduled or not getting the more important training aspects or highlights done on time. For the relevant activities, you can still incorporate the game-like aspect into them say like a “Jeopardy” game. Use the information in your training topics as the Jeopardy topics. Separate them into two groups, a number of players on each group to take turns playing and then giving the winning group a group prize. Why not do a “Family Feud” activity, again using relevant information from the training as topics. Learners learn the material more when it is infused in a fun-filled, yet engaging and useful activity. Do not be afraid to think of activities. When you are creating activities for your next training program, make sure that it is engaging, everyone will be able to participate, related to the topics at hand and do not forget to give time to give a wrap-up of the activity. Reiterate the takeaway from the activity and even ask your learners what did and did not work. By adding and giving variety in your training program, your learners will not only welcome it but thank you for it and everyone – including you – will be ending the training day on a high and positive note.